ENCODING HARDWARE END LOOP INFORMATION ONTO AN INSTRUCTION

摘要

Methods and apparatus for encoding information regarding a hardware loop of a set of packets is provided, each packet (400) containing instructions. The information is encoded into one or more bits of at least one instruction (300) in the set of packets. The information may indicate whether a packet is or is not an end packet of the loop. Information regarding two hardware loops may be encoded where information regarding the first loop is encoded into an instruction at a first position in each packet and information regarding the second loop is encoded into an instruction at a second position in each packet. End instruction information may be encoded into an instruction not having encoded loop information at the same bit positions reserved for the encoded loop information, the end instruction information indicating whether an instruction is the last instruction of a packet and the length of a packet.