Methods and systems for power management in a data processing system
First Claim
1. A data processing system on a monolithic semiconductor substrate which provides a system on a chip (SOC), the data processing system comprising:
- a general purpose processing unit;
a graphics processing unit;
at least one peripheral interface controller;
at least one bus coupled to the general purpose processing unit, the graphics processing unit, and the at least one peripheral interface controller;
a power controller coupled to at least the general purpose processing unit and the graphics processing unit, the power controller being configured to turn power off for the general purpose processing unit in response to a first state of an instruction queue of the general purpose processing unit, and the power controller being configured to turn power off for the graphics processing unit in response to a second state of an instruction queue of the graphics processing unit, wherein the first state and the second state represent an instruction queue having either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions and wherein the graphics processing unit has its power turned off while an image, generated by the graphics processing unit, is being displayed by the data processing system, and wherein a software driver of the graphics processing unit provides, in response to the second state, a message, representing the second state, to the general purpose processing unit and the general purpose processing unit, in response to the message, causes the power controller to turn power off for the graphics processing unit, and wherein power for the graphics processing unit is turned off without using a timer to time a duration of non-use of the graphics processing unit.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for managing power consumption in data processing systems are described. In one embodiment, a data processing system includes a general purpose processing unit, a graphics processing unit (GPU), at least one peripheral interface controller, at least one bus coupled to the general purpose processing unit, and a power controller coupled to at least the general purpose processing unit and the GPU. The power controller is configured to turn power off for the general purpose processing unit in response to a first state of an instruction queue of the general purpose processing unit and is configured to turn power off for the GPU in response to a second state of an instruction queue of the GPU. The first state and the second state represent an instruction queue having either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions.
64 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A data processing system on a monolithic semiconductor substrate which provides a system on a chip (SOC), the data processing system comprising:
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a general purpose processing unit; a graphics processing unit; at least one peripheral interface controller; at least one bus coupled to the general purpose processing unit, the graphics processing unit, and the at least one peripheral interface controller; a power controller coupled to at least the general purpose processing unit and the graphics processing unit, the power controller being configured to turn power off for the general purpose processing unit in response to a first state of an instruction queue of the general purpose processing unit, and the power controller being configured to turn power off for the graphics processing unit in response to a second state of an instruction queue of the graphics processing unit, wherein the first state and the second state represent an instruction queue having either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions and wherein the graphics processing unit has its power turned off while an image, generated by the graphics processing unit, is being displayed by the data processing system, and wherein a software driver of the graphics processing unit provides, in response to the second state, a message, representing the second state, to the general purpose processing unit and the general purpose processing unit, in response to the message, causes the power controller to turn power off for the graphics processing unit, and wherein power for the graphics processing unit is turned off without using a timer to time a duration of non-use of the graphics processing unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A machine implemented method comprising:
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determining a state of an instruction queue of a graphics processing unit; turning off power to the graphics processing unit in response to determining that the instruction queue of the graphics processing unit (GPU) has either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions, wherein the GPU has its power turned off while an image, generated by the graphics processing unit, is being displayed; determining a state of an instruction queue of a general purpose processing unit; turning off power to the general purpose processing unit in response to determining that the instruction queue of the general purpose processing unit has either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions, wherein a software driver of the GPU sends, in response to determining that the instruction queue has either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions, a message to the general purpose processing unit indicating the state of the instruction queue of the GPU, and the general purpose processing unit causes a power controller to turn power off for the GPU and wherein power for the GPU is turned off without using a timer to time a duration of non-use of the GPU. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A machine readable non-transitory storage medium containing executable program instructions which cause a data processing system to perform a method comprising:
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determining a state of an instruction queue of a graphics processing unit; turning off power to the graphics processing unit in response to determining that the instruction queue of the graphics processing unit (GPU) has either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions, wherein the GPU has its power turned off while an image, generated by the graphics processing unit, is being displayed; determining a state of an instruction queue of a general purpose processing unit; turning off power to the general purpose processing unit in response to determining that the instruction queue of the general purpose processing unit has either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions, wherein a software driver of the GPU sends, in response to determining that the instruction queue has either no instructions or instructions for only future events or actions, a message to the general purpose processing unit indicating the state of the instruction queue of the GPU, and the general purpose processing unit causes a power controller to turn power off for the GPU and wherein power for the GPU is turned off without using a timer to time a duration of non-use of the GPU. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification