Audio Device Power Management in Graphics Processors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current operating systems lack mechanisms to convey the shutdown event of high performance graphics processors to audio drivers, leading to continued audio data streams and critical system faults when the high performance graphics processor is shut down.
Innovation Solution
A method that directs audio data through an audio path in the audio driver stack, determines the presence of active audio streams, and requests the plug and play manager to disable the audio device if no active streams are present, ensuring the audio path is disabled before the graphics processing unit is shut down.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the high performance graphics processor is shut down to reduce power consumption, then power usage is reduced, but the audio device loses power and causes critical system faults due to continued audio data streams
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting the shutdown event of the graphics processor and disabling the audio device before the shutdown completes. This prevents audio data from being sent to a powered-off device, eliminating the system fault while allowing the graphics processor to be shut down for power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by establishing communication between the graphics driver and audio driver through the operating system. The graphics driver notifies the audio driver of the shutdown event, and the audio driver responds by disabling the audio device, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents the harmful effect.
2Loss of energy
If the high performance graphics processor is shut down, then power consumption is reduced, but audio drivers continue to send audio data streams causing system faults
Solution Approach 1:
The audio device is disabled in advance upon detection of the graphics processor shutdown event, before audio data streams would be sent to the powered-off device. This preliminary disabling prevents the generation of harmful audio data streams while minimizing energy waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively stopping the audio data streams and disabling the audio device before the harmful effect (sending data to a shut-down device) can occur. This counteracts the potential harm before it manifests.
3Reliability
If the high performance graphics processor is used to provide HD audio output, then audio quality is improved, but the larger die size and higher static power reduce portability
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic power management by conditionally shutting down the high performance graphics processor based on system state and power availability. The processor is activated when HD audio output is needed and portable performance is acceptable, and deactivated when power savings are prioritized, creating a dynamic adaptation to changing conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the graphics processor, switching between active and shutdown states based on power requirements and audio output needs. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between audio quality and power consumption dynamically.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for managing a power state of an audio device resident in a graphics processing unit. The method includes the steps of directing audio data originated from a client application via an audio path in an audio driver stack to the audio device, determining whether an active stream of audio data along the audio path is present in response to a notification of an attempt to shut down the graphics processing unit, and requesting a plug and play manager to disable the audio device, if no active stream of audio data is present along the audio path.