초록 ▼

The invention is directed towards minimizing power consumption in computer systems. One embodiment of the invention is a power management system that is used for a computer system that has at least one device and one power domain. This embodiment uses two different power managers to manage the power

The invention is directed towards minimizing power consumption in computer systems. One embodiment of the invention is a power management system that is used for a computer system that has at least one device and one power domain. This embodiment uses two different power managers to manage the power consumption of the device and the power domain. Specifically, this embodiment has (1) a first power manager that determines when to change power state of the device, and (2) a second power manager that determines when to change power state of the power domain. Each of these power managers decides to change power state of its corresponding device or domain based on information from several different sources. These sources can include power-management clients and power managers of related domains or devices.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A power management system for a computer system, said computer system having a device and a power domain, said power management system comprising:a) a first power manager determining when to change a power state of said device; andb) a second power manager determining when to change a power state

1. A power management system for a computer system, said computer system having a device and a power domain, said power management system comprising:a) a first power manager determining when to change a power state of said device; andb) a second power manager determining when to change a power state of said power domain;c) wherein the device receives power from the power domain, and the first power manager determines when to change the power state of said device based on information that the first power manager receives from the second power manager. 2. The power management system of claim 1 further comprising:a) a first power-controlling driver communicatively coupled to said first power manager, said first power-controlling driver receiving instructions from the first power manager to change the power state of the device; andb) a second power-controlling driver communicatively coupled to said second power manager, said second power-controlling driver receiving instructions from the second power manager to change the power state of the power domain. 3. The power management system of claim 1 further comprising a power management client, wherein the first power manager determines when to change the power state of said device based on information that the first power manager receives from the power management client. 4. The power-management system of claim 1, wherein said information is the information about the power that the power domain supplies to the device. 5. The power management system of claim 1, further comprising a first power-controlling driver communicatively coupled to said first power manager, said first power-controlling driver receiving instructions from the first power manager to change the power state of the device, wherein the first power manager determines when to change the power state of said device based on information that the first power manager receives from the first power-controlling driver. 6. The power management system of claim 1 further comprising a power management client, wherein the second power manager determines when to change the power state of said domain based on information that the second power manager receives from the power management client. 7. The power management system of claim 1, further comprising a power-controlling driver communicatively coupled to said second power manager, said power-controlling driver receiving instructions from the second power manager to change the power state of the domain, wherein the second power manager determines when to change power state of said power domain based on information that the second power manager receives from the power-controlling driver. 8. A power management system for a computer system, said computer system having a device and first and second power domains, wherein the second power domain supplies power to the first power domain, said power management system comprising:a) a first power manager determining when to change a power state of said device;b) a second power manager determining when to change a power state of said first power domain; andc) a third power manager determining when to change a power state of said second power domain,wherein the second power manager determines when to change the power state of said first power domain based on information that the second power manager receives from the third power manager. 9. The power-management system of claim 8, wherein said information is the information about the power that the second power domain supplies to the first power domain. 10. A hierarchical and distributed power management system for a computer system, said computer system having a hierarchical power system that includes devices and power domains, wherein said devices and power domains have a particular hierarchical relationship, said power management system comprising:a power manager for each device, wherein a device's power manager determines when to change a power state of its device; anda power manager for ea ch power domain, wherein each domain's power manager determines when to change a power state of its power domain;wherein the power managers of the devices and power domains have a hierarchical relationship that is similar to the hierarchical relationship of the devices and power domains; andwherein the power managers of the devices and power domains communicate with each other based on the hierarchical relationship of the power managers. 11. The power management system of claim 10 further comprising:a) a power-controlling driver for each device, wherein a device's power-controlling driver receives instructions from the device's power manager to change the power state of the device; andb) a power-controlling driver for each power domain, wherein a domain's power-controlling driver receives instructions from the domain's power manager to change the power state of the power domain. 12. The power management system of claim 10 further comprising a power management client, wherein at least one of said power managers determines when to change the power state of the power manager's corresponding device or domain based on information that the power manager receives from the power management client. 13. The power management system of claim 10, wherein a particular one of said devices receives power from a particular one of said power domains, and the power manager for the particular device determines when to change the power state of said particular device based on information that the power manager for the particular device receives from the power manager for the particular power domain. 14. The power-management system of claim 13, wherein said information is the information about the power that the particular power domain supplies to the particular device. 15. The power management system of claim 10, further comprising a power-controlling driver for each device, wherein a first power manager for a first device determines when to change the power state of the first device based on information that the first power manager receives from the power-controlling driver of the first device. 16. The power management system of claim 10, wherein a first power domain receives power from a second power domain, and the power manager for the first power domain determines when to change the power state of the first power domain based on information that the power manager for the first power domain receives from the power manager for the second power domain. 17. The power-management system of claim 16, wherein said information is the information about the power that the second power domain supplies to the first power domain. 18. The power management system of claim 10, further comprising a power-controlling driver for each power domain, wherein a first power manager of a first domain determines when to change the power state of the first domain based on information that the first power manager receives from the power-controlling driver of the first domain.