Power Management During Download and Execute Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power management techniques for battery-powered systems during download and execute (DnX) operations are inefficient, leading to prolonged battery drain and potential device failure, especially in devices with limited battery life like smartphones and wearables, where large updates can be at risk due to insufficient power.
Innovation Solution
Implementing selective power policy management during DnX operations by disabling non-essential components such as displays, graphics processing units, and communication devices, and using power management integrated circuits to optimize power usage, allowing only boot-critical devices to be active during the process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If all components remain active during DnX operation, then system functionality is maintained, but battery life is depleted rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into boot-critical devices and non-essential devices. Boot-critical devices (processor, memory, storage, power management) remain active to maintain DnX functionality, while non-essential devices (display, audio, wireless communication) are disabled. This segmentation allows the system to preserve core functionality while eliminating unnecessary power consumption, thereby extending battery life during prolonged DnX operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Non-essential components are extracted from the active system configuration during DnX operations. The power management module selectively disables these components by cutting their power supply or placing them in low-power states, removing them from the active power consumption profile while the DnX operation proceeds using only the boot-critical subsystems.
2Productivity
If download and execute operation completes successfully, then system is provisioned, but prolonged operation drains battery power
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its power consumption profile based on the operational phase. During DnX operations, the system transitions from a full-power state to a reduced-power state by disabling non-essential components. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain productivity (complete provisioning) while minimizing energy loss through selective component shutdown.
3Loss of energy
If non-essential devices are disabled during DnX, then power consumption is reduced, but user interaction capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary communication with the host to notify the user before disabling non-essential devices. Error messages or status information are prepared in advance for display through alternative means (such as host system notification or basic LED indicators), ensuring that critical user interaction needs are addressed before the system transitions to low-power mode.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a system includes a display, a non-volatile memory to store one or more system software images, a processor to execute at least one of the one or more system software images, and a security engine to perform security applications. The security engine may include a first logic to receive a download package from a host computing system and store the download package in a first memory, authenticate the download package, and execute the download package to download and store a first system software image into the non-volatile memory. In addition, a second logic of the system may be configured to disable at least the display during the first system software image download and store. Other embodiments are described and claimed.