System Management Controller Power State Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current computing systems do not effectively reduce power consumption when the system management controller fails to enter a reduced power state, despite the operating system causing the hardware under its control to do so, leading to unnecessary electrical power usage.

Innovation Solution

The system management controller is designed to enter a corresponding reduced power state in response to the operating system causing the hardware under its control to enter a reduced power state, ensuring that the entire system reduces power consumption by utilizing separate hardware for the controller that is not under the operating system's control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the operating system causes hardware under its control to enter a reduced power state, then power used by the hardware is reduced, but the system management controller continues to consume power unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower used by hardwareVSAvoidpower consumed by system management controller

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system management controller monitors the power state of hardware under operating system control and proactively enters a reduced power state in response, preventing unnecessary energy consumption before it occurs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system management controller receives feedback about the operating system's power state changes and adjusts its own power consumption accordingly, creating a responsive energy management system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system management controller remains active to manage the system, then system management capability is maintained, but overall power consumption is higher than necessary

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem management capabilityVSAvoidoverall power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system management controller dynamically adjusts its operational state based on system conditions, transitioning between active and reduced power states to optimize the balance between management capability and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The controller changes its operational parameters by entering different power states (awake, sleep, deep sleep) based on the power state of the hardware it manages, allowing flexible adaptation to system needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8631251B2System management controller entry into reduced power state responsive to other hardware entering reduced power state

Publication Date: 2014.01.14 LENOVO GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH

AI summary

A system includes an operating system, first hardware, second hardware, and a system management controller, the latter which also may be considered an integrated management module or a baseboard management module. The first hardware executes the operating system and is under control of the operating system. The operating system causes the first hardware to enter a first reduced power state. The second hardware is different than the first hardware and is not under control of the operating system. The system management controller is implemented by the second hardware. In response to the operating system causing the first hardware to enter the first reduced power state, the system management controller causes the second hardware to enter a second reduced power state corresponding to the first reduced power state. The first reduced power state may be a more-power-conserving reduced power state than the second reduced power state.