Autonomous Power Management Controller for Computing Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power management techniques in computing devices cannot perform power management activities when the system is in a non-OS aware state, such as a low power state, leading to inefficiencies in power consumption and potential loss of operating state information.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that automatically schedules wake-up alarms based on predetermined times, battery charge capacity, or operating statistics, allowing transitions between active and low power states, including suspend-to-RAM and suspend-to-disk states, to manage power consumption and preserve operating state information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the computing device transitions to a low power state, then power consumption is reduced, but the ability to perform power management activities is lost when in non-OS aware state
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments power management functionality into two parts: OS-aware power management (when OS is running) and autonomous power management (when OS is suspended). The autonomous power management controller operates independently to schedule wake-up alarms and manage transitions between power states, enabling power management activities even when the OS is not running.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous power management controller enables the system to manage its own power states without requiring OS intervention. It can autonomously schedule wake-up alarms, transition between power states, and manage power consumption even when the OS is in a suspended state, making the system self-sufficient for power management tasks.
2Productivity
If the computing device uses timer-based power management in active state, then power management activities can be performed, but power consumption cannot be optimized during non-OS aware states
Solution Approach 1:
The system schedules wake-up alarms in advance before transitioning to low power states. The autonomous power management controller pre-configures timer values and wake-up conditions, allowing the system to enter deep sleep states with confidence that power management activities will be executed at the appropriate times without requiring the OS to remain active.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic power state transitions based on scheduled wake-up alarms. Instead of keeping the OS running continuously to manage power, the system alternates between active states (when power management activities are needed) and low power states (during inactivity periods), achieving both productivity and energy efficiency.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the computing device transitions directly to a lower power state, then power consumption is minimized, but operating state information may be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous power management controller preserves operating state information before transitioning to low power states by scheduling wake-up alarms that will restore the OS and reload necessary data. This cushioning mechanism ensures that even if the device enters a deep sleep or power-off state, the operating state information can be recovered when the wake-up alarm triggers a system resume.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for scheduling and controlling power management activities are disclosed. An example method includes automatically scheduling a wake-up alarm for a computing device and transitioning the computing device from an active power state to a first low power state. The example method also includes, in response to occurrence of the automatically scheduled wake-up alarm, transitioning the computing device from the first low power state to the active power state and transitioning the computing device from the active power state to a second low power state, where the second low power state is a lower power state than the first low power state.