Processor power management

A method, comprising:

• operating a processor at a first power control strategy;
• determining whether a workload of a task running on a processor has fallen below a lower threshold;
• changing to a second power control strategy to operate the processor based on determining that the workload of the task has fallen below the lower threshold;
• starting a marker timer upon starting the task, said marker timer expiring at a marker point in time, said marker point in time being a predetermined portion of a maximum time the task is allowed to complete.

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a power and clock supply coupled to said processor;
• wherein said processor asserts an operating point signal to said power and clock supply to cause the power and clock supply to implement an operating point for the processor,
• wherein the processor asserts said operating point signal to cause the power and clock supply to operate the processor in a first power control strategy, determines whether a workload of a task running on the processor has fallen below a lower threshold and, based on the workload of the task being below the lower threshold, asserts said operating signal to cause the power and clock supply to operate the processor in a second power control strategy, and wherein the second power control strategy initially includes a lower frequency for operating the processor and then switches to a higher frequency based on the task not completing by a marker point in time.

A processor, comprising:

• a processor core;
• and
• a dynamic power control (DPC);
• wherein said DPC asserts an operating point signal to a power and clock supply to cause the power and clock supply to implement an operating point for the processor, and
• wherein the DPC asserts said operating point signal to request the power and clock supply to operate the processor in a first power control strategy, determines whether a workload of a task running on the processor has fallen below a lower threshold and, based on the workload of the task being below the lower threshold, asserts said operating signal to request the power and clock supply to operate the processor in a second power control strategy, and wherein the second power control strategy initially includes a lower frequency for operating the processor and then switches to a higher frequency based on the task not completing by a marker point in time.