# US 2010/0169685 A1 · Idle duration reporting for power management

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- Number: US 2010/0169685 A1
- Document ID: US20100169685A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/347,573
- Filed: 2008-12-31
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Robert E. Gough; Seh W. Kwa; Neil W. Songer; Jaya L. Jeyaseelan; Barnes Cooper
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100169685A1

## CPC

- G06F 1/3234: Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
- G06F 1/3215: Monitoring of peripheral devices
- G06F 1/3228: Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

For one disclosed embodiment, data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more downstream devices may be received. Power may be managed based at least in part on the received data. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
first logic to receive data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more downstream devices; and
second logic to manage power based at least in part on the received data.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second logic is to transition to a lower power state in response to receipt of data corresponding to an idle duration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second logic is to transition from a lower power state based at least in part on when an idle duration will expire.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first logic is to receive data corresponding to an idle duration for multiple downstream devices and is to transmit data corresponding to an idle duration that will expire next.

### Claim 5

A method comprising:
receiving data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more downstream devices; and
managing power based at least in part on the received data.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the managing includes transitioning to a lower power state in response to receipt of data corresponding to an idle duration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the managing includes transitioning from a lower power state based at least in part on when an idle duration will expire.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving includes receiving data corresponding to an idle duration for multiple downstream devices; and
wherein the method includes transmitting data corresponding to an idle duration that will expire next.

### Claim 9

An apparatus comprising:
logic to receive data corresponding to an idle duration for multiple downstream devices;
logic to track expiration of idle durations; and
logic to transmit data corresponding to an idle duration that will expire next to manage power based at least in part on the idle duration that will expire next.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic to track expiration of idle durations is to compare data corresponding to idle durations to a timer value.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic to track expiration of idle durations is to store data corresponding to idle durations in corresponding timers.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic to transmit data is to transmit data in response to expiration of an idle duration.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the logic to receive data is to receive data corresponding to an idle duration from multiple downstream devices.

### Claim 14

A method comprising:
receiving data corresponding to an idle duration for multiple downstream devices;
tracking expiration of idle durations; and
transmitting data corresponding to an idle duration that will expire next to manage power based at least in part on the idle duration that will expire next.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the tracking includes comparing data corresponding to idle durations to a timer value.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the tracking includes storing data corresponding to idle durations in corresponding timers.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting includes transmitting data in response to expiration of an idle duration.

### Claim 18

An apparatus comprising:
first logic to help control functionality of a device; and
second logic to transmit to an upstream device data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more upstream devices to manage power based at least in part on the idle duration.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second logic is to identify whether at least a portion of the device will be idle and determine the idle duration for the device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second logic is to identify whether at least a portion of the device will communicate with an upstream device.

### Claim 21

A method comprising:
controlling functionality of a device; and
transmitting to an upstream device data corresponding to an idle duration for one or more upstream devices to manage power based at least in part on the idle duration.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21, comprising identifying whether at least a portion of the device will be idle and determining the idle duration for the device.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22, wherein the identifying including identifying whether at least a portion of the device will communicate with an upstream device.