Audio Driver Stack Power State Management for 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 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 detection of active audio streams before the graphics processor shutdown. The audio driver stack checks whether audio data is actively being sent to the integrated audio device, and only permits shutdown when no active streams are detected, preventing system faults while enabling power savings
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the audio driver stack continuously monitors the state of audio streams and communicates this information to the graphics driver. This feedback loop ensures that shutdown decisions are based on real-time audio activity status, preventing faults while optimizing power consumption
2Reliability
If the high performance graphics processor remains active to maintain audio device functionality, then system stability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checks of audio stream status before allowing graphics processor shutdown. By detecting whether active audio streams exist in advance, the system can make informed decisions about processor state transitions, ensuring stability when needed and enabling power savings when safe
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the graphics processor power state based on real-time audio activity conditions. The processor transitions between active and shutdown states according to whether active audio streams are present, optimizing the balance between system stability and power consumption
3Ease of operation
If audio drivers continue to send audio data streams after graphics processor shutdown, then audio functionality is maintained, but critical system faults occur
Solution Approach 1:
The audio driver stack implements feedback mechanisms that monitor the operational state of the graphics processor and the integrated audio device. When the graphics processor is shutdown, the audio driver receives feedback indicating the device is powered off and automatically stops sending audio data streams, preventing system faults while maintaining proper audio functionality control
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.