Global management of local link power consumption
First Claim
1. A variable power link, comprising:
- a link circuit to process data having multiple different data transmission characteristics, the link circuit being configurable to operate in multiple power modes, wherein at least two of the multiple power modes are associated with respective data transmission characteristics; and
a local controller to receive activity assignments for the variable power link, wherein the activity assignments are related to data transmission characteristics, and to configure the link circuit to operate in one of the multiple power modes in respective response to a received activity assignment.
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Abstract
Methods, and arrangements for power reduction in links, such as transmitters and receivers, based upon global decisions such as the data transmission frequencies, communications media, and traffic types associated with links, are disclosed. In particular, embodiments take advantage of high-level decisions by reconfiguring internal circuits of transmitters and receivers of links to reduce power consumption. At the global level, a decision determines the links that are active, the data frequency at which the links operate, and the media through which the links transmit the data. At the local level, the links receive the decisions and reconfigure circuitry automatically to minimize power based upon the decisions. In some embodiments, the links may receive the decisions in the form of power modes. In further embodiments, the links may receive settings such as on/off settings, data frequency settings, and traffic/media settings, the combination of which indicates power modes.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A variable power link, comprising:
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a link circuit to process data having multiple different data transmission characteristics, the link circuit being configurable to operate in multiple power modes, wherein at least two of the multiple power modes are associated with respective data transmission characteristics; and
a local controller to receive activity assignments for the variable power link, wherein the activity assignments are related to data transmission characteristics, and to configure the link circuit to operate in one of the multiple power modes in respective response to a received activity assignment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. The local link of claim 10, wherein the interpretation logic comprises a table to associate the power mode with a data frequency, wherein the activity assignment indicates the data frequency.
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11-1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a port utilization manager to track an availability of a port;
forwarding logic to associate the port with a destination; and
a global controller coupled with the forwarding logic to determine an activity for a link based upon an association between the link and the port and the availability of the port, the activity being related to a data transmission characteristic for data to transmit via a channel of the link, and to transmit a control signal to a local controller, wherein the control signal indicates a power mode for circuitry associated with the link and the data is associated with the destination.
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17. A method for reducing power consumption by a link, the method comprising:
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determining an activity for the link based upon forwarding logic, the activity being related to a characteristic for a data transmission via a channel of the link;
associating the activity with a power mode for the link, wherein the power mode is related to the characteristic; and
configuring circuitry associated with the link to operate in the power mode to process the data transmission. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification