Abstract: A data processor is arranged to execute software to emulate an instruction-handling processor having an instruction preparation stage and an instruction execution stage. The software is operable first to emulate the instruction preparation stage in respect of a group of two or more instructions to generate a group of prepared instructions; and then to emulate the instruction execution stage in respect of the group of prepared instructions, so that the completion of the emulation of the instruction execution stage in respect of each of the prepared instructions occurs serially in an instruction order.

Abstract: A data processor comprises a main memory; an instruction cache and a data cache; instruction fetch logic operable to search the instruction cache for a required instruction; and if the required instruction is not present in the instruction cache, to search the data cache; and if the required instruction is not present in the data cache, to fetch the required instruction from the main memory to the instruction cache; data write logic operable to write a data value into the data cache at a data address and, if that address is also represented in the instruction cache, to write that data value into the instruction cache; and cache control logic operable to transfer data from the data cache to the main memory.

Abstract: A data processor is arranged to execute software to emulate an instruction-handling processor having an instruction preparation stage and an instruction execution stage. The software is operable first to emulate the instruction preparation stage in respect of a group of two or more instructions to generate a group of prepared instructions; and then to emulate the instruction execution stage in respect of the group of prepared instructions, so that the completion of the emulation of the instruction execution stage in respect of each of the prepared instructions occurs serially in an instruction order.

Abstract: Computer graphics apparatus is configured to represent an object with surface relief detail in terms of its underlying shape over which is superimposed a mapped geometry to represent the relief feature. Superimposition can be made dependent on a level-of-detail threshold, and masking geometry may also be superimposed to properly mask a texture map otherwise lacking in resolution.