Computer system using software controlled power management method with respect to the main memory according to a program's main memory utilization states
First Claim
1. A computer system, comprising:
- a main memory device formed by a plurality of memory banks;
a power source for supplying a power to operate the main memory device;
a processor for executing programs and managing allocation and release of memory regions on the main memory device with respect to the programs; and
memory power management means for determining any unused memory bank in which all memory regions are currently unused according to a state of the allocation and release of the memory regions on the main memory devices with respect to the programs managed by the processor, and selectively stopping a power supply from the power source to the unused memory bank while supplying the power from the power source to remaining memory banks other than the unused memory bank, so as to manage memory power supply in relation to memory management by the processor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system and its power management method capable of realizing a software control of the power supply with respect to the main memory according to a program'"'"'s main memory utilization state, which are suitable for the power saving in a portable information terminal. In a computer system having a main memory device formed by a plurality of memory banks, a power source for supplying a power to operate the main memory device, and a processor for executing programs and managing allocation and release of memory regions on the main memory device with respect to the programs, a memory power management function determines any unused memory bank in which all memory regions are currently unused according to a state of the allocation and release of the memory regions on the main memory devices with respect to the programs managed by the processor, and selectively stops a power supply from the power source to the unused memory bank while supplying the power from the power source to remaining memory banks other than the unused memory bank.
153 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a main memory device formed by a plurality of memory banks; a power source for supplying a power to operate the main memory device; a processor for executing programs and managing allocation and release of memory regions on the main memory device with respect to the programs; and memory power management means for determining any unused memory bank in which all memory regions are currently unused according to a state of the allocation and release of the memory regions on the main memory devices with respect to the programs managed by the processor, and selectively stopping a power supply from the power source to the unused memory bank while supplying the power from the power source to remaining memory banks other than the unused memory bank, so as to manage memory power supply in relation to memory management by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer system, comprising:
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a main memory device formed by a plurality of memory banks in forms of memory elements which require refresh operations in order to maintain stored data; a processor for executing programs and managing allocation and release of memory regions on the main memory device with respect to the programs; and memory power management means for determining any unused memory bank in which all memory regions are currently unused according to a state of the allocation and release of the memory regions on the main memory devices with respect to the programs managed by the processor, and selectively stopping a refresh signal for the unused memory bank while providing refresh signals for remaining memory banks other than the unused memory bank, so as to manage memory power supply in relation to memory management by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A memory power management method for a computer system having a main memory device formed by a plurality of memory banks, a power source for supplying a power to operate the main memory device, and a processor for executing programs and managing allocation and release of memory regions on the main memory device with respect to the programs, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining any unused memory bank in which all memory regions are currently unused according to a state of the allocation and release of the memory regions on the main memory devices with respect to the programs managed by the processor; and selectively stopping a power supply from the power source to the unused memory bank while supplying the power from the power source to remaining memory banks other than the unused memory bank, so as to manage memory power supply in relation to memory management by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A memory power management method for a computer system having a main memory device formed by a plurality of memory banks in forms of memory elements which require refresh operations in order to maintain stored data, and a processor for executing programs and managing allocation and release of memory regions on the main memory device with respect to the programs, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining any unused memory bank in which all memory regions are currently unused according to a state of the allocation and release of the memory regions on the main memory devices with respect to the programs managed by the processor; and selectively stopping a refresh signal for the unused memory bank while providing refresh signals for remaining memory banks other than the unused memory bank, so as to manage memory power supply in relation to memory management by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to function as a memory power management unit for a computer system having a main memory device formed by a plurality of memory banks, a power source for supplying a power to operate the main memory device, and a processor for executing programs and managing allocation and release of memory regions on the main memory device with respect to the programs, the computer readable program code means including; first computer readable program code means for causing said computer to determine any unused memory bank in which all memory regions are currently unused according to a state of the allocation and release of the memory regions on the main memory devices with respect to the programs managed by the processor; and second computer readable program code means for causing said computer to selectively stop a power supply from the power source to the unused memory bank while supplying the power from the power source to remaining memory banks other than the unused memory bank, so as to manage memory power supply in relation to memory management by the processor.
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20. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to function as a memory power management unit for a computer system having a main memory device formed by a plurality of memory banks in forms of memory elements which require refresh operations in order to maintain stored data, and a processor for executing programs and managing allocation and release of memory regions on the main memory device with respect to the programs, the computer readable program code means including; first computer readable program code means for causing said computer to determine any unused memory bank in which all memory regions are currently unused according to a state of the allocation and release of the memory regions on the main memory devices with respect to the programs managed by the processor; and second computer readable program code means for causing said computer to selectively stop a refresh signal for the unused memory bank while providing refresh signals for remaining memory banks other than the unused memory bank, so as to manage memory power supply in relation to memory management by the processor.
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Specification