Abstract: The aspects enable a computing device or microprocessor to determine a low power mode that provides the most system power savings by placing selected resources in a low power mode while continuing to function reliably, depending upon the resources not in use, acceptable system latencies, dynamic operating conditions (e.g., temperature), expected idle time, and the unique electrical characteristics of the particular device. Aspects provide a mechanism for determining an optimal low power configuration made up of a set of low power modes for the various resources within the computing device by determining which low power modes are valid at the time the processor enters an idle state, ranking the valid low power modes by expected power savings given the current device conditions, determining which valid low power mode provides the greatest power savings while meeting the latency requirements, and selecting a particular low power mode for each resource to enter.

Abstract: The aspects enable a computing device or microprocessor to determine a low-power mode that maximizes system power savings by placing selected resources in a low power mode while continuing to function reliably, depending upon the resources not in use, acceptable system latencies, dynamic operating conditions (e.g., temperature), expected idle time, and the unique electrical characteristics of the particular device. The various aspects provide mechanisms and methods for compiling a plurality of low power resource modes to generate one or more synthetic low power resources from which can be selected an optimal low-power mode configuration made up of a set of selected synthetic low power resources.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices that include a dynamic clock and voltage scaling (DCVS) solution configured to compute and enforce performance guarantees for a group of processors to ensure that the processors does not remain in a busy state (e.g., due to transient workloads) for a combined period that is more than a predetermined amount of time above that which is required for one of the processors to complete its pre-computed steady state workload. The DCVS may adjust the frequency and/or voltage of one or more of the processors based on a variable delay to ensure that the multiprocessor system only falls behind its steady state workload by, at most, a predefined maximum amount of work, irrespective of the operating frequency or voltage of the processors.

Abstract: In a portable computing device having a node-based resource architecture, resource requests are batched or otherwise transactionized to help minimize inter-processing entity messaging or other messaging or provide other benefits. In a resource graph defining the architecture, each node or resource of the graph represents an encapsulation of functionality of one or more resources controlled by a processor or other processing entity, each edge represents a client request, and adjacent nodes of the graph represent resource dependencies. A single transaction of resource requests may be provided against two or more of the resources. Additionally, this single transaction may become forked so that parallel processing among a client issuing the single transaction and the resources handling the requests of the single transaction may occur.

Abstract: A method of dynamically controlling power within a central processing unit is disclosed and may include entering an idle state, reviewing a previous busy cycle immediately prior to the idle state, and based on the previous busy cycle determining a CPU frequency for a next busy cycle.

Abstract: Resource state sets corresponding to the application states are maintained in memory. A request may be issued for a processor operating in a first application state corresponding to the first resource state set to transition to a second application state corresponding to the second resource state set. A start time to begin transitioning resources to states indicated in the second resource state set is scheduled based upon an estimated amount of processing time to complete transitioning. A process is begun by which the states of resources are switched from states indicated by the first resource state set to states indicated by the second resource state set. Scheduling the process to begin at a time that allows the process to be completed just in time for the resource states to be immediately available to the processor upon entering the second application state helps minimize adverse effects of resource latency.

Abstract: A method and system for managing resources of a portable computing device is disclosed. The method includes receiving node structure data for forming a node, in which the node structure data includes a unique name assigned to each resource of the node. A node has at least one resource and it may have multiple resources. Each resource may be a hardware or software element. The system includes a framework manger which handles the communications between existing nodes within a node architecture. The framework manager also logs activity of each resource by using its unique name. The framework manager may send this logged activity to an output device, such as a printer or a display screen. The method and system may help reduce or eliminate a need for customized APIs when a new hardware or software element (or both) are added to a portable computing device.

Abstract: Requests of a PCD are determined if they are part of a transaction involving a plurality of resources. Next, each resource that is part of the request involving multiple resources is identified. As each resource is identified, a framework manager determines if a resource has completed processing the request directed at it. If the resource has returned a value that it has completed the request, then the framework manager allows the resource to return to an unlocked state while other requests in the transaction are being processed. If the resource has not completed processing and has deferred some of the processing to the end of the transaction, then the resource is added to a deferred unlock list. It is determined if the resource is a dependent on another resource in the current request path. If it is dependent, then the other resource is also placed on the deferred unlock list.

Abstract: A method of controlling power at a central processing unit is disclosed. The method may include moving to a higher CPU frequency after a transient performance deadline has expired, entering an idle state, and resetting the transient performance deadline based on an effective transient budget.

Abstract: The aspects enable a multi-core processor or system on chip to determine a low power configuration that provides the most system power savings by placing selected resources in a low power mode depending upon acceptable system latencies, dynamic operating conditions (e.g., temperature), expected idle time, and the unique electrical characteristics of the particular device. Each of the cores/processing units treated in a symmetric fashion, and each core may choose its operating state independent of the other cores, without performing complex handshaking or signaling operations.

Abstract: In a portable computing device having a node-based resource architecture, resource requests are batched or otherwise transactionized to help minimize inter-processing entity messaging or other messaging or provide other benefits. In a resource graph defining the architecture, each node or resource of the graph represents an encapsulation of functionality of one or more resources controlled by a processor or other processing entity, each edge represents a client request, and adjacent nodes of the graph represent resource dependencies. A single transaction of resource requests may be provided against two or more of the resources.

Abstract: A method and system for managing requests among resources within a portable computing device include a scheduler receiving data from a client for scheduling a plurality of requests. Each request identifies at least one resource and a requested deadline. Next, data from the client is stored by the scheduler in a database. The scheduler then determines times and a sequence for processing the requests based on requested deadlines in the requests and based on current states of resources within the portable computing device. The scheduler then communicates the requests to the resources at the determined times and according to the determined sequence. The scheduler, at its discretion, may schedule a request after its requested deadline in response to receiving a new request command from a client. The scheduler may allow a sleep set corresponding to a sleep processor state to power off a processor.

Abstract: A method and system for managing parallel resource requests in a portable computing device (“PCD”) are described. The system and method includes generating a first request from a first client, the first request issued in the context of a first execution thread. The first request may be forwarded to a resource. The resource may acknowledge the first request and initiate asynchronous processing. The resource may process the first request while allowing the first client to continue processing in the first execution thread. The resource may signal completion of the processing of the first request and may receive a second request. The second request causes completion of the processing of the first request. The completion of the processing of the first request may include updating a local representation of the resource to a new state and invoking any registered callbacks. The resource may become available to service the second request, and may process the second request.

Abstract: A method of utilizing a node power architecture (NPA) system, the method includes receiving a request to create a client, determining whether a resource is compatible with the request, and returning a client handle when the resource is compatible with the request.

Abstract: A method of tuning a dynamic clock and voltage switching algorithm is disclosed and may include setting a default responsivity, determining whether a workload is registering after the workload is added, assigning a unique identifier to the workload if the workload is registering, and receiving a required responsivity from the workload.

Abstract: A method and system for maximizing a quality of service (“QoS”) level in a portable computing device (“PCD”) by preempting the generation of thermal energy in excess of a threshold are disclosed. The method includes receiving a workload request for a processing component within the PCD. A processing component is selected for allocation of the workload based on thermal factors associated with the processing component. Thermal factors may comprise data indicative of real-time thermal energy generation near the processing component, predictive data derived from known characteristics of heat producing components that are physically proximate to the processing component, queued workload burdens for the processing component, etc. A processing component is selected for allocation of the workload based on the thermal factors.

Abstract: In a portable computing device having a node-based resource architecture, a first or distributed node controlled by a first processor but corresponding to a second or native node controlled by a second processor is used to indirectly access a resource of the second node. In a resource graph defining the architecture each node represents an encapsulation of functionality of one or more resources, each edge represents a client request, and adjacent nodes represent resource dependencies. Resources defined by a first graph are controlled by the first processor but not the second processor, while resources defined by a second graph are controlled by the second processor but not the first processor. A client request on the first node may be received from a client under control of the first processor. Then, a client request may be issued on the second node in response to the client request on the first node.

Abstract: A method and system for managing resources of a portable computing device is disclosed. The method includes receiving node structure data for forming a node, in which the node structure data includes a unique name assigned to each resource of the node. A node has at least one resource and it may have multiple resources. Each resource may be a hardware or software element. The system includes a framework manger which handles the communications between existing nodes within a node architecture. The framework manager also logs activity of each resource by using its unique name. The framework manager may send this logged activity to an output device, such as a printer or a display screen. The method and system may help reduce or eliminate a need for customized APIs when a new hardware or software element (or both) are added to a portable computing device.

Abstract: A method and system for determining optimal operating parameters for conserving power of a portable computing device may include plotting a hypersurface in a coordinate system. The method includes defining one or more axes in a coordinate system, such as a Cartesian coordinate system, that impact power consumption of a PCD and which may be held as constants when applied as workloads on CPU. Then, at least one axis is identified as an unknown or variable which may be optimized for power consumption. After the hypersurface containing optimized values is created for various workload scenarios for the PCD, workloads corresponding to the synthetic workloads described above are applied to the PCD. Workload predictors, like a DCVS algorithm, are executed by the PCD and are observed and compared to the hypersurface. Parameters for the workload predictor may be adjusted based on the values from the hypersurface.

Abstract: A method and system for managing resources of a portable computing device is disclosed. The method includes receiving node structure data for forming a node, in which the node structure data includes a unique name assigned to each resource of the node. A node has at least one resource and it may have multiple resources. Each resource may be a hardware or software element. The method also includes receiving marker data and creating a marker. A marker includes a legacy element such as a hardware or software element. The system includes a framework manger which handles the communications between existing nodes and markers within a node architecture. The framework manager also logs activity of each resource and marker by using its unique name. The framework manager may send this logged activity to an output device, such as a printer or a display screen.