Application-Specific Hardware Parameter Tuning for Power Management
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power-performance management systems for processing devices rely on hardcoded dynamic power management settings, leading to varied performance levels across different applications, as global settings cannot be adjusted without modifying driver software, resulting in inconsistent power consumption and performance.
Innovation Solution
Customized hardware parameter settings are stored for each application and processor, allowing for dynamic tuning of hardware parameters, such as clock speed and voltage, to optimize power consumption and performance without altering the device driver, by overwriting configuration files within the driver stack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If global DPM settings are used for all applications, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but performance consistency across different applications deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the global DPM settings into application-specific settings. Each application receives customized hardware parameter settings stored in a data structure associated with that application, allowing performance optimization per application while maintaining ease of operation through automated selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different hardware parameter settings to different applications based on their specific requirements. Each application gets tailored settings for clock speeds, voltage levels, and power states, ensuring optimal performance for that specific application rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
2Reliability
If driver software is modified to adjust DPM settings for different applications, then performance consistency is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of repair increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the application-specific DPM settings from the driver software and stores them in separate data structures or configuration files. This allows the settings to be modified without changing the driver software code, reducing device complexity while maintaining performance consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring hardware parameter settings for each application in advance. These settings are stored and automatically selected when an application runs, eliminating the need for real-time modifications to driver software and reducing overall system complexity.
3Reliability
If hardware parameters are tuned for each application, then performance consistency is improved, but use of energy increases due to more frequent parameter adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing a hybrid approach where hardware parameters are dynamically adjusted only when necessary for each application. The system selects from pre-configured settings and applies changes selectively, avoiding unnecessary parameter adjustments and reducing energy consumption compared to continuous tuning.
Data Source
AI summary
A processing apparatus is provided which includes memory configured to store hardware parameter settings for each of a plurality of applications. The processing apparatus also includes a processor in communication with the memory configured to store, in the memory, the hardware parameter settings, identify one of the plurality of applications as a currently executing application and control an operation of hardware by tuning a plurality of hardware parameters according to the stored hardware parameter settings for the identified application.