Abstract: A method and system for dynamically creating and servicing master-slave pairs within and across switch fabrics of a portable computing device (“PCD”) are described. The system and method includes receiving a client request comprising a master-slave pair and conducting a search for a slave corresponding to the master-slave pair. A route for communications within and across switch fabrics is created and that corresponds to the master-slave pair. One or more handles or arrays may be stored in a memory device that correspond to the created route. Next, bandwidth across the route may be set. After the bandwidth across the newly created route is set, the client request originating the master-slave pair may be serviced using the created route. Conducting the search for the slave may include comparing unique identifiers assigned to each slave in a master-slave hierarchy.

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: 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 and system for tracking and selecting optimal power conserving modes of a PCD includes detecting enablement or disablement of a reduced power mode and detecting one of a new and a change in a latency restriction. Next, a low power mode which has a minimum entry and exit latency may be identified. Then, it may be determined if a lowest latency restriction is less than the minimum entry and exit latency. A function pointer may be adjusted based on the output of the determining step. The function pointer may reference a halt state and a reduced power state for the PCD. Then, conditions favorable for at least one of an idle state and a reduced power mode of the PCD may be assessed. If conditions are favorable for an idle state or a reduced power mode for the PCD, then status of the function pointer may be read.

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: 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 mobile device, a method for managing and exposing a set of performance scaling algorithms on the device, and a computer program product are disclosed. The mobile device includes a multiple-core processor communicatively coupled to a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory includes a set of programs defined by a respective combination of a performance scaling algorithm and a set of parameters, a startup program that when executed by the multiple-core processor identifies at least one member of the set of programs suitable for monitoring operation of the mobile device and scaling the performance of an identified processor core and an application programming interface that exposes the set of programs.

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: Systems and methods for measuring the effectiveness of a workload predictor operative on a mobile device are disclosed. A load manager includes a workload predictor, a sensor, an error generator and a controller. The workload predictor generates an estimate of the workload on a processor core operative on the mobile device. The sensor generates a measure of the actual workload on the processor core. The error generator receives the estimate of the workload and the measure of the actual workload on the processor core and generates an error signal. The controller receives the error signal and determines the effectiveness of the workload predictor as a function of the error signal over time.

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: 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 and system for supporting parallel processing of threads includes receiving a read request for a container from one or more read threads. Next, parallel read access to the container for each read thread may be controlled with a manager module that is coupled to the container. The manager module may receive a mutating request for the container from one or more mutating threads. While other read threads may be accessing the container, the manager module may provide single mutating access to the container in a series. The manager may monitor a reference count in the collection barrier for tracking a number of threads (whether read and/or mutating threads) which are accessing the collection barrier. The manager module may provide a mutex to a mutating thread for locking the container from any other mutating requests while permitting parallel read requests of the same container during the mutating operation.

Abstract: A method of sampling data within a central processing unit (CPU) is disclosed. The method may include monitoring CPU activity, determining whether the CPU enters idle, and executing a dynamic clock and voltage switching (DCVS) algorithm if the CPU enters idle.

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 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 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: Systems and methods for optimizing performance scaling algorithms designated for operation on a mobile device are disclosed. A system memory includes program, use case, and results stores in addition to test logic. The program store contains a set of programs defined by the combination of a performance scaling algorithm and a set of parameters. The use case store contains information that identifies expected tasks to be performed by end users of the mobile device over time. The results store organizes a respective merit value determined after each of the set of programs has been executed for tasks defined by each use case. When executed, the test logic adjusts the mobile device and associates a select program for each of the use cases in response to the stored merit values. The merit values are determined as a function of a performance metric and a power metric.

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: Resource state sets of a portable computing device are managed. A sleep set of resource states, an active set of resource states and a next-active set of resource states are maintained in memory. A request may be issued for a processor to enter into a sleep state or otherwise change from one application state corresponding to one resource state set to another application state corresponding to another application state set. This causes a controller to review a trigger set to determine if a shut down condition for the processor matches one or more conditions listed in the trigger set. If a trigger set matches a shut down condition, then switching states of one or more resources in accordance with the sleep set may be made by the controller. Providing a next-awake set of resource states that is immediately available to the processor upon a wake-up event helps minimize resource latency.

Abstract: A method and system for dynamically creating and servicing master-slave pairs within and across switch fabrics of a portable computing device (“PCD”) are described. The system and method includes receiving a client request comprising a master-slave pair and conducting a search for a slave corresponding to the master-slave pair. A route for communications within and across switch fabrics is created and that corresponds to the master-slave pair. One or more handles or arrays may be stored in a memory device that correspond to the created route. Next, bandwidth across the route may be set. After the bandwidth across the newly created route is set, the client request originating the master-slave pair may be serviced using the created route. Conducting the search for the slave may include comparing unique identifiers assigned to each slave in a master-slave hierarchy.