Dynamic CPU Assignment for Power and Response Trade-offs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional information processing devices with a main CPU and sub-CPU have fixed CPU resource utilization, leading to inflexible power management and increased power consumption due to direct connections between CPUs and peripheral devices, requiring redesigns with hardware configuration changes.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device with a main CPU and sub-CPU that can switch between operating and sleeping states, featuring a process request determining section to dynamically assign tasks based on CPU states, allowing the sub-CPU to handle low-load processes and the main CPU to maintain a sleeping state for reduced power consumption while ensuring high response speed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the main CPU is kept in the operating state to handle all process requests, then the response speed is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic CPU assignment where the system determines whether to assign a process request to the main CPU or sub-CPU based on the current operational state. The main CPU can transition between operating and sleeping states, and the process request determining section dynamically selects which CPU to activate, making the system adaptable to varying workload conditions rather than maintaining a fixed assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The sub-CPU is designed to independently handle process requests when the main CPU is in the sleeping state. The process request determining section automatically routes appropriate requests to the sub-CPU without requiring main CPU intervention, enabling the lower-power CPU to serve itself for handling less critical tasks and reducing overall system power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Use of energy by moving object

If the main CPU is put into sleeping state to reduce power consumption, then the power consumption is reduced, but the response speed deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresponse speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The sub-CPU acts as an intermediary processor that handles process requests when the main CPU is in the sleeping state. The process request determining section serves as a mediator that intelligently routes requests to either the main CPU or sub-CPU based on current system state, ensuring that the sleeping main CPU can still respond to requests through the sub-CPU without significant performance degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the CPU processing responsibilities between two distinct processors: the main CPU for high-performance tasks and the sub-CPU for lower-power operations. This segmentation allows the system to distribute workload appropriately, with the sub-CPU handling routine process requests independently while the main CPU remains in low-power mode, thus maintaining response capability while reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If fixed CPU assignments are used for peripheral devices, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCPU connection configurationVSAvoidCPU resource utilization flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic CPU assignment through the process request determining section, which evaluates the operational state of the main CPU and decides whether to route process requests to the main CPU or sub-CPU. This dynamic approach eliminates the need for fixed hardware connections between specific peripheral devices and specific CPUs, allowing flexible resource allocation while maintaining simple hardware architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS7725749B2Information processing device for assigning processes to a main CPU or sub-CPU based on a sleeping state

Publication Date: 2010.05.25 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

An information processing device of the present invention comprises a main CPU capable of taking at least two states which are an operating state and a sleeping state, a sub-CPU having power consumption lower than that of the main CPU and capable of taking at least two states which are an operating state and a sleeping state, and a process request determining section for determining which of the main CPU and the sub-CPU is caused to execute a process related to a request from a peripheral device. The process request determining section determines whether the main CPU is in the sleeping state or the operating state, and when the main CPU is in the sleeping state, determines whether or not the sub-CPU can be caused to execute the process, and when the main CPU is in the operating state, determines whether or not the main CPU can be caused to execute the process, and depending on a result of the determination, causes the main CPU or the sub-CPU to execute the process.