Power-source control system and power-source control method

A power-source control system comprising:

• at least one information processing apparatus;
• a required-power calculation apparatus which calculates a required power representing electric power to be supplied to the information processing apparatus;
• a power-source apparatus which supplies electric power corresponding to the required power calculated by the required-power calculation apparatus to the information processing apparatus;
• and
• a power-source controller which controls the power-source apparatus,
• wherein the information processing apparatus includes:
• a communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus,
• a communication controller configured to control communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus, and
• a communication-state detector configured to, when the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus has not been performed and a start-requesting signal requesting start of the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus transmitted from the communication controller is detected, generate communication-state information representing that start of the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus is attempted in accordance with the detected start-requesting signal, and transmit the generated communication-state information to the required power calculation apparatus,
• the required-power calculation apparatus calculates the required power representing electric power required for the information processing apparatus in accordance with the communication-state information transmitted from the communication-state detector such that the required power is increased when the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus is performed whereas the required power is reduced when the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus is not performed,
• the power-source controller controls the power-source apparatus so that the highest efficiency of power conversion is attained in the power-source apparatus when the power-source apparatus supplies electric power corresponding to the required power calculated by the required-power calculation apparatus to the information processing apparatus,
• the power-supply apparatus adjusts electric power to be used in the information processing apparatus by supplying electric power corresponding to the required power calculated by the required power calculation apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and
• the communication controller controls the communication unit so that the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus is started when the electric power to be used in the information processing apparatus is adjusted using the required power calculated by the required-power calculation unit.

A method of controlling electric power performed by a power-source control system including at least one information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• measuring a load of a CPU;
• determining an operating frequency to be assigned to the CPU from among various operating frequencies such that when a heavy load is applied to the CPU, a high operating frequency is attained and when a light load is applied to the CPU, a low operating frequency is attained, the determining being performed by a frequency controller;
• generating frequency information representing the operating frequency to be determined by the frequency controller in accordance with the load of the CPU;
• transmitting the generated frequency information to a required-power calculation apparatus;
• calculating the required power for the information processing apparatus so that the CPU operates at the operating frequency represented by the frequency information,
• controlling a power-source apparatus so that a highest efficiency of power conversion is attained in the power-source apparatus when the power-source apparatus supplies the required power calculated to the information processing apparatus,
• adjusting electric power to be used in the information processing apparatus by supplying electric power corresponding to the required power calculated;
• and
• changing the operating frequency of the CPU by assigning the operating frequency represented by the frequency information to the CPU when the electric power to be used in the information processing apparatus is adjusted using the required power calculated.

A method of controlling electric power performed by a power-source control system including at least one information processing apparatus, the method comprising:

• controlling communication between a communication unit and an external apparatus, the controlling being performed by a communication controller;
• generating communication-state information indicating that a start of the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus is attempted in accordance with a detected start-requesting signal when the communication between the communication unit and the external unit has not been performed and the start-requesting signal requesting start of the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus transmitted from the communication controller is detected;
• transmitting the generated communication-state information to the required power calculation apparatus,
• calculating the required power representing the electric power required for the information processing apparatus in accordance with the communication-state information transmitted such that the required power is increased when the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus is performed and the required power is reduced when the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus is not performed;
• controlling the power-source apparatus so that a highest efficiency of power conversion is attained in the power-source apparatus when the power-source apparatus supplies electric power corresponding to the required power calculated by the required-power calculation apparatus to the information processing apparatus;
• adjusting electric power to be used in the information processing apparatus by supplying electric power corresponding to the required power calculated to the information processing apparatus;
• and
• controlling the communication unit so that the communication between the communication unit and the external apparatus is started when the electric power to be used in the information processing apparatus is adjusted using the required power calculated.