Method and apparatus for optimizing performance and battery life of electronic devices based on system and application parameters

• US 7,111,179 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management)
• Original Assignee: In-Hand Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Girson, Andrew, Donskoy, Boris, Tennies, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): SPARKS, DONALD ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/268,914
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 320/135, 320/155, 320130-132, 320/156, 324/426, 702/62, 702/64, 713321-323, 713/300, 713/320
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/324 by lowering clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An electronic device (e.g., computer system, etc.) employing dynamic power management of the present invention adjusts power consumption in accordance with an analysis of parameters and events occurring over one or more time-periods. Preferably, the electronic device monitors microprocessor, operating system, peripheral and/or device-level events and adjusts run-time parameters, such as microprocessor clock frequency and voltage, to reduce power consumption with minimal perceived degradation in performance.

Claims

1. A system for dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising:

a power management device including;

a sampling module to ascertain and store a plurality of parameter values associated with said electronic device during at least one sampling interval;

an analysis module to combine said plurality of parameter values to produce an overall parameter value and to evaluate said overall parameter value to determine at least one control value to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation, wherein said plurality of parameters are arranged into a series of successive stages with each stage including at least one parameter, and said analysis module includes;

a normalization module to normalize said parameter values relative to a numeric range; and

a combination module to mathematically combine said normalized parameters of each subordinate stage with a succeeding stage to produce an overall value to determine said at least one control value to adjust said power consumption of said electronic device; and

an adjustment module to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sampling module ascertains and stores values for a parameter for a plurality of sampling intervals, and said analysis module includes:

a history module to determine said at least one control value based on a parameter value from a current sampling interval and at least one parameter value from a prior sampling interval to adjust said power consumption of said electronic device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said sampling module selects a type of sampling interval from among a series of sampling interval types in accordance with electronic device conditions, wherein said series of sampling interval types include fixed and variable sampling intervals.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said selected sampling interval is a fixed sampling interval that occurs periodically at a prescribed time interval.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said sampling interval is a variable sampling interval that commences in response to occurrence of a particular electronic device activity.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said electronic device activity includes an activity driven interrupt of an electronic device processor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one control value includes at least one of an operating frequency and a power level to utilize for an electronic device component.

8. A system for dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising:

a power management device including;

a sampling module to ascertain and store a plurality of parameter values associated with said electronic device during at least one sampling interval, wherein said plurality of parameters relates to at least two of;

a quantity of instructions executed per time interval for an electronic device processor;

an interrupt density for said electronic device processor;

a performance request by a thread executing on said electronic device processor;

weather and/or environmental conditions;

location, orientation and/or motion of said electronic device;

a signal strength of a wireless signal received by said electronic device;

a time of day; and

date information;

an analysis module to determine at least one control value based on said plurality of parameter values to adjust power consumption of said electronic device; and

an adjustment module to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said sampling module selects a type of sampling interval from among a series of sampling interval types in accordance with electronic device conditions, wherein said series of sampling interval types include fixed and variable sampling intervals.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said selected sampling interval is a fixed sampling interval that occurs periodically at a prescribed time interval.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said sampling interval is a variable sampling interval that commences in response to occurrence of a particular electronic device activity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said electronic device activity includes an activity driven interrupt of an electronic device processor.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said analysis module includes:

a history module to determine said at least one control value based on a parameter value from a current sampling interval and at least one parameter value from a prior sampling interval to adjust said power consumption of said electronic device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one control value includes at least one of an operating frequency and a power level to utilize for an electronic device component.

15. A system for dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising:

a power management device including;

a sampling module to ascertain and store a plurality of parameter values associated with said electronic device during at least one sampling interval, wherein said sampling module ascertains and stores values for a parameter for a plurality of sampling intervals;

an analysis module to combine said plurality of parameter values to produce an overall parameter value and to evaluate said overall parameter value to determine at least one control value to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation, wherein said analysis module includes a combination module to combine a parameter value from a current sampling interval with at least one parameter value from a prior sampling interval to produce an overall value to determine said at least one control value to adjust said power consumption of said electronic device, and wherein said combination module includes a parameter module to determine a weighted average of said current parameter value and said at least one prior parameter value to produce said overall value to determine said at least one control value to adjust said power consumption of said electronic device; and

an adjustment module to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said sampling module selects a type of sampling interval from among a series of sampling interval types in accordance with electronic device conditions, wherein said series of sampling interval types include fixed and variable sampling intervals.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said selected sampling interval is a fixed sampling interval that occurs periodically at a prescribed time interval.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said sampling interval is a variable sampling interval that commences in response to occurrence of a particular electronic device activity.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said electronic device activity includes an activity driven interrupt of an electronic device processor.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said at least one control value includes at least one of an operating frequency and a power level to utilize for an electronic device component.

21. A method of dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising the steps of:

(a) ascertaining and storing a plurality of parameter values associated with said electronic device during at least one sampling interval;

(b) combining said plurality of parameter values to produce an overall parameter value and evaluating said overall parameter value to determine at least one control value to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation, wherein said plurality of parameters are arranged into a series of successive stages with each stage including at least one parameter, and step (b) further includes;

normalizing said parameter values relative to a numeric range; and

mathematically combining said normalized parameters of each subordinate stage with a succeeding stage to produce an overall value to determine said at least one control value to adjust said power consumption of said electronic device; and

(c) adjusting power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (a) further includes:

ascertaining and storing values for a parameter for a plurality of sampling intervals; and

step (b) further includes;

determining said at least one control value based on a parameter value from a current sampling interval and at least one parameter value from a prior sampling interval to adjust said power consumption of said electronic device.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein step (a) further includes:

selecting a type of sampling interval from among a series of sampling interval types in accordance with electronic device conditions, wherein said series of sampling interval types include fixed and variable sampling intervals.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein step (a) further includes:

selecting a fixed sampling interval that occurs periodically at a prescribed time interval.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein step (a) further includes:

selecting a variable sampling interval that commences in response to occurrence of a particular electronic device activity.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said electronic device activity includes an activity driven interrupt of an electronic device processor.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein step (b) further includes:

determining at least one of an operating frequency and a power level to utilize for an electronic device component to adjust power consumed by said electronic device.

28. A method of dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising the steps of:

(a) ascertaining and storing a plurality of parameter values associated with said electronic device during at least one sampling interval, wherein said plurality of parameters relates to at least two of;

a quantity of instructions executed per time interval for an electronic device processor;

an interrupt density for said electronic device processor;

a performance request by a thread executing on said electronic device processor;

weather and/or environmental conditions;

location, orientation and/or motion of said electronic device;

a signal strength of a wireless signal received by said electronic device;

a time of day; and

date information;

(b) determining at least one control value based on said plurality of parameter values to adjust power consumption of said electronic device; and

(c) adjusting power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein step (a) further includes:

selecting a type of sampling interval from among a series of sampling interval types in accordance with electronic device conditions, wherein said series of sampling interval types include fixed and variable sampling intervals.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein step (a) further includes:

selecting a fixed sampling interval that occurs periodically at a prescribed time interval.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein step (a) further includes:

selecting a variable sampling interval that commences in response to occurrence of a particular electronic device activity.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said electronic device activity includes an activity driven interrupt of an electronic device processor.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein step (a) further includes:

ascertaining and storing values for a parameter for a plurality of sampling intervals; and

step (b) further includes;

determining said at least one control value based on a parameter value from a current sampling interval and at least one parameter value from a prior sampling interval to adjust said power consumption of said electronic device.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein step (b) further includes:

determining at least one of an operating frequency and a power level to utilize for an electronic device component to adjust power consumed by said electronic device.

35. A method of dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising the steps of:

(a) ascertaining and storing a plurality of parameter values associated with said electronic device during at least one sampling interval, wherein step (a) further includes;

ascertaining and storing values for a parameter for a plurality of sampling intervals;

(b) combining said plurality of parameter values to produce an overall parameter value and evaluating said overall parameter value to determine at least one control value to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation, wherein step (b) further includes;

determining a weighted average of a parameter value from a current sampling interval and at least one parameter value from a prior sampling interval to produce said overall value to determine said at least one control value to adjust said power consumption of said electronic device; and

(c) adjusting power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein step (a) further includes:

selecting a type of sampling interval from among a series of sampling interval types in accordance with electronic device conditions, wherein said series of sampling interval types include fixed and variable sampling intervals.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein step (a) further includes:

selecting a fixed sampling interval that occurs periodically at a prescribed time interval.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein step (a) further includes:

selecting a variable sampling interval that commences in response to occurrence of a particular electronic device activity.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said electronic device activity includes an activity driven interrupt of an electronic device processor.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein step (b) further includes:

determining at least one of an operating frequency and a power level to utilize for an electronic device component to adjust power consumed by said electronic device.

41. A system for dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising:

a power management device including;

a sampling module to ascertain a value for at least one parameter associated with said electronic device during a sampling interval, wherein said at least one parameter includes a quantity of instructions executed by an electronic device processor within a particular time interval;

an analysis module to evaluate said at least one parameter value and determine at least one control value to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation, wherein said at least one control value includes an operating frequency and voltage of said electronic device processor, and wherein said analysis module includes;

an evaluation module to set at least one control value to a maximum operating frequency of said electronic device processor in response to said instruction quantity parameter value being equal to or exceeding a threshold and to set at least one control value to a desired operating frequency for said electronic device processor derived from the product of the current processor operating frequency and said instruction quantity parameter value in response to said instruction quantity parameter value being less than said threshold;

an adjustment module to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.

42. A method of dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising the steps of:

(a) ascertaining a value for at least one parameter associated with said electronic device during a sampling interval, wherein said at least one parameter includes a quantity of instructions executed by an electronic device processor within a particular time interval;

(b) evaluating said at least one parameter value and determining at least one control value to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation, wherein step (b) further includes;

determining an operating frequency and voltage of an electronic device processor to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation;

setting at least one control value to a maximum operating frequency of said electronic device processor in response to said instruction quantity parameter value being equal to or exceeding a threshold; and

setting at least one control value to a desired operating frequency for said electronic device processor derived from the product of the current processor operating frequency and said instruction quantity parameter value in response to said instruction quantity parameter value being less than said threshold; and

(c) adjusting power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.