Dual Power Manager for Data Processing Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data processing systems face challenges in meeting power budget goals due to reliance on power consumption reporting hardware, which can fail to accurately report power usage, leading to potential overconsumption of power and failure to enforce power limits.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dual power management system with an integrated power manager and a system power manager, where the integrated power manager actively manages power based on current, up-to-date analog representations, and the system power manager takes over when the health of the reporting components is compromised, ensuring power consumption stays within predetermined limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the system relies on power consumption reporting hardware to manage power, then the power management process is simplified, but the reliability of power reporting and enforcement of power limits deteriorates due to potential hardware failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different measurement approaches at different levels: the integrated power manager uses detailed analog current measurements from power consumption reporting hardware for granular power management, while the system power manager uses aggregate power supply output measurements as a backup. Each level has optimized measurement quality appropriate to its function, resolving the contradiction between simplified process and reliable reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system proactively monitors the health of power consumption reporting hardware and prepares a backup power management approach using the system power manager. When hardware failures are detected, the system seamlessly transitions to the backup approach, cushioning against the potential negative impact of hardware failures on power reporting reliability.
2Speed
If the integrated power manager uses analog current representations for real-time power management, then the responsiveness to power changes is improved, but the system complexity increases due to the need for health monitoring and failover mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a health monitoring mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the integrated power manager and the system power manager. This intermediary continuously assesses the health of power consumption reporting hardware and triggers seamless failover to the system power manager when needed, enabling real-time responsiveness without requiring complex manual intervention or system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its power management approach based on the operational status of components. When power consumption reporting hardware is healthy, the integrated power manager uses detailed analog measurements for responsive management. When hardware failures occur, the system dynamically transitions to the system power manager's aggregate measurement approach, optimizing responsiveness to actual system conditions.
3Reliability
If the system monitors power consumption continuously to prevent overconsumption, then the power budget compliance is improved, but the energy overhead for monitoring increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial monitoring at two different levels: the integrated power manager performs continuous detailed monitoring of individual component power consumption using analog measurements, while the system power manager performs less frequent aggregate monitoring of total power supply output. This partial monitoring approach ensures power budget compliance while reducing the overall energy overhead compared to full continuous monitoring at all levels.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for power management are disclosed. The disclosed methods and system for power management may reduce the likelihood of a data processing system failing to meet power budget or other types of goals regarding power consumption, use, and/or provisioning. To reduce the likelihood of the data processing system failing to meet power related goals, the data processing system may include two power managers. An integrated power manager may manage power consumption based on a current-based, fast changing representation of the quantity of power being supplied by the power supplies. In contrast, a system power manager may manage power consumption based on digital representations of the power supplied by the power supplies, which may refresh the digital representations less quickly than the rate at which the analog current based representation is refreshed.