Software Energy Evaluation Using Process-Based Energy Models

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for evaluating software energy consumption are complex, requiring direct measurements on each device type and software version, which is impractical and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A model-based approach using predefined energy models and process measurements to predict software energy consumption across different computer systems without direct measurement, leveraging instrumentation and benchmarking to determine and adjust process parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If direct energy measurements are performed on each device type and software version, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and measurement time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumption measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an energy model as an intermediary between the software and the energy measurement system. Instead of directly measuring energy consumption for each software-device combination, the system uses process measurements from software execution to query a pre-determined energy model, which acts as a mediator to predict energy consumption without direct measurement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by determining energy models for different device types in advance, before actual software evaluation is needed. These energy models are stored and can be quickly queried during software evaluation, avoiding the need to perform complex energy measurements for each new software version or device combination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If direct energy measurements are performed for each software version and device type, then reliability of energy evaluation is improved, but productivity and evaluation speed deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy evaluation reliabilityVSAvoidsoftware evaluation speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates copies of energy characteristics by developing energy models that represent the energy behavior of different device types. Instead of performing repeated measurements on actual devices, the system uses these model copies to predict energy consumption for any software-device combination, maintaining reliability while dramatically improving evaluation speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If comprehensive process measurements are taken during software execution, then energy model accuracy is improved, but ease of operation and implementation complexity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy model accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement implementation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary process measurements that are most relevant to energy consumption from the software execution process. By identifying and measuring only these key parameters (such as CPU utilization, memory access patterns, I/O operations), the system achieves accurate energy modeling without the complexity of comprehensive system-wide measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4697176A1Method for evaluating software
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SIEMENS AG
  • EP4697176A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4697176A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4697176A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to an evaluation of software SW based on the energy consumption caused by running the software SW on a computer system HW. The determination of the energy consumption E(HW;SW) is model-based, using an energy model MODE(HW) specific to the computer system HW and based on one or more process measurements PROC(HW;SW;i) resulting from running the software SW on the computer system HW. The energy model MODE(HW) is predefined such that it outputs the energy consumption E(HW;SW) in response to an input of the process measurements PROC(HW;SW;i).