Power Budget Allocation for IHS and USB Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information Handling Systems (IHSs) face challenges in managing power budgets, particularly when both high-power processor operations and USB device charging are required simultaneously, leading to potential performance throttling without user intervention or control over power allocation.
Innovation Solution
The system prompts users to prioritize either IHS performance or USB device charging through a graphical interface, allowing for CPU throttling or reduced USB power output to maintain the power budget, enabling interactive control over power allocation based on user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the processor is operated at high power to maintain IHS performance, then processing speed and computational capability are improved, but power consumption increases and may exceed the available power budget
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts processor power consumption based on user-selected priorities. When USB charging is prioritized, the processor operates at reduced power levels; when IHS performance is prioritized, the processor can operate at higher power levels. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt power consumption to current operational needs while staying within the available power budget.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power consumption parameter of the processor based on user input. By presenting a choice to the user and adjusting the processor power parameter accordingly, the system can optimize the balance between performance and power usage. This parameter change enables the system to resolve the contradiction by allowing high performance only when power availability permits.
2Reliability
If the system automatically throttles the processor to stay within power budget, then power budget compliance is maintained, but user control and transparency over power allocation decisions are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by presenting power allocation choices to the user through a graphical interface. Instead of silently making automatic decisions, the system communicates the power budget situation and requested actions to the user, allowing them to make informed decisions. This feedback mechanism maintains power budget compliance while significantly improving user control and transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system empowers the user to make their own power allocation decisions through the graphical interface. Rather than the system making decisions unilaterally, the user is presented with options and can select their preferred power allocation strategy. This self-service approach maintains reliability through user-informed decisions while maximizing user control over the system's behavior.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide capabilities by which a user provides interactive inputs for allocating use of the available power budget of an IHS (Information Handling System) when a conflict in the power budget is detected. The power demand of the IHS processor(s) is monitored. When a USB device is coupled to the IHS, a power output to the USB device is enabled within the available power budget. Upon detecting an increase in the power demand of the processor, the power budget may be exceeded. The user is then prompted to specify whether to prioritize use of the power budget for performance of the IHS or for charging the USB device. Based on inputs provided by the user, the processor may be throttled or the power output to the USB device may be reduced. The user is thus provided a capability for resolving individual power budget conflicts based on the user's current preferences.