Latency-based energy storage device selection

• US 9,939,862 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2015
• Issued: 04/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Badam, Anirudh, Chandra, Ranveer, Priyantha, Nissanka Arachchige Bodhi, Dutra, Jonathan Alan, Meinershagen, Julia L., Hodges, Stephen E., Moscibroda, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoynov, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US14/941,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20170139465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling

Abstract

Latency-based selections of energy storage devices are described herein. In implementations, latency behavior of computing tasks performed by a computing device is predicted for a period of time. Based on the predicted latency behavior of the computing device over the period of time, an assessment is made regarding which of multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices are most appropriate to service the system workload. For example, high energy density devices may be favored for latency sensitive tasks whereas high energy density devices may be favored when latency sensitivity is not a concern. A combination of energy storage devices to service the current workload is selected based upon the latency considerations and then power supply settings are adjusted to cause supply of power from the selected combination of energy storage devices during the time period.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a computing device having multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices, the method comprising:

predicting latency behavior of computing tasks performed via the computing device for a period of time;

selecting a combination of energy storage devices to use for performance of the computing tasks in dependence upon the predicted latency behavior; and

causing adjustments to switching hardware to supply power for performance of the computing tasks from the selected combination of energy storage devices during the period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting the latency behavior includes assessing latency sensitivity of individual computing tasks associated with a workload for the period of time and establishing overall latency sensitivity for the period of time based on the latency sensitivity for the individual computing tasks.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting the latency behavior includes determining latency sensitivity associated with applications executing on the computing device for the period of time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein predicting the latency behavior comprises referencing a data structure configured to correlate different computing tasks and applications to corresponding levels of latency sensitivity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the combination of energy storage devices comprises:

comparing predicted latency behavior to one or more defined threshold levels of latency sensitivity;

determining a threshold level that corresponds to the predicted latency behavior; and

setting a division of an overall power load between the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices as designated for the threshold level that corresponds to the predicted latency behavior.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein causing adjustments to switching hardware comprises setting a power ratio for an energy storage system including the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices to control power draw from the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices as designated for the predicted latency behavior.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices are configured as multiple heterogeneous battery cells.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices include at least one high power density device and at least one high energy density device; and

selecting the combination comprises balancing a division of power draw between the high power density device and the high energy density device based on the predicted latency behavior.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein causing adjustments to switching hardware comprises communicating control signals to a controller for an energy storage system including the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices and the switching hardware to direct operation of switching hardware to draw power from the selected combination of energy storage devices.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the control signals are configured to designate a switching mode for the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices based on the predicted latency behavior.

11. A computing device comprising:

an energy storage device system including multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices; and

a processor to execute a power manager implemented as a software application to direct operations of the energy storage device system to control power draw from the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices based at least in part upon an assessment of latency sensitivity of a workload performed via the computing device for a period of time, including;

causing a division of power draw between the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices to favor high power density devices included with the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices to reduce latency when latency sensitivity is at levels designated as high; and

causing the division of power draw between the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices to favor high energy density devices included with the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices to conserve power for future workloads when latency sensitivity is below the levels designated as high.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein causing the division of power comprises:

determining a power ratio based upon the assessment of latency sensitivity; and

communicating the determined power ratio for use by the energy storage device system, thereby directing operation of switching hardware of the energy storage device system to apply the power ratio to implement the corresponding division of power draw.

13. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the power manager includes a latency estimator to perform the assessment of latency sensitivity for the workload including analyzing one or more of energy storage device characteristics, latency sensitivity of different tasks, application-specific latency considerations, estimated device usage, or estimated energy usage to predict latency sensitivity for the workload.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the latency estimator is further configured to select a combination of energy storage devices to use for performance of the workload in dependence upon the predicted latency sensitivity, the division of power draw corresponding to the combination of energy storage devices that is selected.

15. The computing device of claim 11, wherein the power manager includes a power ratio estimator to derive a power ratio that specifies the division of power draw based upon the assessment of latency sensitivity.

16. A computing device comprising:

an energy storage device system with multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices including at least one high power density device and at least one high energy density device;

one or more processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media having stored thereon instructions that, responsive to execution by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

determining that latency sensitivity of a workload for the computing device exceeds a threshold associated with high latency sensitivity; and

responsive to determining that latency sensitivity exceeds the threshold, adjusting a power ratio for the energy storage device system to increase a percentage of power to service the workload supplied from the high power density device.

17. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

recognizing conclusion of latency sensitive tasks associated with the work load; and

responsive to recognizing conclusion of the latency sensitive tasks, readjusting the power ratio to divide power supply from the energy storage device system according to factors designated for non-latency sensitive workloads.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the factors designated for non-latency sensitive workloads include one or more of predicted energy consumption, expected usage of the computing device, availability of charging opportunities, user behavior and schedules, geographic location, or characteristics of the energy storage device system.

19. The computing device of claim 16, wherein the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform operations including:

determining latency sensitivity of the workload by comparing items associated with the workload to items contained in a data structure that correlates different tasks, applications, and scenarios to levels of latency sensitivity.

20. The computing device of claim 16, the multiple heterogeneous energy storage devices have different characteristics including one or more of different sizes, capacities, technologies, chemistries, shapes, state of charge (SOC), age, temperatures, or cycle counts.