Apparatus and method for performing power management functions

Abstract

The present invention provides a data processing apparatus and method for testing power management instructions. The data processing apparatus comprises a processor for executing data processing instructions including power management instructions, at least one of the power management instructions being a command power management instruction. A power management controller is also provided for receiving command data from the processor when a command power management instruction is executed by the processor, and to control power management logic to perform an associated set of power management functions dependent on the command data. The data processing apparatus includes first power management logic controllable by the power management controller, with the power management controller also having an interface to enable communication with additional power management logic. In accordance with the present invention, the processor is arranged when executing the command power management instruction to specify within the command data provided to the power management controller whether an emulation mode of operation is set. The power management controller is arranged when the emulation mode is not set to initiate the associated set of power management functions dependent on the command data, whilst if the emulation mode is set it is arranged to only initiate a subset of the associated set of power management functions not requiring communication over the interface. By this approach, it is possible to perform some testing of power management software before all aspects of the power management hardware have been designed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.