Electronic device with serial ATA interface and power saving method for serial ATA buses
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
InventorFubito Igari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an electronic device with a serial ATA interface, upon detection of the issue or reception of a preset command, a confirmation device, such as a CPU, confirms the completion of execution of the command. Upon confirming the completion of execution of the command, a controller, which may also be the CPU, controls shifting of the serial ATA interface to a power saving mode.
Claims80
An electronic device with a serial ATA interface connectable to a host via a serial ATA bus, comprising:
- an execution module configured to execute a command which is configured to designate a portion of the electronic being output from the host, the specific power saving mode being one of power saving modes which differ in type from a power saving mode for the serial ATA interface;
- a reporting module configured to report completion of execution of the command to the host;
- and
- a control module configured to control setting of a slumber mode or a partial mode as the power saving mode for the serial ATA interface after the reporting, the slumber mode or the partial mode being related to the specific power saving mode, and
- wherein:
- the control module comprises a timing module configured to determine a period required from the time of the reporting to the time when the slumber mode or the partial mode is set;
- and
- the control module is configured to control setting of the slumber mode or the partial mode after the determined period elapses from the time of the reporting.
A controller comprising:
- a reporting module configured to report completion of execution of a command to a host, the command being configured to designate a portion of an electronic device with a serial ATA interface in a specific power saving mode and being output from the host, the specific power saving mode being one of power saving modes which differ in type from a power saving mode for the serial ATA interface, the electronic device being connectable to the host via a serial ATA bus;
- and
- a control module configured to control setting of a slumber mode or a partial mode as the power saving mode for the serial ATA interface after the reporting, the slumber mode or the partial mode being related to the specific power saving mode, and
- wherein:
- the control module comprises a timing module configured to determine a period required from the time of the reporting to the time when the slumber mode or the partial mode is set;
- and
- the control module is configured to control setting of the slumber mode or the partial mode after the determined period elapses from the time of the reporting.
A method for saving power in an electronic device with a serial ATA interface connectable to a host via a serial ATA bus, comprising:
- executing a command which is configured to designate a portion of the electronic device in a specific power saving mode, the command being output from the host, the specific power saving mode being one of power saving modes which differ in type from a power saving mode for the serial ATA interface;
- reporting completion of execution of the command to the host;
- controlling setting of a slumber mode or a partial mode as the power saving mode for the serial ATA interface after the reporting, the slumber mode or the partial mode being related to the specific power saving mode;
- and
- determining a period required from the time of the reporting to the time when the slumber mode or the partial mode is set, and
- wherein the slumber mode or the partial mode is set after the determined period elapses from the time of the reporting.
An electronic device comprising:
- a nonvolatile memory;
- and
- a controller;
- the controller comprising a first interface circuit and a second interface circuit;
- the first interface circuit being adapted to interface with a second electronic device via a serial interface using a first standard for a serial ATA interface;
- the controller being coupled with the nonvolatile memory via the second interface circuit:
- wherein the controller is configured to:
- receive a first indicator from the second electronic device via the serial interface, the first indicator being an indicator associated with a second standard for an ATA interface being adapted to cause a reduction of a power consumption of the electronic device;
- responsive to receiving the first indicator, transmit a first response to the second electronic device via the serial interface;
- and
- cause the serial interface of the electronic device to enter into one mode of power saving modes associated with the first standard, after a first time period following the transmission of the first response.
A method of controlling a power consumption of an electronic device, the method being performed by a controller comprising a first interface circuit and a second interface circuit, the first interface circuit being adapted to interface with a second electronic device via a serial interface using a first standard for a serial ATA interface, the controller being coupled with the nonvolatile memory via the second interface circuit, the method comprising:
- receiving a first indicator from the second electronic device via the serial interface, the first indicator being an indicator associated with a second standard for an ATA interface being adapted to cause a reduction of a power consumption of the electronic device;
- responsive to receiving the first indicator, transmitting a first response to the second electronic device via the serial interface;
- and
- causing the serial interface of the electronic device to enter into one mode of power saving modes associated with the first standard, after a first time period following the transmission of the first response.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a controller, causes the controller to perform a method for controlling a power consumption of an electronic device, the controller comprising a first interface circuit and a second interface circuit, the first interface circuit being adapted to interface with a second electronic device via a serial interface using a first standard for a serial ATA interface, the controller being coupled with the nonvolatile memory via the second interface circuit, the method comprising:
- responsive to determining that a first indicator is received from the second electronic device via the serial interface, the first indicator being an indicator associated with a second standard for an ATA interface being adapted to cause a reduction of a power consumption of the electronic device, transmitting a first response to the second electronic device via the serial interface;
- and
- causing the serial interface of the electronic device to enter into one mode of power saving modes associated with the first standard, after a first time period following the transmission of the first response.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.