Abstract: A system for dynamic power management in a distributed architecture system on chip, comprising a means for dynamically defining the feasibility of entering a low power mode of operation based on the status of components of the system, a means for entering or exiting safely from a low power state based on said feasibility, a means for decreasing the power centric communication between various processors and a means for increasing the low power mode time. Thus a framework is proposed in the instant invention wherein all the device drivers dynamically maintain the information on the feasibility of a low power transition at any point of time. Thus whenever an opportunity to enter a low power mode comes up one has to just check this feasibility variable to determine whether the low power mode entry is viable or not. For ensuring the safe transition to a low power mode, a stalling machine is proposed in case of DSPs.

Abstract: An apparatus for entering and exiting low power mode comprising a processor having a cache; a power management mechanism connected to said processor for controlling a plurality of power management states, at least one of said power management states being a low latency low power state; a memory subsystem including a self sustaining mechanism connected to said processor for retaining data during said low power state; a pre-fetching routine in said memory subsystem for loading instructions into a cache prior to entering said low power state; a disabling mechanism in said processor for disabling any interrupts that may disturb said pre-fetched instructions; an enabling routine in said memory subsystem for initiating the self sustaining operation of said memory subsystem; a detecting routine connected to said processor for sensing a trigger to exit from said low power state; and a restoring routine in said power management mechanism for restoring the clock of said apparatus; thereby said processor disabling said

Abstract: A system for dynamic power management in a distributed architecture system on chip, comprising a means for dynamically defining the feasibility of entering a low power mode of operation based on the status of components of the system, a means for entering or exiting safely from a low power state based on said feasibility, a means for decreasing the power centric communication between various processors and a means for increasing the low power mode time. Thus a framework is proposed in the instant invention wherein all the device drivers dynamically maintain the information on the feasibility of a low power transition at any point of time. Thus whenever an opportunity to enter a low power mode comes up one has to just check this feasibility variable to determine whether the low power mode entry is viable or not. For ensuring the safe transition to a low power mode, a stalling machine is proposed in case of DSPs.

Abstract: An apparatus for entering and exiting low power mode comprising a processor having a cache; a power management mechanism connected to said processor for controlling a plurality of power management states, at least one of said power management states being a low latency low power state; a memory subsystem including a self sustaining mechanism connected to said processor for retaining data during said low power state; a pre-fetching means in said memory subsystem for loading instructions into a cache prior to entering said low power state; a disabling mechanism in said processor for disabling any interrupts that may disturb said pre-fetched instructions; an enabling means in said memory subsystem for initiating the self sustaining operation of said memory subsystem; a detecting means connected to said processor for sensing a trigger to exit from said low power state; and a restoring means in said power management mechanism for restoring the clock of said apparatus; thereby said processor disabling said self sus