Predictive fan control using workload profiles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11147186-B2
Application number	US-201916558988-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 3, 2019
Priority date	Sep 3, 2019
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

Airflow cooling is provided in an IHS (Information Handling System), where the airflow cooling may be adapted to reduce noise generated by the airflow cooling system and to provide cooling that is particularized to specific users. The operation of a software application by a user is detected. A workload profile associated with that application is determined and used to provide airflow cooling. The workload profile specifies parameters for providing cooling during use of applications associated with a first type of resource utilization. Upon detecting use of a different application, a different workload profile associated with applications of a second type of resource utilization may be determined and used to provide cooling. The user may provide noise feedback inputs specifying noise level preferences that are used in adapting the cooling provided by workload profiles. The workload profiles may be further adapted to reduce noise generated by the cooling system while still providing adequate cooling.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for providing airflow cooling in an IHS (Information Handling System), the method comprising:
generating a default airflow cooling output during initialization of the IHS;
detecting active use of a first software application by a first user of the IHS;
determining a first workload profile associated with the first software application, wherein the first workload profile comprises a first cooling profile specifying parameters for providing cooling during use of software applications associated with a first type of resource utilization;
generating a first airflow cooling output based on the first cooling profile;
detecting the first user of the IHS switching from active use of the first software application to active use of a second software application;
in response the detection of the user switching from use of the first application to the second software application, determining a second workload profile associated with the second software application, wherein the second workload profile comprises a second cooling profile specifying parameters for providing cooling during use of software applications associated with a second type of resource utilization;
generating a second airflow cooling output based on the second cooling profile; and
receiving an input from the first user during use of the second software application, wherein the input reports undesirable levels of noise during generation of the second airflow cooling output used to provide cooling during active use of the second software application, wherein the undesirable levels of noise reported by the first user during use of the second software application are utilized by machine learning to adapt the parameters of the first cooling profile used to reduce unnecessary airflow cooling during active use of the second software application.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first cooling profile and the second cooling profile comprise fan speed settings adapted based on operation of the first IHS by the first user.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first cooling profile and the second cooling profile further comprise a fan speed ramp rate setting, wherein a high fan speed ramp rate increases fans speeds at a faster rate and generates more noise than a low fan speed ramp rate.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first cooling profile further comprises a function for smoothing temperatures measured within the IHS, and wherein the smoothing function is selected to reduce noise generated during operation of the first cooling profile.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a thermal design point of a processor of the IHS; and
when a temperature measured at the processor is not below the thermal design point of the processor by a first temperature margin, forgo use of the first workload profile and of the second workload profile.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising
monitoring a plurality of temperatures within the IHS during use of the reduced airflow cooling; and
determining whether the reduced airflow cooling output provides sufficient cooling based on the monitored temperatures.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
when the reduced airflow provides sufficient cooling, modifying a plurality of the parameters of the second cooling profile to generate the reduced airflow during operation of additional software applications associated with the second workload profile.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a user input specifying a reset of the airflow cooling of the IHS, wherein the IHS reverts to use of the default airflow cooling output after detecting the user reset of the airflow cooling of the IHS.

9. An IHS (Information Handling System) comprising:
a plurality of processors;
a plurality of cooling fans for providing airflow cooling;
an airflow controller comprising a memory device having instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by a logic unit, cause the airflow controller to:
operate the plurality of cooling fans in generating a default airflow cooling output during initialization of the IHS;
receive an indication of active use of a first software application by a first user of the IHS;
determine a first workload profile associated with the first software application, wherein the first workload profile comprises a first cooling profile specifying parameters for providing cooling during use of software applications associated with a first type of resource utilization;
operate the plurality of cooling fans in generating a first airflow cooling output based on the first cooling profile;
detecting the first user of the IHS switching from active use of the first software application to active use of a second software application;
in response the detection of the user switching from use of the first application to the second software application, determine a second workload profile associated with the second software application, wherein the second workload profile comprises a second cooling profile specifying parameters for providing cooling during use of software applications associated with a second type of resource utilization;
operate the plurality of cooling fans in generating a second airflow cooling output based on the second cooling profile; and
receive an input from the first user during use of the second software application, wherein the input reports undesirable levels of noise during generation of the second airflow cooling output used to provide cooling during active use of the second software application, wherein the undesirable levels of noise reported by the first user during use of the second software application are utilized by machine learning to adapt the parameters of the first cooling profile used to reduce unnecessary airflow cooling during active use of the second software application.

10. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein the memory device of the airflow controller stores additional instructions that, upon execution by the logic unit, further cause the airflow controller to:
determine a thermal design point of a processor of the IHS; and
when a temperature measured at the processor is not below the thermal design point of the processor by a first temperature margin, forgo use of the first workload profile and of the second workload profile.

11. The IHS of claim 10 , wherein the memory device of the airflow controller stores additional instructions that, upon execution by the logic unit, further cause the airflow controller to:
modify, when the reduced airflow provides sufficient cooling, a plurality of the parameters of the second cooling profile to generate the reduced airflow during operation of additional software applications associated with the second workload profile.

12. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein the memory device of the airflow controller stores additional instructions that, upon execution by the logic unit, further cause the airflow controller to:
receive a second input from the first user during use of the second software application, wherein the second input specifies a noise preference, wherein the noise preference specifies a limit on the noise generated in providing cooling during use of the second software application.

13. The IHS of claim 9 , wherein the memory device of the airflow controller stores additional instructions that, upon execution by the logic unit, further cause the airflow controller to:
detect a user input specifying a reset of the airflow cooling of the IHS, wherein the IHS reverts to use of the default airflow cooling output after detecting the user reset of the airflow cooling of the IHS.

Assignees

• Dell Products Lp

Inventors

• North Travis C
• Markow Mitchell Anthony
• Thompson Richard C

Classifications

• Y02D10/00

  Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management · CPC title

• H05K7/20209 Primary

  Thermal management, e.g. fan control · CPC title

• G06F1/206 Primary

  comprising thermal management · CPC title

• G06F9/5094

  where the allocation takes into account power or heat criteria (power management in computers in general G06F1/3203; thermal management in computers in general G06F1/206) · CPC title

• G06F9/5055

  considering software capabilities, i.e. software resources associated or available to the machine · CPC title