Audio Device Power State Management in Graphics Processing Units
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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 cannot receive shutdown notifications, causing audio data streams to continue and creating system faults
Solution Approach 1:
The audio driver detects the shutdown event of the graphics processor in advance and disables the audio device before the shutdown occurs. This preliminary action prevents audio data from being sent to a powered-off device, eliminating system faults while allowing the graphics processor to be shut down for power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio driver establishes a feedback mechanism that monitors the power state of the graphics processor. When a shutdown event is detected, the audio driver receives notification and responds by disabling the audio device, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents the harmful condition of sending audio data to a powered-off device.
2Manufacturing precision
If the high performance graphics processor is operated to provide high definition audio output, then audio quality is improved, but the larger die size and increased transistor count result in greater static power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power state of the graphics processor based on actual audio output needs. The audio driver monitors whether HD audio is actively being used and switches the graphics processor between high-performance and low-power states, allowing the system to maintain high audio quality when needed while reducing static power consumption during normal operation.
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.