Processing performance improvement using activity factor headroom

A system, comprising at one or more processors coupled to at least one memory for storing program instructions for execution by said one or more processors for performing power management, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:

• measuring an activity level within a processor of said processing system, wherein said processor operates at one of multiple selectable operating points corresponding to differing levels of power consumption, wherein said measuring is performed by event counters that indicate a usage of multiple functional units within said processor;
• predicting a power consumption level of said processor for an operating point other than a present operating point of said processor, by calculating a predicted power consumption level in from the measured activity level at the presently selected operating point of said processor;
• determining whether or not said predicted power consumption of said processor would yield a power consumption higher than a threshold if at least one other operating point were selected;
• and
• in response to determining that said processor would not yield a power consumption higher than said threshold if said at least one other operating point were selected, selecting said at least one other operating point as an operating point of said processor;
• dynamically measuring actual power consumption of said processor at intervals of operation of said processing system;
• observing a relationship between changes in said actual power consumption and values of said set of event counters;
• and
• revising a model relating predicted power consumption and said values of said set of event counters in conformity with a result of said observing.

A computer program product comprising storage media containing program instructions for execution by a processor for performing power management, said program instructions comprising program instructions for:

• measuring an activity level within a processor of said processing system, wherein said processor operates at one of multiple selectable operating points corresponding to differing levels of power consumption, wherein said measuring is performed by event counters that indicate a usage of multiple functional units within said processor;
• predicting a power consumption level of said processor for an operating point other than a present operating point of said processor, by calculating a predicted power consumption level in from the measured activity level at the presently selected operating point of said processor;
• determining whether or not said predicted power consumption of said processor would yield a power consumption higher than a threshold if at least one other operating point were selected;
• and
• in response to determining that said processor would not yield a power consumption higher than said threshold if said at least one other operating point were selected, selecting said at least one other operating point as an operating point of said processor;
• dynamically measuring actual power consumption of said processor at intervals of operation of said processing system;
• observing a relationship between changes in said actual power consumption and values of said set of event counters;
• and
• revising a model relating predicted power consumption and said values of said set of event counters in conformity with a result of said observing.