Patents by Inventor Michael S. Floyd

Michael S. Floyd has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9052905
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for minimizing power consumption for operation of a fixed-frequency processing unit. A number of timeslots are counted in a time window where throttling is engaged to the fixed-frequency processing unit. The number of timeslots where throttling is engaged is divided by a total number of timeslots within the time window, thereby producing a performance loss (PLOSS) value. A determination is made as to whether determining whether the (PLOSS) value associated with the fixed-frequency processing unit is greater than an allowed performance loss (APLOSS) value. Responsive to the PLOSS value being less than or equal to the APLOSS value, a decrease in voltage supplied to the fixed-frequency processing unit is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm S. Allen-Ware, Alan J. Drake, Wei Huang, Michael S. Floyd, Huajun Wen
  • Publication number: 20150095009
    Abstract: A model-based virtual power management driven multi-chip system simulator generates utilization data and performance data with a workload model that models one or more types of workloads based on parameters that characterize the one or more types of workloads. The simulator generates thermal data and power consumption data with a power model that models power consumption at a chip-level and a system-level. The simulator then generates performance counter information with a performance model that models change of performance counters over time and at least one of the generated utilization data and the generated performance data as input to the performance model. The simulator provides this generated data as input to a driver of the simulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bishop Brock, Michael S. Floyd, Erika Gunadi, Nan Ni, Srinivasan Ramani, Ken V. Vu
  • Publication number: 20150095010
    Abstract: A model-based virtual power management driven multi-chip system simulator generates utilization data and performance data with a workload model that models one or more types of workloads based on parameters that characterize the one or more types of workloads. The simulator generates thermal data and power consumption data with a power model that models power consumption at a chip-level and a system-level. The simulator then generates performance counter information with a performance model that models change of performance counters over time and at least one of the generated utilization data and the generated performance data as input to the performance model. The simulator provides this generated data as input to a driver of the simulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Bishop Brock, Michael S. Floyd, Erika Gunadi, Nan Ni, Srinivasan Ramani, Ken V. Vu
  • Publication number: 20150081039
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for implementing an operational parameter change within the data processing system based on an identified degradation. One or more degradations existing in the data processing system are identified based on a set of degradation values obtained from a set of degradation sensors. A determination is made as to whether one or more operational parameters need to be modified based on the one or more identified degradations. Responsive to determining that the one or more operational parameters need to be modified based on the one or more identified degradations, an input change is implemented to a one or more control devices in order that the one or more operational parameters are modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm S. Allen-Ware, Alan J. Drake, Michael S. Floyd, Tilman Gloekler, Charles R. Lefurgy, Karthick Rajamani
  • Publication number: 20150081044
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for implementing an operational parameter change within the data processing system based on an identified degradation. One or more degradations existing in the data processing system are identified based on a set of degradation values obtained from a set of degradation sensors. A determination is made as to whether one or more operational parameters need to be modified based on the one or more identified degradations. Responsive to determining that the one or more operational parameters need to be modified based on the one or more identified degradations, an input change is implemented to a one or more control devices in order that the one or more operational parameters are modified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm S. Allen-Ware, Alan J. Drake, Michael S. Floyd, Tilman Gloekler, Charles R. Lefurgy, Karthick Rajamani
  • Patent number: 8943341
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for minimizing power consumption for operation of a fixed-frequency processing unit. A number of timeslots are counted in a time window where throttling is engaged to the fixed-frequency processing unit. The number of timeslots where throttling is engaged is divided by a total number of timeslots within the time window, thereby producing a performance loss (PLOSS) value. A determination is made as to whether determining whether the (PLOSS) value associated with the fixed-frequency processing unit is greater than an allowed performance loss (APLOSS) value. Responsive to the PLOSS value being less than or equal to the APLOSS value, a decrease in voltage supplied to the fixed-frequency processing unit is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm S. Allen-Ware, Alan J. Drake, Wei Huang, Michael S. Floyd, Huajun Wen
  • Patent number: 8874893
    Abstract: Awareness of the relationships among the operating parameters for an individual core and among cores allows dynamic and intelligent management of the multi-core system. The relationships among operating parameters and cores, which can be somewhat opaque, are established with design-time simulations, and adapted with run time data collected from operation of the multi-core system. The relationships are expressed with functions that translate between operating parameters, between different cores, and between operating parameters of different cores. These functions are embodied in circuitry built into the multi-core system. The circuitry will be referred to hereinafter as a translator unit. The translator unit traverses the complex relational dependencies among multiple operating parameters and multiple cores, and determines an outcome with respect to one or more constraints corresponding to those operating parameters and cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
  • Publication number: 20140157033
    Abstract: In the management of a processor, logical operation activity is monitored for increases from a low level to a high level during a sampling window across multiple cores sharing a common supply rail, with at least one decoupling capacitor along the common supply rail. Responsive to detecting the increase in logical operation activity from the low level to the high level during the sampling window, the processor limits the logical operations executed on the cores during a lower activity period to a level of logical operations set between the low level and a medium level, where the medium level is an amount between the low level and the high level. Responsive to the lower activity period ending, the processor gradually decreases the limit on the logical operations to resume normal operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lee E. Eisen, Michael S. Floyd, Thomas Strach, Huajun Wen, Tingdong Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140157277
    Abstract: In the management of a processor, logical operation activity is monitored for increases from a low level to a high level during a sampling window across multiple cores sharing a common supply rail, with at least one decoupling capacitor along the common supply rail. Responsive to detecting the increase in logical operation activity from the low level to the high level during the sampling window, the processor limits the logical operations executed on the cores during a lower activity period to a level of logical operations set between the low level and a medium level, where the medium level is an amount between the low level and the high level. Responsive to the lower activity period ending, the processor gradually decreases the limit on the logical operations to resume normal operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lee E. Eisen, Michael S. Floyd, Thomas Strach, Huajun Wen, Tingdong Zhou
  • Publication number: 20140143596
    Abstract: An approach for power supply noise mitigation on a processor is provided. In one aspect, the approach comprises a central computing unit operatively coupled to the processor to execute program operations. The approach further comprises a calibration circuit adapted to determine a first threshold on the processor to be used for comparison performed dynamically through the use of a detection circuit. A detection circuit adapted to dynamically monitor system operation of the processor and indicate if the first threshold is violated and a counting circuit adapted to prevent voltage from drooping if one or more voltage sensing measurements violates the first threshold are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Berry, JR., Michael S. Floyd, Jarom Pena, Ryan J. Pennington, Catherine Sherry
  • Patent number: 8650367
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing system memory usage throttling within a data processing system having multiple chiplets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a system memory, a memory access collection module, a memory credit accounting module and a memory throttle counter. The memory access collection module receives a first set of signals from a first cache memory within a chiplet and a second set of signals from a second cache memory within the chiplet. The memory credit accounting module tracks the usage of the system memory on a per user virtual partition basis according to the results of cache accesses extracted from the first and second set of signals from the first and second cache memories within the chiplet. The memory throttle counter for provides a throttle control signal to prevent any access to the system memory when the system memory usage has exceeded a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Floyd, Guy L. Guthrie, Karthick Rajamani, Gregory A. Still, Jeffrey A. Stuecheli, Malcolm S. Ware
  • Patent number: 8650431
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for changing hardware in a data processing system without disrupting processes executing on the data processing system. A hardware change to a selected portion of hardware in the data processing system may be required, such as to repair hardware errors or to implement a system update. Responsive to a determination that a hardware change to the selected portion of the hardware is required, a process being performed by the selected portion is moved from the selected portion of the hardware to an alternate portion of the hardware. The hardware change is applied to the selected portion of the hardware. The selected portion of the hardware is returned for use by the data processing system after the hardware change is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Floyd, Ryan J. Pennington, Harmony L. Prince, Kevin F. Reick, David D. Sanner
  • Patent number: 8645640
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing system memory usage throttling within a data processing system having multiple chiplets is disclosed. The apparatus includes a system memory, a memory access collection module, a memory credit accounting module and a memory throttle counter. The memory access collection module receives a first set of signals from a first cache memory within a chiplet and a second set of signals from a second cache memory within the chiplet. The memory credit accounting module tracks the usage of the system memory on a per user virtual partition basis according to the results of cache accesses extracted from the first and second set of signals from the first and second cache memories within the chiplet. The memory throttle counter for provides a throttle control signal to prevent any access to the system memory when the system memory usage has exceeded a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Floyd, Guy L. Guthrie, Karthick Rajamani, Gregory S. Still, Jeffrey A. Stuecheli, Malcolm S. Ware
  • Patent number: 8635483
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for automatically tuning power proxy architectures. Based on the set of conditions related to an application being executed on a microprocessor core, a weight factor to use for each activity in a set of activities being monitored for the microprocessor core is identified, thereby forming a set of weight factors. A power usage estimate value is generated using the set of activities and the set of weight factors. A determination is made as to whether the power usage estimate value is greater than a power proxy threshold value identifying a maximum power usage for the microprocessor core. Responsive to the power usage estimate value being greater than the power proxy threshold value, a set of signals is sent to one or more on-chip actuators in the power proxy unit associated with the microprocessor core and a set of operational parameters associated with the component are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Emrah Acar, Pradip Bose, Bishop C. Brock, Alper Buyuktosunoglu, Michael S. Floyd, Maria L. Pesantez, Gregory S. Still
  • Publication number: 20130318364
    Abstract: An approach for power supply noise mitigation on a processor is provided. In one aspect, the approach comprises a central computing unit operatively coupled to the processor to execute program operations. The approach further comprises a calibration circuit adapted to determine a first threshold on the processor to be used for comparison performed dynamically through the use of a detection circuit. A detection circuit adapted to dynamically monitor system operation of the processor and indicate if the first threshold is violated and a counting circuit adapted to prevent voltage from drooping if one or more voltage sensing measurements violates the first threshold are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert W. Berry, JR., Michael S. Floyd, Jarom Pena, Ryan J. Pennington, Catherine Sherry
  • Patent number: 8587465
    Abstract: A successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (SA-ADC) includes a reference generator configured to output a first voltage and a second voltage; a comparator, the comparator having a positive input and a negative input thereto, the comparator being configured to receive the first voltage and the second voltage; and a comparator input toggle located between the reference generator and the comparator, wherein the comparator input toggle is configured to receive the first and second voltages from the reference generator and provide the first and second voltages to the comparator, wherein the comparator input toggle is further configured to switch between a first position, in which the first voltage is connected to the positive input, and the second voltage is connected to the negative input, and a second position, in which the second voltage is connected to the positive input, and the first voltage is connected to the negative input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ann H. Chen, Michael S. Floyd, Birgit Schubert, Michael A. Sperling
  • Patent number: 8566618
    Abstract: Managing operations associated with one or more voltage changes and one or more frequency changes. A voltage change request and a frequency change request are associated with dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) operations. The DVFS operations are transmitted by the processors to be executed by one or more direct current assemblies. A sequence associated with the one or more voltage changes and a sequence associated with the one or more frequency changes are detected by the system. The sequences are dynamically modified to enable insertion of an additional voltage change, whereby the additional voltage change indicates completion of one or more previous voltage change requests. Completion of the voltage change request enables one or more subsequent voltage change requests to be processed. When a voltage change request is not successfully completed one or more future voltage changes are suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Floyd, Karthick Rajamani, Juan C. Rubio, Malcolm S. Ware
  • Publication number: 20130268786
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for minimizing power consumption for operation of a fixed-frequency processing unit. A number of timeslots are counted in a time window where throttling is engaged to the fixed-frequency processing unit. The number of timeslots where throttling is engaged is divided by a total number of timeslots within the time window, thereby producing a performance loss (PLOSS) value. A determination is made as to whether determining whether the (PLOSS) value associated with the fixed-frequency processing unit is greater than an allowed performance loss (APLOSS) value. Responsive to the PLOSS value being less than or equal to the APLOSS value, a decrease in voltage supplied to the fixed-frequency processing unit is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm S. Allen-Ware, Alan J. Drake, Wei Huang, Michael S. Floyd, Huajun Wen
  • Publication number: 20130268785
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for minimizing power consumption for operation of a fixed-frequency processing unit. A number of timeslots are counted in a time window where throttling is engaged to the fixed-frequency processing unit. The number of timeslots where throttling is engaged is divided by a total number of timeslots within the time window, thereby producing a performance loss (PLOSS) value. A determination is made as to whether determining whether the (PLOSS) value associated with the fixed-frequency processing unit is greater than an allowed performance loss (APLOSS) value. Responsive to the PLOSS value being less than or equal to the APLOSS value, a decrease in voltage supplied to the fixed-frequency processing unit is initiated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm S. Allen-Ware, Alan J. Drake, Wei Huang, Michael S. Floyd, Huajun Wen
  • Publication number: 20130254526
    Abstract: Awareness of the relationships among the operating parameters for an individual core and among cores allows dynamic and intelligent management of the multi-core system. The relationships among operating parameters and cores, which can be somewhat opaque, are established with design-time simulations, and adapted with run time data collected from operation of the multi-core system. The relationships are expressed with functions that translate between operating parameters, between different cores, and between operating parameters of different cores. These functions are embodied in circuitry built into the multi-core system. The circuitry will be referred to hereinafter as a translator unit. The translator unit traverses the complex relational dependencies among multiple operating parameters and multiple cores, and determines an outcome with respect to one or more constraints corresponding to those operating parameters and cores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013