Parallel Multi-Step Power Control Flow for Low Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power management in electrical devices, such as processors and system-on-chip (SoCs), incurs high performance costs due to serial communication and phase dependencies in power control flows, particularly when transitioning between power states like C6 deep sleep and dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS).
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multiphase power control flow that allows parallel execution of power control phases and acknowledges, eliminating dependencies between phases, enabling each agent to schedule and execute power control phases independently, and sending requests and acknowledgments in a single message to reduce communication latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If serial communication and phase dependencies are used in power control flows, then power management can be implemented with simple control logic, but communication latency increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The power control flow is divided into multiple independent phases (power phase, clock phase, reset phase, etc.), each handled by separate finite state machines. This segmentation allows parallel execution of phases while maintaining simple individual phase logic, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and communication latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from sequential (1D) phase execution to parallel (2D) phase execution by introducing multiple finite state machines that operate simultaneously. This dimensional change enables multiple power control phases to proceed concurrently, dramatically reducing communication latency while keeping each phase's control logic simple.
2Device complexity
If serial phase execution is used, then control logic remains simple, but productivity and power management frequency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the power control flow into independent phases handled by separate finite state machines, the system enables parallel execution of multiple phases. This increases power management frequency and productivity while maintaining simple control logic within each phase, resolving the contradiction between control simplicity and management frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
The parallel execution model ensures that multiple power control phases continue simultaneously without waiting for sequential completion. This continuous parallel action increases the frequency of power management operations, improving productivity while keeping individual phase logic simple through dedicated finite state machines.
3Loss of information
If multiple acknowledgment messages are sent serially, then each phase completion can be tracked individually, but communication overhead increases and latency multiplies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual acknowledgment messages into a single consolidated acknowledgment message that contains status information for all parallel phases. This combining approach maintains complete phase completion tracking while eliminating the cumulative latency of multiple sequential messages, resolving the contradiction between tracking accuracy and communication latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The single acknowledgment message serves multiple functions simultaneously: it tracks completion status of all power phases, provides error information for each phase, and enables the power control unit to coordinate subsequent actions. This multi-functional approach maintains comprehensive phase tracking while reducing communication overhead and latency.
Data Source
AI summary
A parallel multi-step power management flow apparatus and method for using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises a plurality of processing entities to execute operations, a power controller coupled to the plurality of processing entities to control power management for the plurality of processing entities, and a plurality of agents, where each of the plurality of agents is operable to perform a power control flow for one of the processing entities by separately scheduling, using a scheduler, and executing a plurality of power control flow phases in response to a plurality of requests received from the power controller, and each agent is operable to send a plurality of acknowledgements, one acknowledgement for each phase, upon completion of the plurality of power control flow phases.