Audio Stack Power Control via Latency Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing audio stacks keep audio hardware and device layers active during silence periods due to latency concerns when transitioning to and from low power modes, leading to missed power savings opportunities.
Innovation Solution
An audio policy manager is introduced to analyze latency requirements and characteristics, enabling the entry and exit of low power modes during silence periods, and detecting audio activity to efficiently resume normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If audio hardware and device layers are kept active during silence periods, then latency performance is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically transitions audio hardware and device layers between active and low-power modes based on real-time detection of audio activity. During silence periods, components enter low-power mode to reduce consumption, while upon detecting audio activity, they transition back to active mode to maintain latency performance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
An audio policy manager is introduced as an intermediary component that analyzes latency requirements and characteristics, manages transitions to and from low-power modes, and detects audio activity. This mediator coordinates between power management and audio processing functions, enabling efficient power control while maintaining acceptable latency performance.
2Use of energy by moving object
If audio hardware transitions to low power mode during silence periods, then power savings are achieved, but latency increases when resuming operation
Solution Approach 1:
The audio policy manager performs preliminary analysis of latency requirements and characteristics before transitioning to low-power mode. By evaluating whether the anticipated silence period exceeds the latency threshold, the system determines if transitioning to low-power mode is acceptable, thereby avoiding unnecessary latency penalties while still achieving power savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the audio policy manager continuously monitors audio activity and adjusts power mode transitions accordingly. By detecting audio activity and analyzing latency characteristics in real-time, the system receives feedback that prevents premature or inappropriate transitions to low-power mode, thus maintaining acceptable latency performance while optimizing power savings.
Data Source
AI summary
Example apparatus disclosed herein compare one or more audio latency characteristics with one or more audio latency requirements in response to detection of an audio silence event, the audio latency characteristic(s) associated with at least one of a hardware layer or a device layer of an audio stack of a compute device, the audio latency requirement(s) associated with an application. Disclosed example apparatus also control a device layer of the audio stack to enter a device layer low power mode in response to a first determination that the audio latency requirement(s) is/are met by the audio latency characteristic(s). Disclosed example apparatus further control a hardware layer of the audio stack to enter a hardware layer low power mode in response to the first determination and a second determination that an operation condition for entry into the hardware layer low power mode is met.