Loop control system for digital processing apparatus

A loop control system for use in a digital processing system having means for performing operations on data, comprising:

• (a) storage means for receiving from digital processing system a starting value representing the number of repetitions to be made of a set of operations;
• (b) counting means, associated with said storage means, for receiving simultaneously with said storage means said starting value from said digital processing means and for storing a new value therein with each successive repetition of a set of operations and being reinitialized by said starting value stored in said storage means for a subsequent set of operations;
• (c) iteration means, connected to said counting means, for receiving from said counting means a value stored therein, stepping said value to a new value, and storing the resultant new value back in said counting means;
• and
• (d) detector means, connected to said iteration means, for comparing said new value to an ending value, and issuing a completion signal when said new value and said ending value have a predetermined relationship;
• wherein said storage means comprises a plurality of storage registers for storing respective starting values and said counting means comprises a plurality of counting registers associated with respective storage registers, said loop control system further comprising control logic means for transferring a value from a selected counting register to said iteration means and transferring said new value to said selected counting register for storage therein.