VM Power Estimation via Clock Cycle Counting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating power consumption of CPUs fail to account for variations in operating frequency, leading to inconsistent power consumption measurements when the clock frequency changes, resulting in errors in calculating the actual number of operations performed.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that includes a clock counter, reading processing unit, calculation unit, and storage control unit to accurately measure and account for changes in clock frequency by counting clock ticks and calculating the number of operations per unit time, allowing for precise power consumption estimation even when the operating frequency varies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the operating frequency of the CPU is varied to reduce power consumption and heat radiation, then power consumption and heat radiation are reduced, but the actual number of operations per unit time changes and measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from time-based occupancy to clock-cycle-based counting. By measuring the number of clock cycles during CPU occupancy and dividing by the operating frequency, the system accurately calculates the number of operations even when frequency varies. This parameter change enables accurate measurement across different frequency states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actual number of operations performed and comparing it with the estimated value. When frequency changes occur, the system detects these changes and adjusts the measurement calculations accordingly, ensuring continuous measurement accuracy despite frequency variations.
2Loss of energy
If the operating frequency of the CPU is varied to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the number of operations per unit time changes and power consumption estimation becomes inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes from time-based power estimation to clock-cycle-based estimation. By counting the actual number of clock cycles executed and knowing the frequency at which they ran, the system can accurately calculate power consumption even when frequency varies during execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurement of the number of clock cycles and frequency information before final power consumption calculation. This preliminary data collection ensures that all necessary information is captured accurately before frequency changes affect the measurement.
3Device complexity
If time-based CPU occupancy measurement is used, then the measurement method is simple, but it fails to account for frequency variations and produces erroneous power consumption estimates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces clock cycle counting as an additional parameter to time-based measurement. By combining time information with clock cycle counts and frequency data, the system maintains measurement simplicity while achieving high accuracy through the added dimensional information.
Data Source
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AI summary
A calculation method includes calculating, by a processor, a difference between a first value and a second value, the first value being read from a clock counter that counts pulses of a clock signal having a plurality of types of frequencies, supplied to the processor in response to control command to start processing for an unit to be allocated to the processor, the second value being read from the clock counter in response to control command to stop processing.