External memory system having programmable graphics processor for use in a video game system or the like

An external memory system for use in an information processing system having a first processing unit for executing at least a first portion of a videographics program, comprising:

• a memory storing the videographics program, and
• a programmable graphics processor receiving instructions from a second portion of the videographics program from the memory and executing at least the second portion of the videographics program, the graphics processor including:
• an arithmetic and logic unit for executing at least some of the second portion of said videographics program stored in the external memory, and
• a plotting circuit for executing at least one display related instruction stored in the external memory.

In an information processing system having a first processing unit for executing at least a first portion of an externally provided videographics program, an external data processing system, comprising:

• a memory storing the videographics program, and
• a programmable graphics processor receiving instructions from a second portion of the videographics program from the memory and executing at least the second portion of the videographics programs,
• wherein the graphics processor is operable to execute a prefix instruction and an immediately following instruction, and
• wherein the prefix instruction modifies the operation initiated by the immediately following instruction.

For use in an information processing system having a first processing unit for executing at least a first portion of a videographics program provided by an external data processing system, the external data processing system comprising:

• a memory storing the first portion of the videographics program;
• a programmable graphics processor receiving instructions from a second portion of said videographics program from said external memory and executing at least said second portion of said videographics program;
• an external memory bus coupled to said memory and said graphics processor for transmitting address, data and control information;
• a random access memory unit;
• a random access memory unit bus physically separate from the memory bus, coupled to said random access memory unit and said graphics processor, for transmitting address, data and control information;
• a first processing unit bus for transmitting address, data and control information between said graphics processor and said first processing unit;
• wherein the graphics processor controls access to at least one of said external memory bus and said random access memory unit bus, and
• wherein the graphics processor includes a mode indicator indicating whether the graphics processor has access to at least one of said external memory bus and said random access memory unit bus.

An external memory system for use in an information processing system having a first processing unit for executing at least a first portion of a videographics program, comprising:

• a memory storing the videographics program;
• a programmable graphics processor receiving instructions from a second portion of the videographics program from the memory and executing at least the second portion of the videographics program, the graphics processor including:
• an arithmetic and logic unit for executing at least some of the second portion of said videographics program stored in the external memory;
• a plotting circuit for executing at least one display related instruction stored in the external memory;
• and
• a first data source bus, a second data source bus and a data destination bus, each of the buses being coupled to the arithmetic and logic unit and the plotting circuit.