Power management using relative energy break-even time

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9292073-B2
Application number	US-201213688941-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 29, 2012
Priority date	Dec 31, 2008
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods may provide for determining an absolute energy break-even time for a first low power state with respect to a current state of a system. A relative energy break-even time may also be determined for the first low power state with respect to a second low power state based on at least in part the absolute energy break-even time. In addition, an operating state may be selected for the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

First claim

We claim:

1. A computer implemented method comprising:
determining an absolute energy break-even time for a first low power state with respect to a current state of a system;
determining a relative energy break-even time for the first low power state with respect to a second low power state based on at least in part the absolute energy break-even time; and
selecting an operating state for the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including using a power consumption associated with the first low power state and a power consumption associated with the second low power state to determine the relative energy break-even time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second low power state is shallower and has a shorter exit latency than the first low power state.

4. The method of claim 3 , further including selecting the second low power state as the operating state if a projected idleness duration is less than the relative energy break-even time for the first low power state.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the projected idleness duration is greater than the absolute energy break-even time for the first low power state.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including:
detecting a first break event from a first event source;
detecting a second break event from a second event source; and
coordinating issuance of the first and second break events to the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein coordination of the issuance of the first and second break events includes a determination of a holding time based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time, and a deference of at least one of the first and second break events based on at least in part the holding time.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions which, if executed by a processor, cause a computer to:
determine an absolute energy break-even time for a first low power state with respect to a current state of a system;
determine a relative energy break-even time for the first low power state with respect to a second low power state based on at least in part the absolute energy break-even time; and
select an operating state for the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

9. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, if executed, cause a computer to further use a power consumption associated with the first low power state and a power consumption associated with the second low power state to determine the relative energy break-even time.

10. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the second low power state is to be shallower and is to have a shorter exit latency than the first low power state.

11. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, if executed, cause a computer to select the second low power state as the operating state if a projected idleness duration is less than the relative energy break-even time for the first low power state.

12. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the projected idleness duration is to be greater than the absolute energy break-even time for the first low power state.

13. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, if executed, cause a computer to:
detect a first break event from a first event source;
detect a second break event from a second event source; and
coordinate issuance of the first and second break events to the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

14. The medium of claim 13 , wherein coordination of the issuance of the first and second break events is to include a determination of a holding time based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time, and a deference of at least one of the first and second break events based on at least in part the holding time.

15. An apparatus comprising:
logic to,
determine an absolute energy break-even time for a first low power state with respect to a current state of a system,
determine a relative energy break-even time for the first low power state with respect to a second low power state based on at least in part the absolute energy break-even time, and
select an operating state for the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the logic is to further use a power consumption associated with the first low power state and a power consumption associated with the second low power state to determine the relative energy break-even time.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second low power state is to be shallower and is to have a shorter exit latency than the first low power state.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the logic is to select the second low power state as the operating state if a projected idleness duration is less than the relative energy break-even time for the first low power state.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the projected idleness duration is to be greater than the absolute energy break-even time for the first low power state.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the logic is to,
detect a first break event from a first event source,
detect a second break event from a second event source, and
coordinate issuance of the first and second break events to the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein coordination of the issuance of the first and second break events is to include a determination of a holding time based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time, and a deference of at least one of the first and second break events based on at least in part the holding time.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first and second low power states are to include at least one of a platform state, a processor state and a device state.

23. A platform comprising:
a processor; and
logic to,
determine an absolute energy break-even time for a first low power state with respect to a current state of the processor,
determine a relative energy break-even time for the first low power state with respect to a second low power state based on at least in part the absolute energy break-even time, and
select an operating state for the processor based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

24. The platform of claim 23 , wherein the logic is to further use a power consumption associated with the first low power state and a power consumption associated with the second low power state to determine the relative energy break-even time.

25. The platform of claim 23 , wherein the second low power state is to be shallower and is to have a shorter exit latency than the first low power state.

26. The platform of claim 25 , wherein the logic is to select the second low power state as the operating state if a projected idleness duration is less than the relative energy break-even time for the first low power state.

27. The platform of claim 26 , wherein the projected idleness duration is to be greater than the absolute energy break-even time for the first low power state.

28. The platform of claim 23 , wherein the logic is to,
detect a first break event from a first event source,
detect a second break event from a second event source, and
coordinate issuance of the

Assignees

• Wang Ren
• Maciocco Christian
• Tsai Jr-Shian
• Muralidhar Rajeev D
• Seshadri Harinarayanan
• Tai Tsung-Yuan
• Ergin Mesut A
• Min Alexander W
• Intel Corp

Inventors

• Wang Ren
• Maciocco Christian
• Tsai Jr-Shian
• Muralidhar Rajeev D
• Seshadri Harinarayanan
• Tai Tsung-Yuan
• Ergin Mesut A
• Min Alexander W

Classifications

• G06F1/3228

  Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands · CPC title

• G06F1/3203

  Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode · CPC title

• G06F1/32

  Means for saving power · CPC title

• G06F1/3206 Primary

  Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality · CPC title

• G06F1/3209

  Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections · CPC title