Power Monitoring and Control in Cloud Based Computer

• US 20110088039A1
• Filed: 10/13/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, David, Cairns, Ryan, Tabone, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 8,996,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/137 Hash-based content-based indexing of textual data G06F16/31
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1748 De-duplication implemented within the file system, e.g. based on file segments de-duplication techniques in storage systems for the management of data blocks G06F3/0641
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1824 implemented using Network-attached Storage [NAS] architecture distributed or networked storage systems G06F3/067; protocols for distributed storage of data in a network H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2103 Challenge-response
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0641 De-duplication techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/06 specially adapted for file transfer, e.g. file transfer protocol [FTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

According to another general aspect, a method for displaying the system resource usage of a computer may include identifying the number of open tabs in one or more tabbed based browsers running on the computer. The method may include determining the system resource usage of each tab. The method may further include displaying the system resource usage of each tab in a system resource meter.

Claims

1. A method for displaying the system resource usage of a computer, comprising:

identifying the number of open tabs in one or more tabbed based browsers running on the computer;

determining the system resource usage of each tab; and

displaying the system resource usage of each tab in a system resource meter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the system resource usage of each tab further comprises:

generating a histogram for each tab when each tab is opened;

measuring the system resource usage of each tab at a plurality of intervals over the lifetime of the respective tab;

populating the histogram for each tab with each measurement of that tab'"'"'s system resource usage to create a system resource usage distribution for that tab; and

using a statistical measure of the system resource usage distribution of each tab to determine the system resource usage of each tab.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating a histogram for each tab when each tab is opened, further comprises creating a new histogram for each tab when each tab is opened.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein generating a histogram for each tab when each tab is opened, further comprises opening a preexisting histogram for each tab saved from a previous browsing session.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising aging the histogram to remove system resource usage measurements that are older than a predetermined period of time.

6. A method of preserving one or more system resources in a computer, comprising:

identifying the number of web applications running in open tabs in one or more tab based browsers running on the computer;

measuring the system resource usage of each web application in each open tab;

comparing the system resource usage of each web application in each open tab to a system resource threshold; and

throttling any web application in an open tab whose power draw exceeds the system resource threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the system resource threshold is identical for all tabs.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the system resource threshold is a constant.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the system resource threshold is a function of the estimated power left in a battery that powers the computer.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the system resource threshold is a function of a web application running in the tab.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein throttling any open tab whose system resource usage exceeds the system resource threshold comprises lowering the execution priority of any open tab whose power draw exceeds a power threshold.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein throttling any open tab whose system resource usage exceeds the system resource threshold comprises lowering the network refresh rate of any open tab whose power draw exceeds the power threshold.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein throttling any open tab whose system resource usage exceeds the system resource threshold comprises lowering the display refresh rate of any open tab whose power draw exceeds the power threshold.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein throttling any open tab whose system resource usage exceeds the system resource threshold further comprises reducing the polling frequency of any open tab whose system resource usage exceeds the system resource threshold.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein throttling any open tab whose system resource usage exceeds the system resource threshold further comprises:

monitoring a processor usage of the computer; and

controlling a processor demand that one or more tabs in a tabbed browser place on the processor to induce the processor to enter a lower power state.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory to store executable code that, when executed, causes the processor to;

measure the system resource usage of each web application in each open tab;

compare the system resource usage of each web application in each open tab to a system resource threshold; and

throttle any web application in an open tab whose power draw exceeds the system resource threshold.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the system resource threshold is identical for all tabs.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the system resource threshold is a function of a web application running in the tab.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein throttling any open tab whose system resource usage exceeds the system resource threshold comprises lowering the execution priority of any open tab whose power draw exceeds a power threshold.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein throttling any open tab whose system resource usage exceeds the system resource threshold further comprises:

monitoring a processor usage of the apparatus; and

controlling a processor demand that one or more tabs in a tabbed browser place on the processor to induce the processor to enter a lower power state.