US 11,237,616 B1 · Governing power budget with token passing

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and/or system associates a number of tokens with a plurality of frequency domains (for example, cores) of a central processing unit (CPU) computer chip. The number of tokens allotted to the CPU is based on the CPU power budget. Cores are organized as a ring topology. A token pool traverses the ring, picks up excess tokens from cores having excess tokens, and gives the tokens to cores that need additional tokens. Tokens acquired by a core allows the core to increase operating frequency by an increment represented by the tokens. Consequently, power usage is weighted toward heavily loaded cores and away from lightly loaded cores. Overall power usage of the CPU remains within a power budget. The method budgets power optimally to sustain turbo frequencies for longer durations by not allowing control units to increase frequency in absence of any useful high frequency benefiting workload.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by a token pool, a power allowance request from a first power consuming device, of a plurality of power consuming devices, of an integrated circuit;
determining a second power consuming device, of the plurality of power consuming devices, has a power allowance surplus;
receiving the power allowance surplus from the second power consuming device;
transferring, via the token pool, the power allowance surplus to the first power consuming device;
and
in response to transferring the power allowance surplus to the first power consuming device:
(i) increasing a first operating frequency corresponding to the first power consuming device, based on the power allowance surplus, and (ii) decreasing a second operating frequency corresponding to the second power consuming device, based on the power allowance surplus.

4 more elements

A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media, and program instructions collectively stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising instructions programmed to perform:
receiving, by a token pool, a power allowance request from a first power consuming device, of a plurality of power consuming devices, of an integrated circuit;
in response to receiving the power allowance request, determining a second power consuming device, of the plurality of power consuming devices, has a power allowance surplus;
in response to determining the second power consuming device has the power allowance surplus, receiving the power allowance surplus from the second power consuming device;
transferring, via the token pool, the power allowance surplus to the first power consuming device;
and
in response to transferring the power allowance surplus to the first power consuming device:
(i) increasing a first operating frequency corresponding to the first power consuming device, based on the power allowance surplus, and (ii) decreasing a second operating frequency corresponding to the second power consuming device, based on the power allowance surplus.

5 more elements

A computer system comprising:

a processor set;
and
one or more computer readable storage media;
wherein:
the processor set is structured, located, connected or programmed to run program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media;
and
the program instructions include instructions programmed to perform:
receiving, by a token pool, a power allowance request from a first power consuming device, of a plurality of power consuming devices, of an integrated circuit;
in response to receiving the power allowance request, determining a second power consuming device, of the plurality of power consuming devices, has a power allowance surplus;
in response to determining the second power consuming device has the power allowance surplus, receiving the power allowance surplus from the second power consuming device;
transferring, via the token pool, the power allowance surplus to the first power consuming device;
and
in response to transferring the power allowance surplus to the first power consuming device:
(i) increasing a first operating frequency corresponding to the first power consuming device, based on the power allowance surplus, and (ii) decreasing a second operating frequency corresponding to the second power consuming device, based on the power allowance surplus.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Governing power budget with token passing

Life of this patent

Governing power budget with token passing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20