Power supply management system in parallel processing system by OS for single processors and power supply management program therefor

• US 20040268171A1
• Filed: 05/26/2004
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sakai, Junji, Inoue, Hiroaki, Ito, Yoshiyuki, Edahiro, Masato
• Granted Patent: US 7,325,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

In a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors which operates an OS and an existing application for single processors on a multiprocessor to realize parallel processing by the multiprocessor with respect to the application, a processor on a first processor side receives a request for activating or stopping a processor from a unit of work on any of the processors and controls a power supply management device of the OS for single processors to conduct activation or stop of the requested processor, while the processor requested to be activated or stop executes processing necessary for the activation or stop based on a notification from the first processor side.

Claims

1. A power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors, wherein

on a parallel processing system which

operates an OS and an application for single processors on a multiprocessor,

said multiprocessor being logically divided into two groups of a first processor side and a second processor side, and

controls a unit of work that can be parallelized within said application operating on a processor on said first processor side as a new unit of work on a processor on said second processor side, thereby executing parallel processing by said multiprocessor with respect to said application,

the processor on said first processor side accepts a request for activating or stopping a processor from a unit of work on any of the processors and controls a device of said OS for single processors to activate or stop the requested processor, and

said processor requested to be activated or stop executes processing necessary for said activation or stop based on a notification from said first processor side.

2. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management unit having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management unit having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management unit.

3. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said request for activation or stop of the processor is a boot request or a halt request.

4. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management unit having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management unit having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management unit, wherein

said request for activation or stop of the processor is a boot request or a halt request.

5. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

a main power supply management unit which is mounted, as a device of said OS for single processors, on said OS for single processors on said first processor side to manage a state of power supply of said second processor, as well as using a predetermined request for device management provided in advance in the OS for single processors as a request for power supply management to make a request for changing a state of power supply, and

a sub power supply management unit provided in said OS for single processors on said second processor side to execute processing necessary for said activation or stop, as well as transmitting an activation message to said main power supply management unit at the time of activation.

6. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 5, wherein a plurality of said main power supply management units are provided corresponding to the respective processors on said second processor side.

7. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 5, wherein

a probe or remove request which is a predetermined request for device management is read as said request for activation or stop of the processor.

8. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 5, wherein

a plurality of said main power supply management units are provided corresponding to the respective processors on said second processor side, and

a probe or remove request which is a predetermined request for device management is read as said request for activation or stop of the processor.

9. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management unit having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors,

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management unit having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management unit, and

an inter-process communication unit provided in the processor on said first processor side and in the processor on said second processor side to enable synchronous processing and data transmission and reception between units of work on the processor on said first processor side and on the processor on said second processor side, wherein

said inter-process communication unit executes synchronous processing for power supply management between said main power supply management unit and said sub power supply management unit.

10. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management unit having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management unit having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management unit,

said main power supply management unit and said sub power supply management unit being incorporated as a module.

11. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, wherein

when said processor to which said request for activation or stop is made is on the way to activation or on the way to stopping, said request is queued until said on the way to activation or stopping state is fixed.

12. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, wherein

when said processor to which said request for activation or stop is made is on the way to activation or on the way to stopping, said request is ignored.

13. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management unit having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management unit having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management unit, wherein

in making said processor activation request, said main power supply management unit having received the request activates the requested processor,

as well as receiving a notification of completion of activation from said sub power supply management unit of the activated processor to change the state of power supply of said activated processor to an activated state.

14. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management unit having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management unit having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management unit, wherein

in making said processor stop request, said main power supply management unit having received the request requests said sub power supply management unit of the requested processor to execute processing necessary for stopping,

and receives a notification of completion of the processing from said processor to stop said requested processor and change the state of power supply of said activated processor to a stopped state.

15. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management unit having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management unit having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management unit, wherein

in making a request for stopping all the processors, said main power supply management unit having received the request requests said sub power supply management unit of other processor to execute processing necessary for stopping, and receives a notification of completion of the processing from said other processor to stop said other processor and thereafter controls the device of said OS for single processors to stop the processor to which the unit belongs.

16. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, wherein

in addition to activation or stop of a processor, a request for halting or returning a processor is received to control the device of said OS for single processors, thereby halting or returning the requested processor, and

a processor requested to make said halt or return executes processing necessary for said halt or return based on a notification from said first processor side.

17. The power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 1, wherein

in addition to activation or stop of a processor, a request for changing a power supply voltage or a clock frequency of a processor is received to control the device of said OS for single processors, thereby changing the power supply voltage or the clock frequency of the requested processor, and

the processor requested to have said power supply voltage or clock frequency changed executes processing necessary for changing said power supply voltage or clock frequency based on a notification from said first processor side.

18. A power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors, wherein

on a parallel processing system which

operates an OS and an application for single processors on a multiprocessor,

said multiprocessor being logically divided into two groups of a first processor side and a second processor side, and

controls a unit of work that can be parallelized within said application operating on a processor on said first processor side as a new unit of work on a processor on said second processor side, thereby executing parallel processing by said multiprocessor with respect to said application,

the processor on said first processor side accepts a request for activating or stopping a processor from a unit of work on any of the processors and controls a device of said OS for single processors to execute a function of activating or stopping the requested processor, and

said processor requested to be activated or stop executes a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop based on a notification from said one processor.

19. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management program having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management program having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management program.

20. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, wherein

said request for activation or stop of the processor is a boot request or a halt request.

21. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management program having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management program having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management program, wherein

said request for activation or stop of the processor is a boot request or a halt request.

22. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, comprising:

a main power supply management program which is mounted, as a device of said OS for single processors, on said OS for single processors on said first processor side to manage a state of power supply of said second processor, as well as using a predetermined request for device management provided in advance in the OS for single processors as a request for power supply management to make a request for changing a state of power supply, and

a sub power supply management program provided in said OS for single processors on said second processor side to execute processing necessary for said activation or stop, as well as transmitting an activation message to said main power supply management program at the time of activation.

23. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 22,

a probe or remove request which is a predetermined request for device management is read as said request for activation or stop of the processor.

24. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management program having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors,

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management program having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management program, and

an inter-process communication unit provided in the processor on said first processor side and in the processor on said second processor side to enable synchronous processing and data transmission and reception between units of work on the processor on said first processor side and on the processor on said second processor side, wherein

said inter-process communication unit executes synchronous processing for power supply management between said main power supply management program and said sub power supply management program.

25. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management program having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management program having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management program,

said main power supply management program and said sub power supply management program being incorporated as a module.

26. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, wherein

when said processor to which said request for activation or stop is made is on the way to activation or on the way to stopping, said request is queued until said on the way to activation or stopping state is fixed.

27. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, wherein

when said processor to which said request for activation or stop is made is on the way to activation or on the way to stopping, said request is ignored.

28. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management program having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management program having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management program, wherein

in making said processor activation request, said main power supply management program having received the request activates the requested processor,

as well as receiving a notification of completion of activation from said sub power supply management program of the activated processor to change the state of power supply of said activated processor to an activated state.

29. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management program having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management program having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management program, wherein

in making said processor stop request, said main power supply management program having received the request requests said sub power supply management program of the requested processor to execute processing necessary for stopping,

and receives a notification of completion of the processing from said processor to stop said requested processor and change the state of power supply of said activated processor to a stopped state.

30. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, comprising:

on said first processor side, a main power supply management program having a function, regarding power supply management of each processor, of managing a state of power supply of said second processor and a function of making a request for changing a power supply state to said OS for single processors, and

on said second processor side, a sub power supply management program having a function of executing processing necessary for said activation or stop and a function of making a request for activation or stop of other processor to said main power supply management program, wherein

in making a request for stopping all the processors, said main power supply management program having received the request requests said sub power supply management program of other processor to execute processing necessary for stopping, and receives a notification of completion of the processing from said other processor to stop said other processor and thereafter controls the device of said OS for single processors to stop the processor to which the program belongs.

31. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, wherein

in addition to activation or stop of a processor, a request for halting or returning a processor is received to control the device of said OS for single processors, thereby halting or returning the requested processor, and

a processor requested to make said halt or return executes processing necessary for said halt or return based on a notification from said first processor side.

32. The power supply management program in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors as set forth in claim 18, wherein

in addition to activation or stop of a processor, a request for changing a power supply voltage or a clock frequency of a processor is received to control the device of said OS for single processors, thereby changing the power supply voltage or the clock frequency of the requested processor, and

the processor requested to have said power supply voltage or clock frequency changed executes processing necessary for changing said power supply voltage or clock frequency based on a notification from said first processor side.

33. A power supply management system in a parallel processing system by an OS for single processors, wherein

on a parallel processing system which

operates an OS and an application for single processors on a multiprocessor, and

controls a unit of work that can be parallelized within said application operating on one processor as a new unit of work on other processor, thereby executing parallel processing by said multiprocessor with respect to said application,

said one processor accepts a request for activating or stopping a processor from a unit of work on any of the processors and controls a device of said OS for single processors to activate or stop the requested processor, and

said processor requested to be activated or stop executes processing necessary for said activation or stop based on a notification from said one processor.