Patent · US Active

Identifying a target processor idle state

US7490256B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 4, 2006
Grant dateFeb 10, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 3, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F1/3228
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed at identifying an idle state for a processor that minimizes power consumption. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for identifying a target idle state that does not require a linear progression into any intermediate states is provided. More specifically the method includes collecting data from a plurality of data sources that describes activities occurring on the computer and/or attributes of the hardware platform. Then, using the collected data, a target idle state for the processor is calculated. Finally, if the current idle state of the processor is different than the target idle state, the method causes the idle state of the processor to be changed to the target idle state.

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