Runtime control of system performance
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- receiving a request originated by a software unit, wherein the software unit implements non-runtime control of a system embodied in an integrated circuit, and wherein the request is received at a hardware unit implementing runtime control of the system, the received request identifying at least one operating point for a subsystem of the integrated circuit, the operating point being chosen from among a plurality of operating points, at least two of which represent non-idle, non-sleep performance levels differing from one another; and
in response to the received request, determining clock and power characteristics that will achieve the requested operating point and controlling at least one of a clock generator and a power supply of the integrated circuit so as to achieve the requested operating point, wheresaid integrated circuit comprises a plurality of subsystems, and where the received request is automatically generated in response to the software unit, when starting to use a particular subsystem, making a first access to the particular subsystem.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus includes a hardware unit having an interface to a clock generator, an interface to a power supply and an interface to a software unit. The interface to the software unit is configurable to receive a request from the software unit that identifies at least one operating point for the apparatus. The hardware unit is operable to control at least one of the clock generator and the power supply so as to achieve the requested operating point.
45 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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receiving a request originated by a software unit, wherein the software unit implements non-runtime control of a system embodied in an integrated circuit, and wherein the request is received at a hardware unit implementing runtime control of the system, the received request identifying at least one operating point for a subsystem of the integrated circuit, the operating point being chosen from among a plurality of operating points, at least two of which represent non-idle, non-sleep performance levels differing from one another; and in response to the received request, determining clock and power characteristics that will achieve the requested operating point and controlling at least one of a clock generator and a power supply of the integrated circuit so as to achieve the requested operating point, where said integrated circuit comprises a plurality of subsystems, and where the received request is automatically generated in response to the software unit, when starting to use a particular subsystem, making a first access to the particular subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-readable memory that stores computer program instructions, execution of which result in performance of operations that comprise:
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in response to receiving a request originated by a software unit, wherein the software unit implements non-runtime control of a system embodied in an integrated circuit, and wherein the request is received at a hardware unit implementing runtime control of the system, the received request identifying at least one operating point for a subsystem of the integrated circuit, the operating point being chosen from among a plurality of operating points, at least two of which represent non-idle, non-sleep performance levels differing from one another, determining clock and power characteristics that will achieve the requested operating point and controlling at least one of a clock generator and a power supply of the integrated circuit so as to achieve the requested operating point; and sending a status indication to the software unit to indicate at least when the requested operating point has been established or if an achieved performance, voltage and/or frequency is less than a target value, where the integrated circuit comprises a plurality of subsystems, and where the received request is automatically generated in response to the software unit, when starting to use a particular subsystem, making a first access to the particular subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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- 15. An apparatus, comprising a hardware unit configured to implement runtime control of a system, wherein the hardware unit has an interface to a clock generator, an interface to a power supply and an interface to a software unit configured to implement non-runtime control of the system, wherein the interface to the hardware unit is configurable to receive a request that is originated by the software unit and that identifies at least one operating point of a subsystem of the apparatus, the operating point being chosen from among a plurality of operating points, at least two of which represent non-idle, non-sleep performance levels differing from one another, the performance and power consumption provided by the respective operating points differing between the operating points, hardware unit configurable to determine clock and power characteristics that will achieve the requested operating point and control at least one of the clock generator and the power supply so as to achieve the requested operating point, where said apparatus comprises an integrated circuit embodying the system and wherein the system comprises a plurality of subsystems, and where the received request is automatically generated in response to the software unit, when starting to use a particular subsystem, making a first access to the particular subsystem.
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21. An apparatus, comprising:
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means for receiving at a hardware unit configured to implement runtime control of a system, wherein the hardware unit is further configured to receive a request from a software unit configured to implement non-runtime control of the system, wherein the request identifies at least one operating point for a subsystem of an integrated circuit, the operating point being chosen from among a plurality of operating points, at least two of which represent non-idle, non-sleep performance levels differing from one another; means, responsive to the received request, for determining clock and power characteristics that will achieve the requested operating point and controlling at least one of a clock generator and a power supply of the integrated circuit so as to achieve the requested operating point; and means for sending a status indication to the software unit to indicate at least when the requested operating point has been established or to indicate whether a requested performance, voltage and/or frequency is above or below a target, where said integrated circuit comprises a plurality of subsystems, and where the received request is automatically generated in response to the software unit, when starting to use a particular subsystem, making a first access to the particular subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification