Multiplexed graphics architecture for graphics power management
First Claim
1. A computer system, comprising:
- a processor;
a memory;
a first graphical processor;
a second graphical processor, wherein the first graphical processor and the second graphical processor have different operating characteristics;
a switching mechanism coupled to the first graphical processor and the second graphical processor; and
a display coupled to the switching mechanism,wherein the switching mechanism is configured to couple a given graphical processor to the display, and wherein the switching mechanism is initially configured to couple the first graphical processor to the display;
wherein a program module that is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor is further configured to change a configuration of the switching mechanism thereby decoupling the first graphical processor from the display and coupling the second graphical processor to the display based on an operating condition of the computer system, and wherein the program module further includes instructions for storing a first display state when the first graphical processor is coupled to the display, and instructions for initializing a second display state based on the stored first display state when the second graphical processor is coupled to the display; and
wherein the changing and switching module operations are configured to occur while an operating system is running.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer system includes a processor, a memory, first and second graphical processors that have different operating characteristics, a switching mechanism coupled to the graphical processors, and a display coupled to the switching mechanism. The switching mechanism is configured to couple a given graphical processor to the display, and is initially configured to couple the first graphical processor to the display. Furthermore, a program module, which is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor, is configured to change a configuration of the switching mechanism thereby decoupling the first graphical processor from the display and coupling the second graphical processor to the display. Note that the changing of the configuration and switching module operations are configured to occur while an operating system is running and are based on the operating condition of the computer system.
69 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a processor; a memory; a first graphical processor; a second graphical processor, wherein the first graphical processor and the second graphical processor have different operating characteristics; a switching mechanism coupled to the first graphical processor and the second graphical processor; and a display coupled to the switching mechanism, wherein the switching mechanism is configured to couple a given graphical processor to the display, and wherein the switching mechanism is initially configured to couple the first graphical processor to the display; wherein a program module that is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the processor is further configured to change a configuration of the switching mechanism thereby decoupling the first graphical processor from the display and coupling the second graphical processor to the display based on an operating condition of the computer system, and wherein the program module further includes instructions for storing a first display state when the first graphical processor is coupled to the display, and instructions for initializing a second display state based on the stored first display state when the second graphical processor is coupled to the display; and wherein the changing and switching module operations are configured to occur while an operating system is running. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for configuring a computer system, comprising:
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driving a display using a first driver and a first graphical processor; storing a first display state; decoupling the first graphical processor from the display using a switching mechanism; coupling a second graphical processor to the display using the switching mechanism; driving the display using a second driver and the second graphical processor; and initializing a second display state based on the stored first display state; wherein the decoupling and coupling are based on an operating condition of the computer system, and wherein the coupling and decoupling occur while an operating system is running in the computer system.
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19. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein for configuring the computer system, the computer-program mechanism including:
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instructions for driving a display using a first driver and a first graphical processor; instructions for storing a first display state; instructions for decoupling the first graphical processor from the display using a switching mechanism; instructions for coupling a second graphical processor to the display using the switching mechanism; instructions for driving the display using a second driver and the second graphical processor; and instructions for initializing a second display state based on the stored first display state; wherein the decoupling and coupling are based on an operating condition of the computer system, and wherein the coupling and decoupling are configured to occur while an operating system is running in the computer system.
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Specification