Adaptive Frame Rate Control for Graphics Subsystems

Solution Overview

Problem

Current power management models for graphics subsystems in computing platforms often throttle power usage based on frame rate thresholds, which can lead to unnecessary power down during short, high-frame-rate bursts like game load screens, compromising user experience by not accounting for the bursty nature of graphics-intensive activities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an adaptive frame rate control mechanism that distinguishes between burst and sustained modes by analyzing average render times and frame rates over a given interval, allowing for dynamic adjustment of performance states to optimize power usage without compromising user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If power management models throttle power usage based on frame rate thresholds, then power consumption is reduced, but user experience deteriorates during short high-frame-rate bursts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiduser experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the frame rate threshold for power management decisions based on the duration of high frame rate periods. Instead of using a fixed threshold, the system adapts the threshold dynamically to distinguish between sustained high frame rate operations (where power reduction is appropriate) and brief bursts (where power reduction would harm user experience). This resolves the contradiction by making the power management response flexible rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors frame rate over time and uses this feedback to determine whether to apply power management throttling. By continuously observing frame rate patterns and comparing them against adaptive thresholds, the system receives feedback about actual usage patterns and adjusts its power management decisions accordingly. This prevents unnecessary power down during bursts while still achieving power savings during sustained low-activity periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If graphics subsystem operates at high frame rate during bursts, then user experience is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the frame rate threshold for power management decisions based on the duration of high frame rate periods. Instead of using a fixed threshold, the system adapts the threshold dynamically to distinguish between sustained high frame rate operations (where power reduction is appropriate) and brief bursts (where power reduction would harm user experience). This resolves the contradiction by making the power management response flexible rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter used for power management decisions from a simple fixed frame rate threshold to a time-duration-aware adaptive threshold. By incorporating the temporal dimension (how long high frame rate conditions persist) into the decision parameter, the system can differentiate between brief bursts that should maintain full performance and sustained periods where power reduction is acceptable, thus optimizing both user experience and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If frame rate threshold is lowered to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but frame rate stability during bursts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidframe rate stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the frame rate threshold for power management decisions based on the duration of high frame rate periods. Instead of using a fixed threshold, the system adapts the threshold dynamically to distinguish between sustained high frame rate operations (where power reduction is appropriate) and brief bursts (where power reduction would harm user experience). This resolves the contradiction by making the power management response flexible rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter used for power management decisions from a simple fixed frame rate threshold to a time-duration-aware adaptive threshold. By incorporating the temporal dimension (how long high frame rate conditions persist) into the decision parameter, the system can differentiate between brief bursts that should maintain full performance and sustained periods where power reduction is acceptable, thus optimizing both user experience and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9779694B2Adaptive frame rate control for a graphics subsystem

Publication Date: 2017.10.03 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Examples are disclosed for adjusting a performance state of a graphics subsystem and/or a processor based on a comparison of an average frame rate to a target frame rate and also based on whether the graphics subsystem is in a burst mode or sustained mode of operation.