Asymmetrical Multi-Processor Power Management via Dynamic Load Shifting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current computing systems do not efficiently utilize the power of secondary processors, as they are typically in a sleep state and only activated during high loads, leading to suboptimal power consumption and underutilization of secondary processing capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where a primary processor handles routine tasks and a secondary processor is awakened only when specific conditions are met, such as high processor usage or thermal thresholds, allowing the secondary processor to perform labor-intensive tasks and then return to a sleep state when conditions normalize.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the secondary processor is kept in sleep state to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but processing capability is underutilized when load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions the secondary processor between sleep state and active state based on real-time monitoring of system conditions (temperature, processor usage). This dynamic state change allows the system to optimize power consumption during low-load periods while ensuring processing capability is available when needed, resolving the contradiction between power savings and capability utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors conditions in advance and wakes up the secondary processor before the system reaches maximum load or thermal thresholds. By detecting upcoming high-load conditions or rising temperatures early, the system can proactively activate the secondary processor to share the processing burden, preventing power consumption spikes and thermal issues before they occur.
2Productivity
If the secondary processor is activated during high load to handle additional tasks, then processing productivity is improved, but power consumption and thermal stress increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors temperature, processor usage, and system load, and uses this feedback to make real-time decisions about secondary processor activation. When monitoring indicates approaching thermal or load thresholds, the system activates the secondary processor to share the burden, thereby controlling power consumption and thermal stress while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of high power consumption and thermal stress into a benefit by using temperature and load monitoring as triggers to activate the secondary processor. The thermal stress that would otherwise damage the system is instead used as a signal to distribute the processing load, turning a harmful condition into a useful control mechanism.
3Productivity
If the secondary processor handles labor-intensive tasks, then processing efficiency is improved, but thermal conditions worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing workload between primary and secondary processors based on task type and system conditions. Labor-intensive tasks are selectively assigned to the secondary processor when it is active, while routine tasks remain with the primary processor. This segmentation distributes thermal generation across multiple processing units, reducing thermal stress on any single component while maintaining overall processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and media for allocating processing functions between a primary processor and a secondary processor are disclosed. In one embodiment, a primary processor performs routine processing duties, including execution of application program code, while the secondary processor is in a sleep state. When the load on the primary processor is deemed to be excessive, the secondary processor is awakened from a sleep state and assigned to perform processing functions that would otherwise need to be performed by the primary processor. If temperatures in the system rise above a threshold, the secondary processor is returned to the sleep state.