Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a computer system using virtual device drivers
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A computer system comprising:
- a bus;
at least one memory coupled to the bus for storing data, including an operating system; and
a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the bus running the operating system with a virtual device driver (VxD), wherein the virtual device driver performs device idle detection using one or more events timers indicating the activity level of at least one local device, and further wherein the virtual device driver places idle local devices in a reduced power consumption state when associated events timers indicate that no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power management mechanism for use in a computer system having a bus, a memory for storing data and instructions, and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU runs an operating system having a power management virtual device driver (PMVxD) responsible for performing idle detection for devices. The PMVxD performs idle detection using event timers that provide an indicator as to the activity level. The PMVxD places idle local devices in a reduced power consumption state when no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A computer system comprising:
-
a bus; at least one memory coupled to the bus for storing data, including an operating system; and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the bus running the operating system with a virtual device driver (VxD), wherein the virtual device driver performs device idle detection using one or more events timers indicating the activity level of at least one local device, and further wherein the virtual device driver places idle local devices in a reduced power consumption state when associated events timers indicate that no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A computer system comprising:
-
a bus; a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the bus running an operating system and at least one power-unaware application, wherein the operating system has a virtual device driver performing device idle detection using one or more events timers indicating the activity level of at least one local device, and further wherein the virtual device driver places idle local devices in a reduced power consumption state when associated events timers indicate that no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time transparent to said at least one power-unaware application. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A computer system comprising:
-
at least one bus; a memory coupled to said at least one bus; a device coupled to said at least one bus; a processor coupled to said at least one bus, wherein the processor is configured to execute a virtual device driver to control placement of said device into a reduced power consumption state. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for controlling an input/output (I/O) device, said method comprising the steps of:
-
executing a virtual device driver; monitoring activity of the I/O device; detecting the I/O device being inactive for a predetermined period of time; and the virtual device driver placing the I/O device in a reduced power consumption state in response to the I/O device being detected as inactive. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification