Inter-Partition Bridge for Power Management in Multi-Core Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power management techniques are ineffective in partitioned multi-processor systems where sequestered resources cannot be monitored or controlled by the traditional power management agent, leading to high power usage due to the lack of access to sequestered devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system and method that uses an inter-partition bridge and mock devices to enable communication between operating system partitions and sequestered partitions, allowing for the routing of device accesses to sleeping devices and the management of power utilization by sequestering processors and devices, thereby minimizing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If resources are sequestered from operating system access for partitioning, then system partitioning capability is improved, but power management capability deteriorates because the agent cannot monitor or control sequestered resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem partitioning capabilityVSAvoidpower management capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a power management component in the sequestered partition that acts as an intermediary to monitor and control power states of devices. This component communicates with the operating system through a defined interface, enabling power management of sequestered resources without requiring direct OS access to those resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If devices are kept in active state to handle potential access requests, then system responsiveness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem responsivenessVSAvoiddevice power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power management by allowing devices to transition between active and sleep states based on actual access needs. The power management component monitors access patterns and dynamically adjusts device power states, keeping devices active only when necessary to maintain system responsiveness while reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring power management policies and thresholds before devices need to respond to access requests. The power management component establishes readiness criteria in advance, allowing devices to quickly transition from sleep to active state when predefined conditions are met, maintaining responsiveness while minimizing active time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7516336B2System and method for power reduction by sequestering at least one device or partition in a platform from operating system access

Publication Date: 2009.04.07 INTEL CORP

AI summary

In some embodiments, the invention involves a system and method relating to managing power utilization in partitioned systems. In at least one embodiment, the present invention is intended to control the sleeping/wakefulness of devices, as necessary, to minimize power utilization of devices whose accesses are routed away. Inter-partition communication is used to utilize devices in a sequestered partition while devices in the OS partition are put into a sleep state to save power. Other embodiments are described and claimed.