Event-Based Dynamic Power Management for Hardware Blocks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management systems in computer systems are inefficient in reducing power consumption during idle periods, as they often fail to accurately adjust power to hardware components based on specific events, leading to significant energy wastage.
Innovation Solution
An event-based dynamic power management system that adjusts power to hardware block engines by detecting external events, such as changes in a frame buffer for a wireless display, and internal states, allowing for precise control of clock cycles to reduce power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If power is reduced to hardware components based on idle time monitoring, then power consumption is reduced, but significant energy is wasted during idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements event-based feedback where external event detectors monitor system state changes (such as frame buffer changes in wireless displays) and provide feedback signals to the power manager. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic power adjustment based on actual system needs rather than relying solely on idle time thresholds, resolving the contradiction between power reduction and management accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The power management system transitions from static idle-time-based control to dynamic event-driven control. The power manager dynamically adjusts hardware block engine power levels in response to detected events, allowing the system to adapt power consumption to actual operational requirements rather than following fixed timing patterns.
2Device complexity
If traditional idle monitoring methods are used, then power management is simplified, but significant power is consumed during idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the power management function by introducing separate external event detectors for different hardware components (such as wireless display, audio device, etc.). Each detector independently monitors its specific component's state and generates events accordingly, allowing targeted power management without requiring complex centralized monitoring of all system states.
Solution Approach 2:
External event detectors act as intermediaries between the hardware components and the power manager. These detectors translate hardware state changes into standardized event signals that the power manager can process, simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling more precise power control compared to direct monitoring approaches.
3Loss of energy
If power adjustment is based on component activity monitoring, then power consumption is reduced, but the adjustment is not precise enough
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter used for power management decisions from generic component activity status to specific event-type indicators. By detecting and responding to distinct event types (frame buffer changes, audio events, etc.), the power manager can precisely adjust power levels matched to the specific operational context, achieving both energy reduction and measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method of event based dynamic power management. The method includes responding to receiving an indication of an event that is external to a hardware block engine by adjusting the power to the hardware block engine, if the event indicates that the power to the hardware block engine should be adjusted. The method may include receiving a second event that is external to the hardware block engine. The method may include determining whether or not the power should be adjusted to the hardware block engine based on the event and the second event. If it is determined that the power should be adjusted, then the power may be adjusted to the hardware block based on the event and second event. A method of monitoring a component and sending an indication of an event that the component will not require a hardware block engine is disclosed.