Supervisory Power Arbitrator for Hardware Idle Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In computing devices, especially mobile ones, managing power consumption of hardware components like network adapters becomes challenging due to applications not reliably registering and releasing their use, preventing these components from transitioning to low-power modes, even when idle, leading to inefficient battery usage.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a supervisory control of power management within the operating system, utilizing a power management arbitrator to detect idle conditions and transition hardware components to low-power states independently of application registration status, with adjustable timeout and wakeup periods based on various factors such as application type, battery state, and user preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If applications register their use of hardware components to ensure availability, then reliability of hardware access is improved, but power consumption increases because hardware cannot transition to low-power mode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware access reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a power management arbitrator as an intermediary layer between applications and hardware components. This arbitrator monitors actual hardware usage and manages power states independently of application registration status, allowing the system to maintain both reliable hardware access and optimal power management by mediating between application requests and hardware power states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the power management arbitrator continuously monitors hardware usage patterns and adjusts power states accordingly. The arbitrator receives feedback about actual hardware usage and modifies power management decisions to balance reliability and power consumption based on observed system behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If hardware components remain in high-power state to ensure immediate availability, then response time is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware response timeVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring power management policies and timeout periods before hardware is needed. The power management arbitrator establishes readiness thresholds and timeout values in advance, allowing hardware to transition to low-power state safely while ensuring it can be quickly activated when actually needed, thus preserving battery life without significantly impacting response time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic power management where hardware power states are adjusted in real-time based on actual usage patterns. The system dynamically transitions hardware between high-power and low-power states using timeout-based detection, making the power state flexible rather than static, thereby optimizing the balance between response time and battery life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If applications are required to release hardware components when not in use, then power efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to unreliable application compliance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidpower management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power management arbitrator implements self-service mechanisms by autonomously monitoring hardware usage and managing power states without requiring explicit application cooperation. The system serves itself by detecting idle conditions and transitioning hardware to low-power modes independently, eliminating the need for complex application-level power management while maintaining power efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts power management control from the application layer and places it in the operating system kernel through the power management arbitrator. This separation removes the burden of reliable application compliance, allowing the OS to enforce power management policies directly on hardware components regardless of application registration or release behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11662801B2Supervisory control of power management

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A supervisory control system provides power management in an electronic device by providing timeout periods for a hardware component to lower levels of the operating system such as a power management arbitrator and/or a hardware interface controller. The power management arbitrator and/or hardware interface controller transition at least a portion of a hardware component to a lower-power state based on monitored activity information of the hardware component. The supervisory control system may further provide wakeup periods to the power management arbitrator and/or a hardware interface controller to determine whether the hardware component should be transitioned to a higher-power state at the end of the wakeup period if the hardware component satisfies a transition condition.