Methods and apparatuses for managing power by leveraging intermediate power margins

• US 8,332,679 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Conroy, David G., Culbert, Michael, Cox, Keith A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US12/871,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20110060932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 710300-340, 713300-340
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/19 characterised by the use of electric means G05D23/1393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• 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 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/10 Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of methods and apparatuses to manage a power of a system that leverage intermediate power margins are described. One or more subsystems of the system are operated at one or more performance points. A power consumed by the one or more subsystems at each of the one or more performance points is measured. An operational power of the one or more subsystems at the one or more performance points is determined. The one or more subsystems are operated at well-known conditions at the one or more performance points. The operational power may be adjusted based on data associated with the one or more subsystems. The operational power is provided to a power lookup table. The power is distributed among the one or more subsystems based on the operational power.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

operating a subsystem of a computer at a set of performance points below a performance point corresponding to a power allocation for the subsystem;

determining an actual power consumed by the subsystem at each of the performance points in the set;

determining an intermediate operational power of the subsystem at each of the performance points in the set based on the determined actual power; and

distributing, at a given performance point in the set, an additional power to one or more other subsystems of the computer, wherein the additional power is determined based on a difference between the power allocation for the subsystem and the intermediate operational power of the subsystem at the given performance point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediate operational power of the subsystem is the actual power consumed by the subsystem determined dynamically.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance points in the set correspond to a frequency, voltage, temperature, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, further including

adjusting the intermediate operational power based on a data associated with the subsystem.

5. The method of claim 1, further including

storing the intermediate operational power to one or more power lookup tables.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the subsystem is operated to consume a maximum power at each of the performance points in the set.

7. An article of manufacture comprising:

a machine readable-storage medium storing data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,

operating a subsystem of a computer at a set of performance points below a performance point corresponding to a power allocation for the subsystem;

determining an actual power consumed by the subsystem at each of the performance points in the set;

determining an intermediate operational power of the subsystem at each of the performance points in the set based on the determined actual power; and

distributing, at a given performance point in the set, an additional power to one or more other subsystems of the computer, wherein the additional power includes a difference between the power allocation for the subsystem and the intermediate operational power of the subsystem at the given performance point.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the intermediate operational power of the subsystem is the actual power consumed by the subsystem determined dynamically.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the performance points in the set correspond to a frequency, a voltage, a temperature, or any combination thereof.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the machine-readable storage medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising,

adjusting the intermediate operational power based on a data associated with the subsystem.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the machine-readable storage medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising,

storing the intermediate operational power to one or more power lookup tables.

12. A data processing system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

operate a subsystem of a computer at a set of performance points below a performance point corresponding to a power allocation for the subsystem;

determine an actual power consumed by the subsystem at each of the performance points in the set;

determine an intermediate operational power of the subsystem at each of the performance points in the set based on the determined actual power; and

distribute, at a given performance point in the set, an additional power that includes a difference between the power allocation for the subsystem and the intermediate operational power of the subsystem at the given performance point.

13. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein

the intermediate operational power of the subsystem is the actual power consumed by the subsystem determined dynamically.

14. The data processing system of claim 12, further comprising

one or more subsystems coupled to the processor.

15. The data processing system of claim 12, further comprising one or more sensors coupled to the processor, the one or more sensors used to measure the actual power consumed by the subsystem.

16. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the intermediate operational power based on a data associated with the subsystem.

17. The data processing system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured to store the intermediate operational power to the memory.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the performance points in the set correspond to a frequency, a voltage, a temperature, or any combination thereof.

19. A machine-accessible storage medium storing data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

storing a value representing an intermediate operational power point of a subsystem of a computer and an established value, wherein the intermediate operational power point is an actual power consumed by the subsystem at a performance point in a set of performance points below a performance point corresponding to the established value; and

providing an additional power to the computer to operate another subsystem based on the value.

20. The machine-accessible storage medium of claim 19, wherein the performance points in the set correspond to a frequency, voltage, temperature, or any combination thereof.

21. The machine-accessible medium of claim 19, wherein the intermediate operational power point is determined dynamically by measuring the actual power consumed by the subsystem at the performance point, estimating the actual power consumed by the subsystem at the performance point, or both.

22. The machine-accessible storage medium of claim 19, wherein the value includes a difference between the established value and the intermediate operational power point of the subsystem.

23. The machine-accessible storage medium of claim 19, wherein the subsystem is operated to consume a maximum power at the performance point.

24. The machine-accessible storage medium of claim 19, wherein the machine-readable storage medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising storing the intermediate operational power point in a memory.

25. The machine-accessible medium of claim 19, wherein the intermediate operational power point is adjusted based on a data associated with the subsystem.

26. A machine-accessible storage medium storing data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

determining an intermediate operational power point of a subsystem of a computer having an allocated power, wherein the intermediate operational power point is an actual power consumed by the subsystem at a performance point in a set of performance points below a performance point corresponding to the allocated power;

storing the intermediate operational power point; and

providing an additional power to another subsystem based on the intermediate operational power point and the allocated power.

27. The machine-accessible storage medium of claim 26, wherein the performance points in the set correspond to a frequency, voltage, temperature, or any combination thereof.

28. The machine-accessible medium of claim 26, wherein the intermediate operational power point is determined dynamically by measuring the actual power consumed by the subsystem at the performance point, estimating the actual power consumed by the subsystem at the performance point, or both.

29. The machine-accessible storage medium of claim 26, wherein the additional power is provided based on a difference between the established value and the intermediate operational power point of the subsystem.

30. The machine-accessible storage medium of claim 26, wherein the subsystem is operated to consume a maximum power at the performance point.

31. The machine-accessible medium of claim 26, wherein the machine-readable storage medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations, comprising adjusting the intermediate operational power point based on a data associated with the subsystem.

32. A data processing system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

store a value representing an intermediate operational power point of a subsystem of a computer and an established value in the memory, wherein the intermediate operational power point is an actual power consumed by the subsystem at a performance point in a set of performance points below a performance point corresponding to the established value; and

provide an additional power to the computer to operate another subsystem based on the value.

33. The data processing system of claim 32, wherein the performance points in the set correspond to a frequency, voltage, temperature, or any combination thereof.

34. The data processing system of claim 32, wherein the intermediate operational power point is determined dynamically by measuring the actual power consumed by the subsystem at the performance point, estimating the actual power consumed by the subsystem at the performance point, or both.

35. The data processing system of claim 32, wherein the value includes a difference between the established value and the intermediate operational power point of the subsystem.

36. The data processing system of claim 32, further comprising one or more subsystems coupled to the processor.

37. The data processing system of claim 32, further comprising one or more sensors coupled to the processor, the one or more sensors used to measure the actual power consumed by the subsystem.

38. The data processing system of claim 32, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the intermediate operational power point based on a data associated with the subsystem.

39. A data processing system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine an intermediate operational power point of a subsystem of a computer having an allocated power, wherein the intermediate operational power point is an actual power consumed by the subsystem at a performance point in a set of performance points below a performance point corresponding to the allocated power;

store the intermediate operational power point; and

provide an additional power to another subsystem based on the intermediate operational power point and the allocated power.

40. The data processing system of claim 39, wherein the performance points in the set correspond to a frequency, voltage, temperature, or any combination thereof.

41. The data processing system of claim 39, wherein the intermediate operational power point is determined dynamically by measuring the actual power consumed by the subsystem at the performance point, estimating the actual power consumed by the subsystem at the performance point, or both.

42. The data processing system of claim 39, wherein the additional power is provided based on a difference between the established value and the intermediate operational power point of the subsystem.

43. The data processing system of claim 39, further comprising one or more subsystems.

44. The data processing system of claim 39, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the intermediate operational power point based on a data associated with the subsystem.

45. The data processing system of claim 39, further comprising one or more sensors, the one or more sensors used to measure the actual power consumed by the subsystem.