Abstract: A system includes a functional unit, at least one cache coupled to the functional unit, and a power management unit coupled to the functional unit and the at least one cache, the power management unit configured to trigger the functional unit to initiate prefetching of data to repopulate the at least one cache prior to a predicted exit of the functional unit from an idle mode to an active mode. The system further may include a prediction unit to predict the exit from the idle mode for the functional unit as occurring a predetermined duration from an entry into the idle mode. The prediction unit may determine the predetermined duration based on a history of idle mode durations indicative of durations of previous instances in which the functional unit was in the idle mode.

Abstract: A system includes a functional unit, at least one cache coupled to the functional unit, and a power management unit coupled to the functional unit and the at least one cache, the power management unit configured to trigger the functional unit to initiate prefetching of data to repopulate the at least one cache prior to a predicted exit of the functional unit from an idle mode to an active mode. The system further may include a prediction unit to predict the exit from the idle mode for the functional unit as occurring a predetermined duration from an entry into the idle mode. The prediction unit may determine the predetermined duration based on a history of idle mode durations indicative of durations of previous instances in which the functional unit was in the idle mode.

Abstract: The operating point of a processing unit is controlled based on the power consumption (i.e., the rate of energy consumption) associated with a workload, wherein low power consumption may indicate short-duration workloads with idle phases and high power consumption may indicate long, sustained workloads. Energy credits are accumulated while a drain rate of a battery is lower than a threshold drain rate and the energy credits are consumed while the drain rate is higher than the threshold drain rate. The operating point of the processing unit may be increased from a first operating point to a second operating point in response to the energy credits exceeding a first threshold. The operating point of the processing unit may be decreased from the second operating point to the first operating point in response to the energy credits falling below a second threshold.