IDLE DURATION REPORTING FOR POWER MANAGEMENT

• US 20100169685A1
• Filed: 12/31/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Songer, Neil W., Cooper, Barnes, Kwa, Seh W., Gough, Robert E., Jeyaseelan, Jaya L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,607,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• 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 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken

Abstract

For one disclosed embodiment, data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more downstream devices may be received. Power may be managed based at least in part on the received data. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

first logic to receive data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more downstream devices; and

second logic to manage power based at least in part on the received data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second logic is to transition to a lower power state in response to receipt of data corresponding to an idle duration.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second logic is to transition from a lower power state based at least in part on when an idle duration will expire.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first logic is to receive data corresponding to an idle duration for multiple downstream devices and is to transmit data corresponding to an idle duration that will expire next.

5. A method comprising:

receiving data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more downstream devices; and

managing power based at least in part on the received data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the managing includes transitioning to a lower power state in response to receipt of data corresponding to an idle duration.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the managing includes transitioning from a lower power state based at least in part on when an idle duration will expire.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving includes receiving data corresponding to an idle duration for multiple downstream devices;

and

wherein the method includes transmitting data corresponding to an idle duration that will expire next.

9. An apparatus comprising:

logic to receive data corresponding to an idle duration for multiple downstream devices;

logic to track expiration of idle durations; and

logic to transmit data corresponding to an idle duration that will expire next to manage power based at least in part on the idle duration that will expire next.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic to track expiration of idle durations is to compare data corresponding to idle durations to a timer value.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic to track expiration of idle durations is to store data corresponding to idle durations in corresponding timers.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic to transmit data is to transmit data in response to expiration of an idle duration.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic to receive data is to receive data corresponding to an idle duration from multiple downstream devices.

14. A method comprising:

receiving data corresponding to an idle duration for multiple downstream devices;

tracking expiration of idle durations; and

transmitting data corresponding to an idle duration that will expire next to manage power based at least in part on the idle duration that will expire next.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the tracking includes comparing data corresponding to idle durations to a timer value.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the tracking includes storing data corresponding to idle durations in corresponding timers.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting data in response to expiration of an idle duration.

18. An apparatus comprising:

first logic to help control functionality of a device; and

second logic to transmit to an upstream device data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more upstream devices to manage power based at least in part on the idle duration.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second logic is to identify whether at least a portion of the device will be idle and determine the idle duration for the device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second logic is to identify whether at least a portion of the device will communicate with an upstream device.

21. A method comprising:

controlling functionality of a device; and

transmitting to an upstream device data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more upstream devices to manage power based at least in part on the idle duration.

22. The method of claim 21, comprising identifying whether at least a portion of the device will be idle and determining the idle duration for the device.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the identifying including identifying whether at least a portion of the device will communicate with an upstream device.