Abstract: The disclosed device for packet coalescing includes detecting a trigger condition for initiating packet coalescing of packet traffic and sending, to an endpoint device, a notification to start packet coalescing. The device can observe a status in response to starting the packet coalescing and report a performance of the packet coalescing. A system can include a controller that detects a trigger condition for packet coalescing and notifies an endpoint device via a notification register. The controller can read a status register to report, based on the read status, a packet coalescing performance. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently performing power management for multiple clients of a semiconductor chip that supports remote manageability. In various implementations, a network interface receives a packet, and sends at least an indication of the packet to a manageability processing circuitry (MPC) of a processing node with multiple clients for processing tasks. The MPC determines whether a client or itself is a destination needed to process the packet. If the destination is the MPC, then packet processing is done by the MPC without involvement from the clients, which can be in an idle state. For example, the MPC can process a remote manageability packet requesting diagnostic information from one or more clients of the processing node. The network interface and the MPC use a sideband communication channel for data transmission, which foregoes lane training for further reduction in latency and power consumption.

Abstract: A system and method for updating power supply voltages due to variations from aging are described. A functional unit includes a power supply monitor capable of measuring power supply variations in a region of the functional unit. An age counter measures an age of the functional unit. A control unit notifies the power supply monitor to measure an operating voltage reference. When the control unit receives a measured operating voltage reference, the control unit determines an updated age of the region different from the current age based on the measured operating voltage reference. The control unit updates the age counter with the corresponding age, which is younger than the previous age in some cases due to the region not experiencing predicted stress and aging. The control unit is capable of determining a voltage adjustment for the operating voltage reference based on an age indicated by the age counter.

Abstract: A processing unit of a processing system compiles a priority queue listing of a plurality of processor cores to run a workload based on a cost of running the workload on each of the processor cores. The cost is based on at least one of a system usage policy, characteristics of the workload, and one or more physical constraints of each processor core. The processing unit selects a processor core based on the cost to run the workload and communicates an identifier of the selected processor core to an operating system of the processing system.

Abstract: An integrated coprocessor such as an accelerated processing unit (APU) generates commands for execution on a discrete coprocessor such as a discrete graphics processing unit (dGPU). Power distribution circuitry selectively provides power to the APU and the dGPU based on characteristics of workloads executing on the APU and the dGPU and based on a platform power limit that is shared by the APU and the dGPU. In some cases, the power distribution circuitry determines a first power provided to the APU and a second power provided to the dGPU. The power distribution circuitry increases the second power provided to the dGPU in response to a sum of the first and second powers being less than the platform power limit. In some cases, the power distribution circuitry modifies the power provided to the APU, the dGPU, or both in response to changes in temperatures measured by a set of sensors.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for managing the power consumed by cores of a system on chip (SoC). Techniques disclosed include obtaining application information that is indicative of an application being executed on the cores, detecting a workload associated with the application, and limiting one or more operating frequencies of the cores responsive to the detection of the workload. Techniques disclosed also include profiling the detected workload and limiting the one or more operating frequencies of the cores based on the profiling.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently performing power management for a multi-client computing system. In various implementations, a computing system includes multiple clients that process tasks corresponding to applications. The clients store generated requests of a particular type while processing tasks. A client receives an indication specifying that another client is having requests of the particular type being serviced. In response to receiving this indication, the client inserts a first urgency level in one or more stored requests of the particular type prior to sending the requests for servicing. When the client determines a particular time interval has elapsed, the client sends an indication to other clients specifying that requests of the particular type are being serviced. The client also inserts a second urgency level different from the first urgency level in one or more stored requests of the particular type prior to sending the requests for servicing.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for managing performance states of a data fabric of a system on chip (SoC). Techniques disclosed include determining a performance state of the data fabric based on data fabric bandwidth utilizations of respective components of the SoC. A metric, characteristic of a workload centric to cores of the SoC, is derived from hardware counters, and, based on the metric, it is determined whether to alter the performance state.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficiently scheduling tasks in a dynamic manner to multiple cores that support a heterogeneous computing architecture. A computing system includes multiple cores with at least two cores being capable of executing instructions of a same instruction set architecture (ISA), and therefore, are architecturally compatible. In an implementation, each of the at least two cores is a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU) core capable of executing instructions of a same ISA. However, the throughput and the power consumption greatly differ between the at least two cores based on their hardware designs. An operating system scheduler assigns a thread to a first core, and the first core measures thread dynamic behavior of the thread over a time interval. Based on the thread dynamic behavior, the scheduler reassigns the thread to a second core different from the first core.

Abstract: A system and method for updating power supply voltages due to variations from aging are described. A functional unit includes a power supply monitor capable of measuring power supply variations in a region of the functional unit. An age counter measures an age of the functional unit. A control unit notifies the power supply monitor to measure an operating voltage reference. When the control unit receives a measured operating voltage reference, the control unit determines an updated age of the region different from the current age based on the measured operating voltage reference. The control unit updates the age counter with the corresponding age, which is younger than the previous age in some cases due to the region not experiencing predicted stress and aging. The control unit is capable of determining a voltage adjustment for the operating voltage reference based on an age indicated by the age counter.

Abstract: Platform power management includes boosting performance in a platform power boost mode or restricting performance to keep a power or temperature under a desired threshold in a platform power cap mode. Platform power management exploits the mutually exclusive nature of activities and the associated headroom created in a temperature and/or power budget of a server platform to boost performance of a particular component while also keeping temperature and/or power below a threshold or budget.

Abstract: A processing device and method for efficient transitioning to and from a reduced power state is provided. The processing device comprises a plurality of components having assigned registers used to store data to execute a program and a power management controller, in communication with the plurality of components. The power management controller receives an indication that the plurality of components are idle, executes a process to enter a component into a reduced power state in response to receiving an acknowledgement from the component of a request from the power management controller to remove power to the component, and executes a process to exit the component from the reduced power state in response to the component being active.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for transitioning, by a hardware-based controller, a system on a chip (SoC) into different power states. Techniques disclosed include tracking, by the controller, metrics associated with the SoC and transitioning, by the controller, the SoC from a first power state to a second power state based on the tracked metrics. Were the total amount of power that is used by at least a portion of the transition between the first power state to the second power state and a time spent in the second power state is less than the total amount of power that would have been used by remaining in the first power state.

Abstract: A method and system for operating in a single display mode operation and a dual pipe mode of operation is disclosed. The method and system includes operating in a dual pipe mode of operation in which each display pipe transmits data from a respective buffer to an associated display. The method and system further includes operating in a single display mode of operation in which one display pipe transmits data from a plurality of buffers to an associated display.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for a host controller inferring idleness based on activity generated by a bus-attached peripheral device are disclosed. A host controller detects activity by a first device attached to the host controller via a first bus. The host controller generates an activity vector based on the detected activity, and the host controller determines whether the activity vector indicates that the first device is only engaging in handshaking or control activity rather than data transfer. If the first device is merely communicating status information, then the host controller infers idleness and conveys an idleness indicator to a power manager. The power manager turns off power to system memory and/or other components based on the idleness indicator, but keeps enough power on to allow the host controller to communicate with the first device for handshaking or status purposes.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an accelerated processing unit (APU) and multiple elements. The APU performs operations for a platform boost and throttle (PBT) controller. For the operations, the APU receives a platform electrical power limit, the platform electrical power limit being a limit on a total electrical power allowed to be consumed by a group of the elements at a given time. The APU then determines a present platform electrical power consumption. The APU next adjusts one or more operating parameters for specified elements from among the group of elements to control electrical power consumption by the specified elements based on a relationship between the present platform electrical power consumption and the platform electrical power limit.

Abstract: Platform power management includes boosting performance in a platform power boost mode or restricting performance to keep a power or temperature under a desired threshold in a platform power cap mode. Platform power management exploits the mutually exclusive nature of activities and the associated headroom created in a temperature and/or power budget of a server platform to boost performance of a particular component while also keeping temperature and/or power below a threshold or budget.

Abstract: Devices and methods for linear addressing are provided. A device is provided which comprises a plurality of components having assigned registers used to store data to execute a program and a power management controller, in communication with the components. The power management controller is configured to send one of a request to remove power to the components and a request to reduce power to the components when it is determined that the components are idle, execute a first process of one of removing power and reducing power to the components and entering a reduced power state when an acknowledgement of the request is received and execute a second process of restoring power to the components when one or more of the components are indicated to be active.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an accelerated processing unit (APU) and multiple elements. The APU performs operations for a platform boost and throttle (PBT) controller. For the operations, the APU receives a platform electrical power limit, the platform electrical power limit being a limit on a total electrical power allowed to be consumed by a group of the elements at a given time. The APU then determines a present platform electrical power consumption. The APU next adjusts one or more operating parameters for specified elements from among the group of elements to control electrical power consumption by the specified elements based on a relationship between the present platform electrical power consumption and the platform electrical power limit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing power states in a computer system includes, responsive to an event received by a processor, powering up a first circuitry. Responsive to the event not being serviceable by the first circuitry, powering up at least a second circuitry of the computer system to service the event.