Abstract: An embodiment of a method and system are provided for managing both system resources and power consumption of a computer system, involving different layers of the system: an application layer, a middle layer where the operating system is running and where a power manager is provided, and a hardware layer used for communicating with the hardware devices. Hardware devices have different operating modes which provide distinct trade-offs between performances and power consumption. Performance requirements defined at the level of the application layer, as well as the device power status of the system, set constraints on the system resources. The middle layer power manager may be in charge of retrieving performance requirements in form of constraints set on system parameters, aggregating these constraints opportunely and communicating corresponding information to the device drivers which may then select a best operating mode.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method and system are provided for managing both system resources and power consumption of a computer system, involving different layers of the system: an application layer, a middle layer where the operating system is running and where a power manager is provided, and a hardware layer used for communicating with the hardware devices. Hardware devices have different operating modes which provide distinct trade-offs between performances and power consumption. Performance requirements defined at the level of the application layer, as well as the device power status of the system, set constraints on the system resources. The middle layer power manager may be in charge of retrieving performance requirements in form of constraints set on system parameters, aggregating these constraints opportunely and communicating corresponding information to the device drivers which may then select a best operating mode.