Idle detection system
First Claim
1. An activity system in a computer where the computer executes programs involving multiple events with times between events and where the computer operates with multiple performance states comprising,monitoring means for monitoring a plurality of said multiple events to determine event frequency represented by an event frequency value proportional to the frequency of said plurality of said multiple events during the execution of the programs by the computer system,parameter means for establishing an event parameter,comparing means for comparing the event frequency with the event parameter to determine when the event frequency differs from the event parameter,switching means for switching the performance state of the computer when the event frequency differs from the event parameter.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for idle detection in a computer system. The operating system of the computer includes an idle kernel which performs idle detection to detect idle states when application program processes are idle. To check for idle states, the idle kernel monitors operating system functions which are typically used by application programs when they are otherwise idle. The operating system includes an idle driver which controls idle operations in response to idle states detected by the idle monitor. The idle driver causes the system to enter the power saving mode with frequent, sometimes short idle intervals.
110 Citations
65 Claims
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1. An activity system in a computer where the computer executes programs involving multiple events with times between events and where the computer operates with multiple performance states comprising,
monitoring means for monitoring a plurality of said multiple events to determine event frequency represented by an event frequency value proportional to the frequency of said plurality of said multiple events during the execution of the programs by the computer system, parameter means for establishing an event parameter, comparing means for comparing the event frequency with the event parameter to determine when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, switching means for switching the performance state of the computer when the event frequency differs from the event parameter.
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14. An activity system in a computer where the computer executes programs involving multiple events with times between events and where the computer operates with multiple performance states, wherein said computer includes a central processing unit performing functions in response to interrupts, includes interrupt generating means for generating interrupts to said central processing unit, and includes a real time clock comprising,
monitoring means for monitoring a plurality of said multiple events to determine event frequency during the execution of the programs by the computer system, said monitoring means including, interrupt timer means for monitoring an interrupt time as the time taken to perform an interrupt in the computer system, clock timer means for monitoring a clock time as the time taken to perform a read of the real-time clock, parameter means for establishing an event parameter as an event time, and including means for setting said event time as a function of the sum of the clock time and the interrupt time, comparing means for comparing the event frequency with the event parameter to determine when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, switching means for switching the performance state of the computer when the event frequency differs from the event parameter.
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17. An activity system in a computer system where the computer system includes an operating system for controlling operations of the computer when the computer executes programs involving multiple events with times between events and where the computer operates with multiple performance states comprising,
monitoring means for monitoring a plurality of said multiple events to determine event frequency represented by an event frequency value proportional to the frequency of said plurality of said multiple events during the execution of the programs by the computer system, parameter means under control of the operating system for establishing an event parameter, comparing means under control of the operating system for comparing the event frequency with the event parameter to determine when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, switching means for switching the performance state of the computer when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, reswitch means for switching the performance state of the computer in response to a reswitch condition.
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28. An activity system in a computer system where the computer system includes an operating system for controlling operations of the computer when the computer executes programs involving multiple events with times between events and where the computer operates with a low performance state and a high performance state comprising,
monitoring means for monitoring a plurality of said multiple events to determine event frequency represented by an event frequency value proportional to the frequency of said plurality of said multiple events during the execution of the programs by the computer system, parameter means under control of the operating system for establishing an event parameter, comparing means under control of the operating system for comparing the event frequency with the event parameter to determine when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, switching means for switching the performance state of the computer from the high performance state to the low performance state when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, reswitch means for switching the performance of the computer from the low performance state to the high performance state in response to a reswitch condition.
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33. An activity system method in a computer where the computer executes programs involving multiple events with times between events and where the computer operates with multiple performance states comprising,
monitoring means for monitoring a plurality of said multiple events to determine event frequency represented by an event frequency value proportional to the frequency of said plurality of said multiple events during the execution of the programs by the computer system, establishing an event parameter, comparing the event frequency with the event parameter to determine when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, switching the performance state of the computer when the event frequency differs from the event parameter.
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49. An activity system method in a computer system where the computer system includes an operating system for controlling operations of the computer when the computer executes programs involving multiple events with times between events and where the computer operates with multiple performance states comprising,
monitoring under control of the operating system a plurality of said multiple events to determine event frequency during the execution of the programs by the computer system, establishing under control of the operating system an event parameter, comparing under control of the operating system the event frequency with the event parameter to determine when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, switching the performance state of the computer when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, reswitching the performance state of the computer in response to a reswitch condition.
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60. An activity system method in a computer system where the computer system includes an operating system for controlling operations of the computer when the computer executes programs involving multiple events with times between events and where the computer operates with a low performance state and a high performance state comprising,
monitoring means for monitoring a plurality of said multiple events to determine event frequency represented by an event frequency value proportional to the frequency of said plurality of said multiple events during the execution of the programs by the computer system, establishing under control of the operating system an event parameter, comparing under control of the operating system the event frequency with the event parameter to determine when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, switching the performance state of the computer from the high performance state to the low performance state when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, reswitching the performance state of the computer from the low performance state to the high performance state in response to a reswitch condition.
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65. An activity system method in a computer system where the computer system includes an operating system for controlling operations of the computer when the computer executes programs involving multiple operating system events with times between events and where the computer operates with a low performance state and a high performance state comprising,
monitoring means for monitoring a plurality of said multiple operating system events to determine event frequency of said multiple events during the execution of the programs by the computer system, establishing under control of the operating system an event parameter, comparing under control of the operating system the event frequency with the event parameter to determine when the event frequency differs form the event parameter, switching the performance state of the computer from the high performance state to the low performance state when the event frequency differs from the event parameter, reswitching the performance state of the computer form the low performance state to the high performance state in response to a reswitch condition.
Specification