Method, system, and apparatus for a plurality of slave devices determining whether to adjust their power state based on broadcasted power state data
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- a plurality of slave devices;
a master device configured to broadcast a message to each of the plurality of slave devices to inform the plurality of slave devices of a power state of the computer system;
wherein the master device is configured to broadcast the message through the use of a protocol;
wherein the broadcast message includes at least power state data indicating the power state of the computer system; and
wherein each of the plurality of slave devices is configured to read the power state data included in the broadcast message and determine whether to adjust a current power state of the slave device based on the power state data and one or more of;
current activity trendshistorical information of activity trends;
currently executing transactions;
pending transactions;
oramount of processing power being used.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power state broadcast mechanism. A master device may broadcast a message through the use of a protocol to each of one or more slave devices to inform the slave devices of the power state of a computer system. The broadcast message may include a protocol header indicating the start of the broadcast transaction, a function type parameter indicating the type of broadcast transaction, and power state data indicating the power state of the computer system. Each of the slave devices may read the protocol header to detect the start of a broadcast transaction, and the function type parameter to determine the type of broadcast transaction. If the function type parameter indicates a power state broadcast transaction, each of the slave devices may read the power state data included in the broadcast message and determine whether to adjust the current power state of the slave device.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A computer system comprising:
-
a plurality of slave devices; a master device configured to broadcast a message to each of the plurality of slave devices to inform the plurality of slave devices of a power state of the computer system; wherein the master device is configured to broadcast the message through the use of a protocol; wherein the broadcast message includes at least power state data indicating the power state of the computer system; and wherein each of the plurality of slave devices is configured to read the power state data included in the broadcast message and determine whether to adjust a current power state of the slave device based on the power state data and one or more of; current activity trends historical information of activity trends; currently executing transactions; pending transactions;
oramount of processing power being used. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for managing power in a computer system, the method comprising:
-
broadcasting a message through the use of a protocol to each of a plurality of slave devices comprised in the computer system to inform the plurality of slave devices of a power state of the computer system, wherein the broadcast message includes at least power state data indicating the power state of the computer system; each of the plurality of slave devices reading the power state data included in the broadcast message; and each of the plurality of slave devices determining whether to adjust its current power state based on the power state data and one or more of; current activity trends; historical information of activity trends; currently executing transactions; pending transactions;
oramount of processing power being used. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A slave device comprised in a computer system and configured to receive a message broadcast from a master device comprised in the computer system to inform the slave device of a power state of the computer system, wherein the master device is configured to broadcast the message through the use of a bus protocol, wherein the broadcast message includes at least power state data indicating the power state of the computer system, wherein the slave device is configured to read the power state data included in the broadcast message and determine whether to adjust a current power state of the slave device based on other factors when the power state data indicates that the power state of the computer system is the same as the current power state of the slave device.
-
20. A master device comprised in a computer system and configured to broadcast a message to a plurality of slave devices comprised in the computer system to inform the slave devices of a power state of the computer system, wherein the master device is configured to broadcast the message through the use of a bus protocol, wherein the broadcast message includes at least power state data indicating the power state of the computer system, wherein each of the plurality of slave devices is configured to read the power state data included in the broadcast message and determine whether to adjust a current power state of the slave device, and wherein the master device is configured to broadcast the message when a new slave device is connected to the computer system.
-
21. A motherboard comprising:
-
a first bus and a second bus a plurality of slave devices coupled to the second bus; an I/O interface controller configured to interface the first bus to the second bus, and further configured to broadcast a message to each of the plurality of slave devices over the second bus to inform the plurality of slave devices of a power state of a computer system; wherein the I/O interface controller is configured to broadcast the message through the use of a bus protocol; wherein the broadcast message includes at least power state data indicating the power state of the computer system; and wherein each of the plurality of slave devices is configured to read the power state data included in the broadcast message and determine whether to adjust a current power state of the slave device based on the power state data.
-
Specification