Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption
AssigneeSun Microsystems, Inc.
InventorsRussell N. Mirov, Michel Cekleov, Mark Young, William M. Baldwin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for controlling thermal cycles in a computer system is provided. The method is comprised of receiving a request to transition the computer system from a first operating mode to a second operating mode, where less power is consumed in the second operating mode. A historical rate at which the computer system has transitioned between the first and second operating modes is determined, and the requested transition is permitted in response to the historical rate being less than a first preselected setpoint, but denied in response to the historical rate being greater than the first preselected setpoint.
Claims12
A method for controlling thermal cycles in a computer system, comprising:
- receiving a request to transition the computer system from a first operating mode to a second operating mode, where the first and second operating modes consume differing amounts of power;
- determining a historical rate at which the computer system has transitioned between the first and second operating modes;
- permitting the requested transition in response to the historical rate being less than a first preselected setpoint;
- and
- denying the requested transition in response to the historical rate being greater than the first preselected setpoint.
A system comprising:
- a bus controller configured to request a transition from a first operating mode to a second operating mode, where the first and second operating modes consume differing amounts of power;
- and
- a processing unit coupled to said bus controller to receive said request and configured to determine a historical rate at which the system has transitioned between the first and second operating modes, wherein said processing unit is further configured to permit the requested transition if said historical rate is less than a first preselected setpoint and to deny the requested transition if said historical rate is more than the first preselected setpoint.
An apparatus for managing power in a computer system comprising:
- means for receiving a request to transition the computer system from a first operating mode to a second operating mode, where the first and second operating modes consume differing amounts of power;
- means for determining a historical rate at which the computer system has transitioned between the first and second operating modes;
- means for permitting the requested transition in response to the historical rate being less than a first preselected setpoint;
- and
- means for denying the requested transition in response to the historical rate being greater than the first preselected setpoint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.