Graphics user interface for power optimization diagnostics
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsLinda L. Hurd, Vaishali Kulkarni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of providing a programmer with a visualization of power usage. The method is especially suitable for integration within a debugging process (FIG. 20). A windows-type display (160, 170, 180, 190) displays sections of computer code (160a, 170a), as well as numerical values representing power usage (160b, 170b). Next to each section of code, some sort of visual representation of power usage is displayed, such as a bar of a bar graph (160c, 170c). Alternatively, the code can be highlighted if power usage exceeds a given threshold, or comments can be provided next to the code for optimizing power usage.
Claims25
A computer-implemented method of providing a visualization of power usage of a computer program, comprising the steps of:
- determining power usage per processor cycle;
- displaying a section of computer code corresponding to each said cycle;
- and
- displaying power usage per cycle in terms of a change in power usage from cycle to cycle as a graph, such that each section of code is displayed with a corresponding graphical measure of power usage.
A computer-implemented method of providing a visualization of power usage of a computer program, comprising the steps of:
- determining power usage per processor cycle;
- determining whether said power usage exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
- displaying a section of computer code corresponding to each said cycle;
- and
- if said section of computer code uses power exceeding said threshold, determining whether that section of computer code could be modified to reduced said power usage and if so displaying a comment representing the modification.
A computer-implemented method of providing a visualization of power usage of a computer program, comprising the steps of:
- determining power usage per processor cycle;
- determining whether said power usage exceeds a predetermined threshold value;
- displaying a section of computer code corresponding to each said cycle;
- and
- if said section of computer code uses power exceeding said threshold, displaying that section in a manner that distinguishes that section from sections of code not exceeding said threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.