Context-Aware Power Management for Graphics Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management techniques for graphics devices in personal computing devices do not adequately consider the graphics context, leading to suboptimal frequency and idle state settings, which can result in inefficient power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A context-aware power management system that generates a context-based performance level based on factors like the graphics client, other applications, and user settings, which is used to determine optimal operating frequencies and idle states for the graphics hardware module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If frequency scaling and idle states management are introduced to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but graphics performance may be degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidgraphics performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic frequency scaling and idle state management that continuously monitors graphics workload characteristics and adjusts operating parameters in real-time. The system transitions between different performance states based on actual demand, enabling the graphics device to operate at optimal power-performance points rather than fixed states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (frequency, voltage, idle state duration) based on monitored graphics workload patterns. By analyzing command streams and workload characteristics, the power manager dynamically adjusts these parameters to achieve power savings while maintaining acceptable performance levels for different types of graphics tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If heuristic algorithms are used to determine frequency and idle state, then power management is simplified, but power optimization is suboptimal due to lack of context awareness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower management complexityVSAvoidpower optimization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the power manager continuously monitors graphics workload characteristics, command patterns, and performance metrics, then uses this information to dynamically adjust frequency and idle state decisions. This context-aware feedback loop enables more sophisticated power optimization compared to simple heuristic algorithms while maintaining manageable system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10228748B2Context aware power management for graphics devices

Publication Date: 2019.03.12 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Systems, apparatus and methods are described related to context aware power management for graphics devices.