System and method for improving memory transfer

A method of copying, comprising:

• (a) decoding a first instruction, wherein the first instruction specifies a first destination memory address;
• (b) storing the first destination memory address in a destination register in a bus interface unit;
• (c) decoding a second instruction, wherein said second instruction specifies a first source memory address;
• (d) storing the first source memory address in a source register in a bus interface unit;
• (e) decoding a third instruction, wherein said instruction specifies a number of source memory addresses to be copied;
• (f) storing the number of source memory addresses to be copied in a loop counter in the bus interface unit;
• (g) copying the contents of a memory location specified in the source register to a memory location specified in the destination register;
• (h) decrementing the loop counter;
• (i) incrementing the address locations specified in the source and destination registers if the loop counter is not zero;
• and
• (j), proceeding to step (g) if the value in the loop counter is not zero.

A microprocessor system, comprising:

• a processor, comprising:
• a bus interface unit, which includes a register;
• an execution unit, coupled to the bus interface unit, that executes program instructions;
• and
• a memory, coupled to said microprocessor, that stores said instructions, said instructions including:
• a first instruction that causes a destination memory address to be stored in the register;
• a second instruction that specifies a source memory address and causes the contents of a memory location specified by the source memory address to be copied to the memory location specified in the register.