Dynamic CPU and Memory Power Region Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computing systems face challenges in reducing energy consumption in data centers and server environments, as hardware and software limitations restrict the ability to efficiently manage power states and relocate resources effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that dynamically relocates software resources such as processes, threads, and memory across hardware components, using memory and processor topology information, to enable subsets of CPUs and memory to enter low-power or no-power states, while maintaining performance by reallocating resources based on workload demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If hardware components are designed with independent power state features, then energy efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments power management into distinct primary and secondary power regions, allowing independent control of different hardware subsets. This enables targeted power state transitions without requiring complex system-wide management, resolving the contradiction by organizing complexity into manageable segments while maintaining energy efficiency benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal power management framework that can apply the same secondary power region concept across multiple CPU packages, memory modules, and I/O devices. This multi-functional approach allows a single management mechanism to handle diverse hardware components, improving energy efficiency without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Loss of energy
If software resources are relocated across hardware components, then energy consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic power management where secondary power regions can transition between active and limited states based on real-time workload demands. Software resources are dynamically relocated between power regions, allowing the system to adapt its complexity only when needed for energy savings, rather than maintaining fixed complex structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary power management layer that handles resource relocation between primary and secondary power regions. This intermediary absorbs the complexity of coordination and state management, allowing the underlying hardware and software to operate with simpler individual designs while achieving system-level energy efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If subsets of CPUs and memory are placed in low-power states, then energy savings increase, but functionality is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments functionality into primary power regions that maintain full functionality and secondary power regions that provide limited functionality. This segmentation allows the system to preserve essential functions in primary regions while enabling aggressive power savings in secondary regions, resolving the contradiction between energy savings and functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different power management policies are applied to different regions: primary power regions maintain high functionality with moderate power consumption, while secondary power regions accept reduced functionality for maximum power savings. This local quality approach allows the system to optimize the functionality-power tradeoff independently in each region.
4Productivity
If interrupt allocation is optimized based on characteristics, then system performance is improved, but management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allocating interrupts differently based on their characteristics and the specific power region they serve. Critical interrupts are routed to primary power regions with full functionality, while less critical interrupts can be handled by secondary regions in limited states. This localized optimization improves performance for critical functions without adding complexity across the entire system.
Data Source
AI summary
A system has one or more primary power regions having restrictions indicating that the primary power regions are not to be placed in an offline state. The system also includes one or more secondary power region that can either be parked or off-lined into a limited state having limited functionality in that functionality is removed from the one or more secondary power regions when placed in a limited state. At least one interrupt is allocated to one of the primary power regions, based on interrupt characteristics.