Techniques for collaborative power management for heterogeneous networks

• US 8,145,920 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Expired

• 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): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHIL K
• Application Number:
  US12/208,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20090077396A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 713/320, 713/330, 713/375, 713/340
• US Class Current: 713/300
• 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 collaborative power management for heterogeneous networks are described. An apparatus may include a first node having a managed power system and a power management module to manage power states for the managed power system. The power management module may be operative to communicate power state information with a second node over a communications connection, and manage the power states for the managed power system based on power state information for the second node. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first node having a managed power system and a power management module to manage power states for the managed power system, the power management module operative to communicate power state information with a second node over a communications connection, and manage the power states for the managed power system based on power state information for the second node, the managed power system to include a communications sub-system and a computing sub-system, the power management module having a power management controller operative to control varying levels of power provided to the communications sub-system and the computing sub-system based on an idle duration parameter and a resume latency parameter of the power state information for the second node, the power management module to modify a power level for the communications sub-system or the computing sub-system from a first power level to a second power level based on the idle duration parameter and resume latency parameter for the second node.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the power management module to modify the power level for the communications sub-system or the computing sub-system from the first power level to the second power level for a power state duration period determined using the power state information for the second node.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the power management module to receive power state information for the second node using a power management packet data unit for a network link power management protocol.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the power state information for the second node to include a communications power state for a communications sub-system for the second node, the communications power state to include a communications idle duration parameter and a communications resume latency parameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the power state information for the second node to include a computing power state for a computing sub-system for the second node, the computing power state to include a computing idle duration parameter and a computing resume latency parameter.

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

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 communications sub-system and the computing sub-system based on the power state information for the second node.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, the communications sub-system having a network state module operative to send communications power management messages to the power management module, the power management module to generate power state information for the managed power system based on the communications power management messages.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the computing sub-system having a computing state module operative to send computing power management messages to the power management module, the power management module to generate power state information for the managed power system based on the computing power management messages.

10. A system, comprising:

a first node having a managed power system and a power management module, the managed power system comprising a digital electronic display, a communications sub-system and a computing sub-system, the power management module operative to communicate power state information with a second node over a communications connection, and manage power states for the communications sub-system or the computing sub-system based on power state information for the second node, the managed power system to include a communications sub-system and a computing sub-system, the power management module having a power management controller operative to control varying levels of power provided to the communications sub-system and the computing sub-system based on an idle duration parameter and a resume latency parameter of the power state information for the second node, the power management module to modify a power level for the communications sub-system or the computing sub-system from a first power level to a second power level based on the idle duration parameter and resume latency parameter for the second node.

11. The system of claim 10, the second node comprising a managed power system and a power management module, the power management module of the second node to generate and communicate power state information for the managed power system of the second node to the first node.

12. The system of claim 10, the communications sub-system comprising a radio and an omni-directional antenna.

13. The system of claim 10, the computing sub-system comprising a processor, a chipset, and static random access memory.

14. A method, comprising:

communicating power state information between a first node and a second node over a communications connection;

determining a power state and a power state duration period based on the power state information for the second node;

switching a managed power system of the first node to the determined power state for the power state duration period, the managed power system to include a communications sub-system and a computing sub-system;

controlling varying levels of power provided to the communications sub-system and the computing sub-system based on an idle duration parameter and a resume latency parameter of the power state information for the second network device; and

modifying a power level for the communications sub-system or the computing sub-system from a first power level to a second power level based on the idle duration parameter and resume latency parameter for the second network device.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising negotiating the power state and power state duration period for the managed power system with the second node.

16. The method of claim 14, comprising communicating the power state information between the first node and the second node over a wireless communications link using a power management protocol data unit for a network link power management protocol.

17. The method of claim 14, comprising switching the communications sub-system for the managed power system from an active power state to an idle power state for the power state duration period.

18. The method of claim 14, comprising switching the computing sub-system for the managed power system from an active power state to an idle power state for the power state duration period.

19. An article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium containing instructions that if executed enable a system to:

receive at a first network device power state information for a second network device over a network connection;

manage power states for a managed power system of the first network device based on the power state information for the second network device, the managed power system to include a communications sub-system and a computing sub-system;

control varying levels of power provided to the communications sub-system and the computing sub-system based on an idle duration parameter and a resume latency parameter of the power state information for the second network device; and

modify a power level for the communications sub-system or the computing sub-system from a first power level to a second power level based on the idle duration parameter and resume latency parameter for the second network device.

20. The article of claim 19, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to modify the power level for the communications sub-system or the computing sub-system from a higher power level to a lower power level based on the power state information for the second network device.

21. The article of claim 19, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to modify the power level for the communications sub-system or the computing sub-system from a lower power level to a higher power level based on the power state information for the second network device.

22. The article of claim 19, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to modify the power level for the communications sub-system or the computing sub-system from a first power level to a second power level for a defined time interval determined using the power state information for the second network device.

23. The article of claim 19, further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to negotiate a power state for the managed power system with the second network device.