Processor Power Controller Using Non-Uniform Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CPU power management designs are inefficient in multi-core processors with shared resources, as they fail to effectively transition into low-power states due to non-uniform transition delays, leading to excessive performance loss and high power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A processor with a controller that manages power state transitions using non-uniform delay thresholds based on whether resources are shared or non-shared, applying a lower threshold for non-shared resources and a higher threshold for shared resources, and dynamically updating thresholds based on performance impact metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional uniform power management thresholds are applied to all resources, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but power consumption efficiency deteriorates due to non-uniform transition delays in multi-core processors with shared resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different power management thresholds to different resource types: exclusive resources use threshold T1 while shared resources use threshold T2. This local differentiation allows the system to account for non-uniform transition delays specific to each resource type, improving power consumption efficiency without requiring complete customization for every individual resource
Solution Approach 2:
The power management system is segmented into distinct threshold categories (T1 for exclusive resources, T2 for shared resources). This segmentation simplifies the complexity by creating manageable groups rather than requiring individual threshold configuration for each resource, while still achieving differentiated power management
2Loss of energy
If power management transitions are enabled with low thresholds, then power consumption is reduced, but performance loss increases due to transition delays and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the threshold parameter based on resource type: exclusive resources use a lower threshold T1 that allows more aggressive power management, while shared resources use a higher threshold T2 that prevents premature transitions. This parameter differentiation optimizes the balance between power savings and performance for each resource category
3Loss of energy
If power management is applied to shared resources with aggressive thresholds, then power consumption decreases, but system stability deteriorates due to high transition rates and interrupt handling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a higher threshold T2 specifically to shared resources to prevent aggressive power management transitions. This local quality adjustment ensures that shared resources, which have higher transition rates and interrupt handling requirements, maintain system stability while still allowing power management on exclusive resources with lower threshold T1
Data Source
AI summary
A processor includes a plurality of exclusive resources, a shared resource, and a controller configured to manage power state transitions of each of the plurality of exclusive resources and the shared resource. The controller receives a request from a resource to transition from a first power state to a lower power state and, in response to receiving the request, the controller controls power state transitions of the resource according to a first power control threshold when the resource is one of the plurality of exclusive resources and according to a second power control threshold that is greater than the first power control threshold when the resource is the shared resource.