Patent · US Expired

Power management for computer systems

US6711691B1 · kind B1 · utility

188Cited by
24References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 2000
Grant dateMar 23, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Power management approaches for computer systems having one or more processors are disclosed. One power management approach provides hierarchical power management. The hierarchical nature of the power management provided by the invention has various levels of power management such that power consumption of the computer system is dependent upon the amount of work placed on the processing resources of the computer system. Another power management approach pertains to deterministic handshaking provided between a power manager and one or more controller units. The deterministic handshaking provides for more reliable and controllable transitions between power management states which have associated power management taking place in the controller units. The power management approaches are suitable for use with a single-processor computer system or a multi-processor computer system.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.