Abstract: A processor may include power management techniques to, dynamically, chose an optimal C-state for the processing core. The measurement of real workloads on the OSes exhibit two important observations (1) the bursts of high interrupt rate are interspersed between the low interrupt rate periods and long periods of high activity levels; and (2) the interrupt rate may, suddenly, fall below an interrupt rate (of 1 milli-second, for example) that is typical of the current operating systems (OS). Instead of determining the C-state based on the stale data stored in the counters, the power control logic may determine an optimal C-state by overriding the C-state determined by the OS or any other power monitoring logic. The power control logic may, dynamically, determine an optimal C-state based on the CPU idle residency times and variable rate wakeup events to match the expected wakeup event rate.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and system is described herein for thread consolidation. Current processor utilization is determined. And consolidation opportunities are identified from the processor utilization and other exaction parameters, such as estimating a new utilization after consolidation, determining if power savings would occur based on the new utilization, and performing migration/consolidation of threads to a subset of active processing elements. Once the consolidation is performed, the non-subset processing elements that are now idle are powered down to save energy and provide an energy efficient execution environment.

Abstract: Methods and mechanisms to simultaneously regulate two or more supply voltages provided to an integrated circuit by a voltage regulator. In an embodiment of the invention, a voltage regulation message exchanged between the integrated circuit and the voltage regulator includes an identifier indicating two or more supply voltages selected from a plurality of supply voltages provided to the integrated circuit by the voltage regulator, where the voltage regulation message relates to the indicated two or more supply voltages. In another embodiment, the voltage regulation message indicates a desired supply voltage level to which the indicated two or more supply voltages are to transition.

Abstract: Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for energy efficiency and energy conservation including enabling autonomous hardware-based deep power down of devices are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a device, a static memory, and a power control unit coupled with the device and the static memory. The system further includes a deep power down logic of the power control unit to monitor a status of the device, and to transfer the device to a deep power down state when the device is idle. In the system, the device consumes less power when in the deep power down state than in the idle state.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a processor includes a core with a front end unit, at least one execution unit, and a back end unit. Multiple voltage drop detectors can be located within the core each to output a voltage drop signal when a detected voltage falls below a threshold voltage. In turn, a current transient logic coupled to receive the voltage drop signals can control a micro-architectural parameter of at least one of the front end unit, execution unit and back end unit responsive to receipt of a voltage drop signal. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to energy efficient and conserving thermal throttling of electronic device processors using a zero voltage processor state. For example, a processor die may include a power control unit (PCU), and an execution unit having power gates and a thermal sensor. The PCU is attached to the thermal sensor to determine if a temperature of the execution unit has increased to greater than an upper threshold, such as while the execution unit is processing data in an active processor power state. The PCU is also attached to the power gates so that upon such detection, it can change the active processor power state to a zero processor power state to reduce the temperature of the execution unit. When the sensor detects that the temperature has decreased to less than a lower threshold, the PCU can change the processor power state back to the active state.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to improving exit latency from computing device processor core deep power down. Processor state data may be maintained during deep power down mode by providing a secondary uninterrupted voltage supply to always on keeper circuits that reside within critical state registers of the processor. When these registers receive a control signal indicating that the processor power state is going to be reduced from an active processor power state to a zero processor power state, they write critical state data from the critical state register latches to the keeper circuits that are supplied with the uninterrupted power. Then, when a register receives a control signal indicating that a processor power state of the processor is going to be increased back to an active processor power state, the critical state data stored in the keeper circuits is written back to the critical state register latches.

Abstract: Forming a plurality of pipeline orderings, each pipeline ordering comprising one of a sequential, a parallel, or a sequential and parallel combination of a plurality of stages of a pipeline, analyzing the plurality of pipeline orderings to determine a total power of each of the orderings, and selecting one of the plurality of pipeline orderings based on the determined total power of each of the plurality of pipeline orderings.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to optimize package level power state usage are described. In one embodiment, a processor control logic receives a request to enter a lower power consumption state (such as a package level deeper sleep state). The control logic determines the time difference or delta between a last entry into the lower power consumption state and the current time. The control logic then causes the flushing of a last level cache based on a comparison of the time difference and a threshold value corresponding to the lower power consumption state. Other embodiments are also claimed and disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for a zero voltage processor sleep state. A processor may include a dedicated cache memory. A voltage regulator may be coupled to the processor to provide an operating voltage to the processor. During a transition to a zero voltage power management state for the processor, the operational voltage applied to the processor by the voltage regulator may be reduced to approximately zero and the state variables associated with the processor may be saved to the dedicated cache memory.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing power provide for issuing a first operating requirement from a first processor core and issuing a second operating requirement from a second processor core. In one embodiment, the operating requirements can reflect either a power policy or a performance policy, depending upon the factor that is currently most important to software. Hardware coordination logic is used to coordinate a shared resource setting with the operating requirements. The hardware coordination logic is also able to coordinate the shared resource setting with independent resource settings of the first and second processor cores based on the operating requirements.

Abstract: Methods and mechanisms to simultaneously regulate two or more supply voltages provided to an integrated circuit by a voltage regulator. In an embodiment of the invention, a voltage regulation message exchanged between the integrated circuit and the voltage regulator includes an identifier indicating two or more supply voltages selected from a plurality of supply voltages provided to the integrated circuit by the voltage regulator, where the voltage regulation message relates to the indicated two or more supply voltages. In another embodiment, the voltage regulation message indicates a desired supply voltage level to which the indicated two or more supply voltages are to transition.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing power provide for issuing a first operating requirement from a first processor core and issuing a second operating requirement from a second processor core. In one embodiment, the operating requirements can reflect either a power policy or a performance policy, depending upon the factor that is currently most important to software. Hardware coordination logic is used to coordinate a shared resource setting with the operating requirements. The hardware coordination logic is also able to coordinate the shared resource setting with independent resource settings of the first and second processor cores based on the operating requirements.

Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus may route an interrupt to a first core of a plurality of cores of a multi-core system. If the first core is in an idle or low power state, or operating in a power state at or below a threshold power state, a core in a least idle state may be found. The interrupt may be rerouted to and processed by the core in the least idle state. Cores in a multi-core system may be rated based on for example, power states or other characteristics, and interrupts may be assigned based on these ratings. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, a processor comprises a plurality of processor cores to operate at variable performance levels. One of the plurality of processor cores may operate at a performance level different than a performance level at which another one of the plurality of processor cores may operate. Logic of the processor is to monitor activity of one or more of the plurality of processor cores. Logic of the processor is to constrain power of one or more of the plurality of processor cores based at least in part on the monitored activity. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and mechanisms to simultaneously regulate two or more supply voltages provided to an integrated circuit by a voltage regulator. In an embodiment of the invention, a voltage regulation message exchanged between the integrated circuit and the voltage regulator includes an identifier indicating two or more supply voltages selected from a plurality of supply voltages provided to the integrated circuit by the voltage regulator, where the voltage regulation message relates to the indicated two or more supply voltages. In another embodiment, the voltage regulation message indicates a desired supply voltage level to which the indicated two or more supply voltages are to transition.

Abstract: Systems and method for providing a regulated voltage supply to an integrated circuit. In an embodiment of the invention, a voltage regulator in a system provides an integrated circuit in the system with information related to the voltage regulator providing a supply voltage to the integrated circuit. In another embodiment of the invention, the integrated circuit makes determinations about the operating characteristic of the system using information from the voltage regulator.

Abstract: A method for a mechanism for processor power state aware distribution of lowest priority interrupts. The method of one embodiment comprises receiving first power state information from a first component and second power state information from a second component. First task priority information from the first component and second task priority from the second component are also received. An interrupt request from a first device for servicing is received. Power state and task priority information for the first and second components are evaluated to determine which component should service the interrupt request. Either the first component or the second component is selected to be a destination component to service the interrupt request based on the power state and task priority information. The interrupt request is communicated to the destination component.

Abstract: Forming a plurality of pipeline orderings, each pipeline ordering comprising one of a sequential, a parallel, or a sequential and parallel combination of a plurality of stages of a pipeline, analyzing the plurality of pipeline orderings to determine a total power of each of the orderings, and selecting one of the plurality of pipeline orderings based on the determined total power of each of the plurality of pipeline orderings.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for a zero voltage processor sleep state. A processor may include a dedicated cache memory. A voltage regulator may be coupled to the processor to provide an operating voltage to the processor. During a transition to a zero voltage power management state for the processor, the operational voltage applied to the processor by the voltage regulator may be reduced to approximately zero and the state variables associated with the processor may be saved to the dedicated cache memory.