Multi-Threading Processor Power Management via Buffer Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hyper-Threading Technology increases power consumption in computer systems, particularly in battery-operated mobile systems, due to higher utilization of processor execution resources, and existing power management techniques like dynamic voltage management may interfere with data delivery requirements in real-time applications.

Innovation Solution

A method for managing resources by monitoring buffers and threads, dynamically adjusting voltage and frequency, and coordinating thread dispatch to reduce power consumption while maintaining application performance, using a resource manager to transition between different machine and thread states based on buffer levels and data dependency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If Hyper-Threading Technology is used to increase parallelism and processor utilization, then productivity is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveparallelismVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses periodic monitoring of buffer levels and thread states to dynamically adjust processor resource allocation. By periodically evaluating buffer status and coordinating thread dispatch timing, the system activates processor resources only when necessary, reducing continuous power consumption while maintaining productivity through scheduled parallel execution when buffers indicate readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If dynamic voltage management is used to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but data delivery requirements in real-time applications may be interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata delivery requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring buffer levels and thread execution states. This feedback information is used to dynamically coordinate thread dispatch timing and adjust voltage/frequency settings, ensuring that power consumption is reduced only when buffer levels and thread states indicate that data delivery requirements will still be met. The feedback loop prevents harmful power reduction that would compromise real-time performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary monitoring and evaluation of buffer levels and thread states before making power management decisions. By assessing the current system state in advance and coordinating thread dispatch proactively, the system can safely reduce power consumption while ensuring that real-time data delivery requirements are maintained through pre-planned resource allocation adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If threads are dispatched immediately when ready to increase throughput, then productivity is improved, but power consumption increases due to higher processor utilization

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of immediate thread dispatch, the system uses periodic evaluation of buffer levels and thread states to determine optimal dispatch timing. Threads are coordinated to be dispatched at intervals when buffer conditions indicate readiness, maintaining throughput by ensuring data availability while reducing power consumption by avoiding continuous high-utilization processor operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary monitoring of buffer levels and thread readiness states before dispatching threads. By evaluating system state in advance and coordinating dispatch timing based on buffer status, the system ensures that threads are dispatched only when necessary to maintain throughput, thereby reducing unnecessary processor utilization and power consumption while preserving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9323571B2Methods for reducing energy consumption of buffered applications using simultaneous multi-threading processor

Publication Date: 2016.04.26 INTEL CORP

AI summary

A state of an application running in a system is monitored. The monitoring of the application states includes monitoring one or more buffers associated with the application. Dispatch of one or more threads in the system is controlled. At least one thread in the system is associated with the application. Resources in the system are managed based at least on the state of the application and the state of the one or more threads in the system.