# US 2013/0155081 A1 · Power management in multiple processor system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155081 A1 - Document ID: US20130155081A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/327,266 - Filed: 2011-12-15 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-15 - Assignees: ATI Technologies ULC; Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. - Inventors: Oleksandr Khodorkovsky; Stephen Presant - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155081A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/329: by task scheduling - G06F 1/3206: Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality - G06F 1/3287: by switching off individual functional units in the computer system - G06F 9/5094: {where the allocation takes into account power or heat criteria (power management in computers in general G06F1/3203; thermal management in computers in general G06F1/206)} - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract Power management for a processing system that has multiple processing units, (e.g., multiple graphics processing units (GPUs), is described herein. The processing system includes a power manager that obtains performance, power, operational or environmental data from a power management unit associated with each processor (e.g., GPU). The power manager determines, for example, an average value with respect to at least one of the performance, power, operational or environmental data. If the average value is below a predetermined threshold for a predetermined amount of time, then the power manager notifies a configuration manager to alter the number of active processors (e.g., GPUs), if possible. The power may then be distributed among the remaining GPUs or other processors, if beneficial for the operating and environmental conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for managing power, comprising: receiving at least one performance measurement from a power management unit of at least one active processor; and notifying a configuration manager to adjust the configuration of at least one portion of the at least one active processor in response to the at least one performance measurement from the power management unit, wherein adjusting the configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor alters task dispatches to the at least one active processor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the configuration alters number of active processors and re-distributes power to a new number of active processors in response to a power performance measurement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining capability to adjust configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor in response to the at least one performance measurement; and notifying the configuration manager that the at least one portion of the at least one active processor may be adjusted based on performance benefits. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one performance measurement is at least one of operating frequency, operating voltage, operating current, power, activity level, and thermal conditions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating a timer in response to the at least one performance measurement to control frequency of configuration changes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining a statistic using at least the at least one performance measurement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: re-distributing power in response to adjusting the configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor. ### Claim 8 A system for managing power, comprising: a configuration manager configured to assign tasks to at least one active processor; a power management unit configured to monitor performance of the at least one active processor; a power manager configured to receive at least one performance measurement from the power management unit; and the power manager configured to notify the configuration manager to adjust the configuration of at least one portion of the at least one active processor in response to the at least one performance measurement, wherein adjusting the configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor alters task dispatches to the at least one active processor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein adjusting the configuration alters number of active processors and re-distributes power to a new number of active processors in response to a power performance measurement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising: the power manager configured to determine system capability to adjust configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor in response to the at least one performance measurement; and the power manager configured to notify the configuration manager that the at least one portion of the at least one active processor may be adjusted based on performance benefits. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one performance measurement is at least one of operating frequency, operating voltage, operating current, power, activity level, and thermal conditions. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising: the power manager configured to initiate a timer in response to the at least one performance measurement to control frequency of configuration changes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising: the power manager configured to determine a statistic using at least the at least one performance measurement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, further comprising: the configuration manager configured to re-distribute power in response to adjusting the configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor. ### Claim 15 A method for managing power, comprising: receiving at least one performance measurement from a power management unit of at least one active processor; counting number of reconfigurable events with respect to the at least one performance measurement; and notifying a configuration manager to adjust the configuration of at least one portion of the at least one active processor on a condition that the counter has reached a given value, wherein adjusting the configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor alters task dispatches to the at least one active processor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein adjusting the configuration alters number of active processors and re-distributes power to new number of active processors in response to a power performance measurement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: determining capability to adjust configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor in response to the at least one performance measurement; and notifying the configuration manager that the at least one portion of the at least one active processor may be adjusted based on performance benefits. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one performance measurement is at least one of operating frequency, operating voltage, operating current, power, activity level, and thermal conditions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: resetting a counter on a condition that the number of reconfigurable events has reached the given value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: resetting a counter on a condition that a reconfigurable event has occurred for at least another performance measurement. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: re-distributing power in response to adjusting the configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor. ### Claim 22 A computer readable media including hardware design code stored thereon, and when processed generates other intermediary data to create one or more mask works for a processor configured to perform a method of managing power, comprising: receiving at least one performance measurement from a power management unit of at least one active processor; and notifying a configuration manager to adjust the configuration of at least one portion of the at least one active processor in response to the at least one performance measurement from the power management unit, wherein adjusting the configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor alters task dispatches to the at least one active processor. ### Claim 23 A computer readable media including hardware design code stored thereon, and when processed generates other intermediary data to create one or more mask works for a processor configured to perform a method of managing power, comprising: receiving at least one performance measurement from a power management unit of at least one active processor; counting number of reconfigurable events with respect to the at least one performance measurement; and notifying a configuration manager to adjust the configuration of at least one portion of the at least one active processor on a condition that the counter has reached a given value, wherein adjusting the configuration of the at least one portion of the at least one active processor alters task dispatches to the at least one active processor.