Abstract: A processing platform and a method of controlling power consumption of a central processing unit of the processing platform are presented. By operating the method the processing platform is able to set an upper performance state limit and a lower performance state limit. The upper performance state limit is based on a central processing unit activity rate value and the lower performance state limit is based on a minimum require of the operating system to perform operating system tasks. The performance state values are varying within a range of the lower and upper limits according to a power management policy.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a power budget allocation engine of a multi-component computer system may receive a power budget allocation adjustment request signal from a first component. Based on the received budget allocation adjustment request signal (and, in some embodiments, a component preference), the power budget allocation engine may determine whether to adjust a power budget allocation signal provided to the first component.

Abstract: A method and system to detect an occurrence of a predetermined event within the system, and change a power state of a hard drive (HD) in response to the event, are described. In one embodiment, in response to detecting consecutive HD reads have been satisfied by a non-volatile cache (NVC) of the HD, for at least a predetermined period of time, or detecting that a predetermined quantity of consecutive HD reads have been satisfied by the NVC, spinning down the HD. In an alternative embodiment, in response to detecting a predetermined number of HD data transactions have been serviced by the NVC or the HD, canceling a planned spinning down of the HD or spinning up the HD.

Abstract: A method for automatically transitioning a processor to another performance level in a demand-based system. One embodiment of the invention provides for the automatic adjustment of processor frequency while preserving system responsiveness. The performance-level policy algorithm detects increased processor utilization quickly enough that transition to a higher performance level is comparable to maximum system performance. The performance-level policy algorithm delays processor transition to a lower performance level so that quick reversals in demand do not precipitate unnecessary transitioning.

Abstract: A method for managing thermal condition of a thermal zone that includes multiple thermally controllable components include determining thermal relationship between the components and reducing temperature of a first component by reducing thermal dissipation of a second component.

Abstract: A method and system to adjust a non-volatile cache associativity are described. In one embodiment, the method and system include determining a status of the system; and setting an associativity level of the non-volatile memory cache (NVC) of the system, based on that status of the system. In one embodiment, the non-volatile memory unit is a cache of the hard drive. Furthermore, in one embodiment, determining the status of the system includes determining whether the system is a mobile computer, and if so, determining whether the system is receiving power from a battery source or AC power from a wall outlet.

Abstract: A method for automatically transitioning a processor to another performance level in a demand-based system. The invention provides for the automatic adjustment of processor frequency while preserving system responsiveness. The performance-level policy algorithm of the present invention detects increased processor utilization quickly enough that transition to a higher performance level is comparable to maximum system performance. The performance-level policy algorithm of an embodiment of the present invention delays processor transition to a lower performance level so that quick reversals in demand do not precipitate unnecessary transitioning.