Dynamic Power State Thresholds for Processor Activity Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing processor power-performance states fail to consider relative performance-to-power characteristics, leading to excessive power consumption without commensurate performance benefits.
Innovation Solution
A power manager system that sets activity level thresholds based on the current power-performance state, making it more difficult to transition to higher states at high P-states and easier at low P-states, by considering the relative performance per power benefit, to optimize power utilization and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed activity level threshold is used to determine P-state transitions, then the system is simple to implement, but it fails to consider relative performance-to-power characteristics leading to excess power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed threshold to a dynamic threshold that adapts based on the current P-state. The threshold for transitioning to a higher P-state is adjusted according to the current operating state, making the system responsive to changing conditions while maintaining implementation feasibility through predefined state-dependent threshold values.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the threshold value based on the current P-state. Different P-states have different threshold values associated with them, allowing the system to optimize power consumption by selecting appropriate thresholds dynamically without requiring complex real-time calculations.
2Productivity
If the system transitions frequently between P-states to optimize performance, then performance efficiency improves, but system stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamics to create a stable virtual operating point by allowing frequent transitions between discrete P-states while maintaining overall system stability. The dynamic threshold adjustment ensures that transitions occur at appropriate times based on current state, preventing both excessive stability and erratic behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for determining power-performance state transition thresholds in a computing system. A processor comprises several functional blocks and a power manager. Each of the functional blocks produces data corresponding to an activity level associated with the respective functional block. The power manager determines activity levels of the functional blocks and compares the activity level of a given functional block to a threshold to determine if a power-performance state (P-state) transition is indicated. The threshold is determined in part on a current P-state of the given functional block. When the current P-state of the given functional block is relatively high, the threshold activity level to transition to a higher P-state is higher than it would be if the current P-state were relatively low. The power manager is further configured to determine the thresholds based in part on one or more of a type of circuit being monitored and a type of workload being executed.