System for managing power consumption of devices coupled to a common bus

A system for managing power provided to devices connected to a device interconnection bus, wherein power is supplied to said devices over said bus, and wherein each of said devices is capable of operating in a plurality of operational states, each requiring a differing amount of power, said system comprising:

• means for maintaining information regarding a total amount of power actually drawn from said bus by devices connected to said bus and for maintaining information regarding a total amount of power available to said devices over said bus;
• means for receiving power usage requests from said bus over said bus, said power usage requests specifying a desired device and a desired operational state of said device;
• means for determining whether there is an available power surplus sufficient to allow a grant of said power usage request;
• means, responsive to said determination, for granting or denying said power usage request;
• and
• sequencing means, responsive to a determination that an insufficient amount of power is available, for deferring operation of said device for which a power usage request has been received pending an increase in said power surplus.

A system for managing power provided to devices connected to a device interconnection bus, wherein said bus carries power, and wherein said devices are capable of operating in a plurality of operational state, with different operational states of a device requiring different amounts of power, said system comprising:

• means for maintaining information regarding a power surplus, if any, available on said bus;
• means for maintaining information regarding all devices connected to said bus that may require power from said bus, said information including the power requirements of the device for each of the operational states of the device;
• means for receiving power usage requests from said devices over said bus, said power usage requests specifying a desired device and a desired operational state of said device;
• means for determining whether the power surplus, if any, if sufficient to allow a grant of said power usage request;
• means, responsive to said determination, for granting or denying said power usage request;
• sequencing means, responsive to a determination that an insufficient amount of power is available, for deferring operation of said device for which a power usage request has been received pending an increase in said power surplus.

A method for managing power provided to devices connected to a device interconnection bus, wherein power is carried on said bus, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving information specifying a total amount of power surplus, if any, on said bus, said power surplus being an amount of power available on said bus in excess of power currently drawn from said bus by said devices and power required by the bus itself;
• receiving and storing information specifying all of the devices connected to said bus that are capable of drawing power from said bus, including information specifying the power requirements of each operational state of each device;
• receiving power usage requests over said bus, said power usage requests specifying a device and a desired operational state of said device;
• determining whether the surplus power, if any, is sufficient to allow operation of said device in said requested state;
• granting said bus request, if the surplus power is sufficient, and denying said bus request if said surplus power is insufficient;
• and if said power usage request is denied, deferring granting said power usage request pending an increase the power surplus, if any, to an amount sufficient to power said requested device at said requested operational state.

A method for managing power provided to devices connected to a device interconnection bus, wherein power is carried on said bus, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving information specifying a total amount of power surplus, if any, on said bus, said power surplus being an amount of power available on said bus in excess of power currently drawn from said bus by said devices and power required by the bus itself;
• receiving and storing information specifying all of the devices connected to said bus that are capable of drawing power from said bus, including information specifying the power requirements of each operational state of search device;
• receiving power usage requests over said bus, said power usage requests specifying a device and a desired operational state of said device;
• determining whether the surplus power, if any, is sufficient to allow operation of said device in said requested state;
• granting said bus request, if the surplus power is sufficient, and denying said bus request if said surplus power is insufficient;
• and
• if said power usage request is denied, controlling one or more currently operational devices to change the operational states of said devices to a states requiring less power.

A method for managing power provided to devices connected to a device interconnection bus, wherein power is carried on said bus, said method comprising the steps of:

• receiving information specifying a total amount of power surplus, if any, on said bus, said power surplus being an amount of power available on said bus in excess of power currently drawn from said bus by said devices and power required by the bus itself;
• receiving and storing information specifying all of the devices connected to said bus that are capable of drawing power from said bus, including information specifying the power requirements of each operational state of each device;
• receiving power usage requests over said bus, said power usage requests specifying a device and a desired operational state of said device;
• determining whether the surplus power, if any, is sufficient to allow operation of said device in said requested state;
• granting said bus request, if the surplus power is sufficient, and denying said bus request if said surplus power is insufficient;
• receiving information specifying the power output of devices capable of supplying power to said bus;
• and
• controlling said power-supplying devices to activate or deactivate one or more of said devices in response to a determination of the total amount of power required in granting said power usage requests.