Processor Power License Control via Dynamic Core Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing power requirements and energy consumption of computing systems, driven by advances in semiconductor processing and software inefficiencies, necessitate more efficient power management in processors to reduce electricity usage and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
Implementing power management circuitry in processors to dynamically adjust power license levels for processing cores, defer speculative instructions, and configure per-core thermal design power levels, allowing for fine-grained control of voltage and frequency to optimize energy efficiency without compromising performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If power management circuitry dynamically adjusts power license levels and defers speculative instructions, then energy consumption is reduced, but processor performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power license adjustment where the power management circuitry continuously monitors processor activity and adjusts power licenses in real-time based on actual execution needs rather than static allocation. This allows the system to optimize energy consumption while maintaining performance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses speculative instruction execution with deferred power licensing, where instructions are prepared and staged beforehand but actual power license acquisition is postponed until execution is certain. This preliminary preparation without immediate power commitment reduces energy consumption while maintaining performance potential.
2Use of energy by moving object
If fine-grained control of voltage and frequency is implemented, then energy efficiency is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides power control into granular power licenses that can be independently allocated to different instruction types, cores, and functional units. This segmentation allows fine-grained voltage and frequency control without requiring complete system-wide control complexity, as each segment can be managed independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a power management circuitry intermediary layer that sits between the processor cores and the physical power delivery system. This intermediary translates high-level power license requests into specific voltage and frequency adjustments, shielding the complexity from both the processor cores and the external power system.
3Loss of energy
If power licenses are granted based on actual execution rather than speculation, then energy waste is reduced, but instruction execution time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares speculative instructions in advance and stages them for execution, but delays the actual power license grant until execution certainty is confirmed. This preliminary preparation without immediate power commitment reduces energy waste from failed speculations while minimizing execution time penalty through pre-positioning of instructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the power management circuitry monitors instruction execution outcomes and adjusts future power license granting decisions based on actual execution patterns. This feedback loop reduces energy waste by learning from past speculative outcomes while maintaining execution speed by quickly adapting to proven execution paths.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a processor includes a current protection controller to: receive instruction width information and instruction type information associated with one or more instructions stored in an instruction queue prior to execution of the one or more instructions by an execution circuit; determine a power license level for the core based on the corresponding instruction width information and the instruction type information; generate a request for a license for the core corresponding to the power license level; and communicate the request to a power controller when the one or more instructions are non-speculative, and defer communication of the request when at least one of the one or more instructions is speculative. Other embodiments are described and claimed.