Scheduled Resource State Transitions for Portable Computing Power Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional portable computing devices face significant latency and power consumption issues when processors transition between sleep and active states due to the need for software handshakes, which are slow and prone to delays, especially when managing shared resources across multiple subsystems.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that schedule resource state transitions to begin just in time for the processor to enter a new application state, eliminating the need for software handshakes by maintaining resource state sets in memory and using a controller to manage transitions based on estimated processing time, thereby minimizing resource latency and conserving power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If software handshakes are used to coordinate resource state transitions, then resource coordination between multiple subsystems is achieved, but transition time increases and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the handshake coordination function from the software domain and implements it in the hardware domain through a state machine controller. This removes the software processing overhead and interrupt handling delays, achieving fast resource coordination without time-consuming software handshakes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the software-based handshake mechanism with a hardware-based state machine controller that automatically manages resource state transitions. This substitution eliminates the need for software instructions, context switches, and interrupt handling, significantly reducing transition time.
2Reliability
If software handshakes are used to coordinate resource state transitions, then resource coordination between multiple subsystems is achieved, but power consumption increases due to processor remaining active
Solution Approach 1:
The state machine controller prepares resource state transitions in advance and executes them autonomously without requiring the processor to remain active. This allows the processor to enter sleep states immediately while the controller handles the coordination, eliminating the need for the processor to stay powered on during handshakes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a state machine controller as an intermediary between the processor and shared resources. This intermediary handles all coordination and handshake operations independently, allowing the processor to disconnect from the coordination process and enter low-power states without compromising resource coordination reliability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If processor enters sleep state quickly without software handshakes, then power consumption is reduced, but resource latency increases when resources are not ready
Solution Approach 1:
The state machine controller continuously monitors the state of shared resources and the processor's application state requests. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to dynamically adjust resource state transitions, ensuring resources are ready exactly when needed. The controller uses this feedback to optimize the timing of state changes, minimizing both power consumption and latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resource state management where the state machine controller adapts resource transitions based on real-time processor requests and resource availability. This dynamic approach allows the system to enter sleep states quickly when resources can be rapidly transitioned, while maintaining the ability to keep resources active when faster response is needed, optimizing the trade-off between power consumption and latency.
Data Source
AI summary
A start time to begin transitioning resources to states indicated in the second resource state set is scheduled based upon an estimated amount of processing time to complete transitioning the resources. At a scheduled start time, a process starts in which the states of one or more resources are switched from states indicated by the first resource state set to states indicated by the second resource state set. Scheduling the process of transitioning resource states to begin at a time that allows the process to be completed just in time for the resource states to be immediately available to the processor upon entering the second application state helps minimize adverse effects of resource latency. This calculation for the time that the process should be completed just in time may be enhanced when system states and transitions between states are measured accurately and stored in memory of the portable computing device.