Hierarchical Power Management for Virtualized OS Coexistence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power management systems, such as ACPI OSPM, do not effectively support multiple virtualized operating systems coexisting in a hypervisor environment, leading to inefficiencies and potential conflicts in power and energy management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Hierarchical Power Management (HPM) systems, which include virtualized Functional Fixed Hardware codes and pass-through access for non-virtualized codes, allowing multiple operating systems to manage power effectively without interference, using a controller and memory with instructions based on BIOS firmware, and employing modified DSDT and SSDT tables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ACPI OSPM is used for power management, then power management services are standardized and accessible, but support for multiple virtualized operating systems is limited and conflicts arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power management functionality by introducing a hypervisor layer that virtualizes ACPI services. This allows multiple operating systems to each have their own virtualized ACPI OSPM instances, enabling independent power management operations without interference. The segmentation separates the physical hardware control from the virtualized OS-level power management, resolving the conflict between multi-OS support and reliable power management.
Solution Approach 2:
The hypervisor acts as an intermediary layer between the physical hardware and multiple virtualized operating systems. It mediates power management requests from different OSes, translating them into appropriate hardware control signals. This intermediary prevents direct conflicts between OSes while maintaining standardized ACPI interfaces, thus improving adaptability without sacrificing reliability.
2Ease of operation
If pass-through access is provided to hardware for power management, then each OS can directly control hardware resources, but interference between operating systems occurs and power management efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hypervisor serves as an intermediary that controls hardware access for power management. Instead of allowing direct pass-through access that causes interference, the hypervisor manages and coordinates hardware control signals from multiple OSes. This maintains ease of operation by preserving OS-level control interfaces while preventing energy waste through coordinated, conflict-free hardware management.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtualized Functional Fixed Hardware codes are maintained responsive to device interrupts, then multiple OSes can coexist with power management capabilities, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hypervisor implements a universal power management layer that handles multiple OSes and various device types through standardized virtualized ACPI interfaces. This multi-functional approach allows the system to support diverse configurations without proportionally increasing complexity. The universal layer abstracts common power management operations, reducing the complexity burden despite enhanced adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, apparatuses and program products are disclosed for providing power/energy control.HPM (Hierarchical Power Management) systems provide for and improve on the power management support beyond what is available in current PC notebooks and desktops.