Ticket-Based Device Access Control for Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer systems face challenges in efficiently managing hardware resource usage among multiple processes, particularly in ensuring fair access and optimizing device usage frequency based on environmental factors and process priority, leading to inefficiencies and potential battery drain in portable devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a ticket-based system, where each process is allocated a number of tickets that determines its access frequency to devices, and a use cost mechanism that adjusts based on environmental conditions, allowing processes to use devices only when they have sufficient tickets, thereby optimizing device usage and conserving resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a process is allowed to access devices frequently to improve performance, then device usage frequency increases, but power consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts device access permissions based on current power conditions. When power consumption is high or battery level is low, the system reduces device usage frequency by requiring more tickets for access. When power is abundant, the system allows more frequent access. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making device accessibility adaptive to power availability rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of device access cost (tickets required) based on system state. By adjusting the number of tickets needed to access a device according to power consumption levels and battery charge, the system controls device usage frequency to balance performance and power consumption, directly resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy use.
2Ease of operation
If multiple processes are given equal access rights to devices, then fairness is improved, but device usage efficiency decreases due to unnecessary access attempts
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of giving all processes equal access rights, the system assigns different numbers of tickets to different processes based on their priority, resource consumption characteristics, and current system state. High-priority processes receive more tickets and thus more frequent access rights, while low-priority processes receive fewer tickets. This localized differentiation of access quality resolves the contradiction by providing fairness tailored to each process's needs rather than uniform treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial access rights based on ticket possession. Processes receive exactly the amount of access rights (tickets) they need based on their priority and current system conditions, not equal rights for all. This partial allocation ensures that high-priority processes get sufficient access to maintain efficiency, while low-priority processes are limited to prevent unnecessary access attempts, thus resolving the contradiction between fairness and efficiency.
3Loss of energy
If device access is restricted to conserve power, then power consumption decreases, but system responsiveness and performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the restriction level based on current power conditions and process priorities. When battery charge is high or power availability is good, the system reduces restrictions and allows more frequent device access, maintaining responsiveness. When battery charge is low or power consumption is critical, the system increases restrictions. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making restrictions adaptive rather than static, ensuring responsiveness when power permits and conservation when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments processes by priority levels and assigns different ticket requirements for device access based on segmentation. Critical high-priority processes can access devices with fewer tickets (less restriction) even when power is limited, maintaining system responsiveness. Lower-priority processes face stricter restrictions. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by differentiating access restrictions based on process importance, ensuring critical functions remain responsive while conserving power for non-critical operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing the usage of hardware resources by application programs within a computer system is disclosed. A use cost value is set for a device within a computer system. A number of tickets associated with a process is held. Upon execution of the process, the use cost value is compared to the number of tickets held by the process. The process is permitted to use the device based on the result of the comparison.