Techniques for communications based power management

• US 8,479,028 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tahoe Research Limited (f/k/a Learndale Limited) (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Tsai, Jr-Shian, Tai, Tsung-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tim T
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, TRISHA U
• Application Number:
  US12/208,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20090077394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 713300-340, 710/29, 710/52
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

Techniques for communications based power management are described. An apparatus may comprise a managed power system having a communications sub-system and a computing sub-system, the communications sub-system to include a network state module operative to determine communications power state information, and send a power management message with the communications power state information. The apparatus may further comprise a power management module to receive the power management message, retrieve the communications power state information from the power management message, and manage power states for the computing sub-system based on the communications power state information. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a managed power system comprising;

a communications sub-system;

and a computing sub-system,

the communications sub-system to include a media access controller and a PHY to provide a communications connection, a network state module operative to (a) determine communications power state information based on, at least in part, on at least one of (1) a status of the communications connection, or (2) at least one communication element of the communications sub-system and (b) send a power management message with the communications power state information; and

a power management module to couple to the managed power system, the power management module to receive the power management message, retrieve the communications power state information from the power management message, and manage power states for the computing sub-system based on the communications power state information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the network state module to determine a communications idle duration parameter and a communications resume latency parameter for the communications sub-system, and send the power management message with the communications idle duration parameter and the communications resume latency parameter to the power management module.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, comprising the communications power state information including one or more communications capabilities of the communications sub-system, the communications idle duration parameter and the communications resume parameter based on the one or more communication capabilities of the communications sub-system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the power management module to determine a power state duration period using a communications idle duration parameter and a communications resume latency parameter, and modify a power level for the computing sub-system from a first power level to a second power level for the power state duration period.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the power management module having a power source operative to provide varying levels of power to the computing sub-system based on the communications power state information for the communications sub-system.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the power management module having a power management controller operative to control varying levels of power provided to the computing sub-system from a power source based on the communications power state information for the communications sub-system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the power management module having a power control timer operative to provide timing information to control varying time periods when varying levels of power are provided to the computing sub-system based on the communications power state information for the communications sub-system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the managed power system and the power management module each having a common interface to communicate the power management messages.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the power management module to manage power states for the communications sub-system based on the communications power state information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, the managed power system including a digital electronic display.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising the network state module operative to determine the communications state power information based on one or more communications capabilities of the communications sub-system.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, comprising the communications capabilities to include at least one of maintaining buffers to store network packets received via a communications connection, maintaining buffers to store information received via a communications bus, a wired transceiver capable of operating at one or more communications speeds, a wireless transceiver capable of operating at one or more communications speeds, measured packet inter-arrival times for network packets received via a communications connection, measured network traffic load on a communications connection, a signal-to-noise ratio for a communications connection, a received signal strength indicator for a communications connection or a throughput of a communications bus.

13. A method, comprising:

receiving a power management message with communications power state information over a communications bus by a power management module from a communications sub-system of a managed power system, the communications sub-system having a media access controller and a PHY to provide a communications connection, the power management message based on at least one characteristic of the communications sub-system;

determining a computing power state and a computing power state duration period for a computing sub-system of the managed power system based on the communications power state information; and

switching the computing sub-system to the computing power state for the computing power state duration period.

14. The method of claim 13, comprising determining a communications idle duration parameter for the communications sub-system as the communications power state information.

15. The method of claim 13, comprising determining a communications resume latency parameter for the communications sub-system as the communications power state information.

16. The method of claim 13, comprising:

determining a communications power state and a communications power state duration period for the communications sub-system based on the communications power state information; and

switching the communications sub-system to the communications power state for the communications power state duration period.

17. The method of claim 13, comprising switching the computing sub-system from an active power state to an idle power state for the computing power state duration period.

18. The method of claim 13, comprising switching the communications sub-system from an active power state to an idle power state for the communications power state duration period.

19. The method of claim 13, comprising the communications power state information including one or more communications capabilities of the communications sub-system.

20. An article comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that if executed enable a system to:

receive a power management message with communications power state information over a communications bus by a power management module from a communications sub-system of a managed power system, the communications sub-system having a media access controller and a PHY to provide a communications connection, the power management message based on at least one characteristic of the communications sub-system;

determine a computing power state and a computing power state duration period for a computing sub-system of the managed power system based on the communications power state information; and

switch the computing sub-system to the computing power state for the computing power state duration period.

21. The article of claim 20, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to switch the communications sub-system to the computing power state for the computing power state duration period.

22. The article of claim 20, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to determine a communications idle duration parameter for the communications sub-system as the communications power state information.

23. The article of claim 20, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to determine a communications resume latency parameter for the communications sub-system as the communications power state information.

24. The article of claim 20, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to:

determine a communications power state and a communications power state duration period for the communications sub-system based on the communications power state information; and

switching the communications sub-system to the communications power state for the communications power state duration period.

25. The article of claim 20, comprising the communications power state information including one or more communications capabilities of the communications sub-system.