Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for transparently transitioning an interconnect fabric between a first frequency and a second frequency. In an embodiment, the fabric is coupled to an end point device via an asynchronous device. One or more nodes of the fabric operate in a first clock domain based on a clock signal, while the end point device operates in a different clock domain. Controller circuitry changes a frequency of the clock signal by stalling the clock signal throughout a first period of time which is greater than a duration of three cycles of a lower one of the first frequency or the second frequency. After the first period of time, cycling of the clock signal is provided at the second frequency. In another embodiment, the asynchronous device enables the frequency change without preventing communication with the end point device.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for transparently transitioning an interconnect fabric between a first frequency and a second frequency. In an embodiment, the fabric is coupled to an end point device via an asynchronous device. One or more nodes of the fabric operate in a first clock domain based on a clock signal, while the end point device operates in a different clock domain. Controller circuitry changes a frequency of the clock signal by stalling the clock signal throughout a first period of time which is greater than a duration of three cycles of a lower one of the first frequency or the second frequency. After the first period of time, cycling of the clock signal is provided at the second frequency. In another embodiment, the asynchronous device enables the frequency change without preventing communication with the end point device.

Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms for transparently transitioning an interconnect fabric between a first frequency and a second frequency. In an embodiment, the fabric is coupled to an end point device via an asynchronous device. One or more nodes of the fabric operate in a first clock domain based on a clock signal, while the end point device operates in a different clock domain. Controller circuitry changes a frequency of the clock signal by stalling the clock signal throughout a first period of time which is greater than a duration of three cycles of a lower one of the first frequency or the second frequency. After the first period of time, cycling of the clock signal is provided at the second frequency. In another embodiment, the asynchronous device enables the frequency change without preventing communication with the end point device.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a first core and a power management agent (PMA), coupled to the first core, to include a static table that stores a list of operations, and a plurality of columns each to specify a corresponding flow that includes a corresponding subset of the operations. Execution of each flow is associated with a corresponding state of the first core. The PMA includes a control register (CR) that includes a plurality of storage elements to receive one of a first value and a second value. The processor includes execution logic, responsive to a command to place the first core into a first state, to execute an operation of a first flow when a corresponding storage element stores the first value and to refrain from execution of an operation of the first flow when the corresponding element stores the second value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing power state information using in-band signaling are described. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) device comprises a controller operable to receive a command from a platform control bus, the command requesting data that is unrelated to information about a power state in which the IC resides; and control logic operable to obtain data for inclusion in a response to the command, wherein the controller is operable to send the response over a bus, the response containing at least a portion of the data responsive to the command and containing power state information for the IC.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing proactive current protection. In one embodiment, the method comprises: prior to transitioning to a new state for an integrated circuit (IC), calculating a sum of expected powers for a plurality of domains in the IC by calculating an expected current for each of the plurality of domains based on an individual domain frequency in the new state and multiplying the expected current with its associated voltage for each of the plurality of domains for the new state; comparing the sum to a power limit; and if the sum is greater than the power limit, then reducing the individual domain frequency associated with at least one domain in the plurality of domains to maintain the total instantaneous power of the IC below the power limit.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a plurality of cores and a plurality of temperature sensors, where each core is proximate to at least one temperature sensor. The processor also includes a power control unit (PCU) including temperature logic to receive temperature data that includes a corresponding temperature value from each of the temperature sensors. Responsive to an indication that a highest temperature value of the temperature data exceeds a threshold, the temperature logic is to adjust a plurality of domain frequencies according to a determined policy that is based on instruction execution characteristics of at least two of the plurality of cores. Each domain frequency is associated with a corresponding domain that includes at least one of the plurality of cores and each domain frequency is independently adjustable. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to techniques for flexible and/or dynamic frequency-related telemetry are described. In an embodiment, logic, coupled to a processor, communicates information to a module. The communicated information includes a duration counter value corresponding to a duration in which an operating characteristic of the processor is controlled. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a plurality of cores and a plurality of temperature sensors, where each core is proximate to at least one temperature sensor. The processor also includes a power control unit (PCU) including temperature logic to receive temperature data that includes a corresponding temperature value from each of the temperature sensors. Responsive to an indication that a highest temperature value of the temperature data exceeds a threshold, the temperature logic is to adjust a plurality of domain frequencies according to a determined policy that is based on instruction execution characteristics of at least two of the plurality of cores. Each domain frequency is associated with a corresponding domain that includes at least one of the plurality of cores and each domain frequency is independently adjustable. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a first core and a power management agent (PMA), coupled to the first core, to include a static table that stores a list of operations, and a plurality of columns each to specify a corresponding flow that includes a corresponding subset of the operations. Execution of each flow is associated with a corresponding state of the first core. The PMA includes a control register (CR) that includes a plurality of storage elements to receive one of a first value and a second value. The processor includes execution logic, responsive to a command to place the first core into a first state, to execute an operation of a first flow when a corresponding storage element stores the first value and to refrain from execution of an operation of the first flow when the corresponding element stores the second value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a first core and a power management agent (PMA), coupled to the first core, to include a static table that stores a list of operations, and a plurality of columns each to specify a corresponding flow that includes a corresponding subset of the operations. Execution of each flow is associated with a corresponding state of the first core. The PMA includes a control register (CR) that includes a plurality of storage elements to receive one of a first value and a second value. The processor includes execution logic, responsive to a command to place the first core into a first state, to execute an operation of a first flow when a corresponding storage element stores the first value and to refrain from execution of an operation of the first flow when the corresponding element stores the second value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing power state information using in-band signaling are described. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) device comprises a controller operable to receive a command from a platform control bus, the command requesting data that is unrelated to information about a power state in which the IC resides; and control logic operable to obtain data for inclusion in a response to the command, wherein the controller is operable to send the response over a bus, the response containing at least a portion of the data responsive to the command and containing power state information for the IC.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to techniques for flexible and/or dynamic frequency-related telemetry are described. In an embodiment, logic, coupled to a processor, communicates information to a module. The communicated information includes a duration counter value corresponding to a duration in which an operating characteristic of the processor is controlled. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing proactive current protection. In one embodiment, the method comprises: prior to transitioning to a new state for an integrated circuit (IC), calculating a sum of expected powers for a plurality of domains in the IC by calculating an expected current for each of the plurality of domains based on an individual domain frequency in the new state and multiplying the expected current with its associated voltage for each of the plurality of domains for the new state; comparing the sum to a power limit; and if the sum is greater than the power limit, then reducing the individual domain frequency associated with at least one domain in the plurality of domains to maintain the total instantaneous power of the IC below the power limit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing proactive current protection. In one embodiment, the method comprises: prior to transitioning to a new state for an integrated circuit (IC), calculating a sum of expected powers for a plurality of domains in the IC by calculating an expected current for each of the plurality of domains based on an individual domain frequency in the new state and multiplying the expected current with its associated voltage for each of the plurality of domains for the new state; comparing the sum to a power limit; and if the sum is greater than the power limit, then reducing the individual domain frequency associated with at least one domain in the plurality of domains to maintain the total instantaneous power of the IC below the power limit.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a first core and a power management agent (PMA), coupled to the first core, to include a static table that stores a list of operations, and a plurality of columns each to specify a corresponding flow that includes a corresponding subset of the operations. Execution of each flow is associated with a corresponding state of the first core. The PMA includes a control register (CR) that includes a plurality of storage elements to receive one of a first value and a second value. The processor includes execution logic, responsive to a command to place the first core into a first state, to execute an operation of a first flow when a corresponding storage element stores the first value and to refrain from execution of an operation of the first flow when the corresponding element stores the second value. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing proactive current protection. In one embodiment, the method comprises: prior to transitioning to a new state for an integrated circuit (IC), calculating a sum of expected powers for a plurality of domains in the IC by calculating an expected current for each of the plurality of domains based on an individual domain frequency in the new state and multiplying the expected current with its associated voltage for each of the plurality of domains for the new state; comparing the sum to a power limit; and if the sum is greater than the power limit, then reducing the individual domain frequency associated with at least one domain in the plurality of domains to maintain the total instantaneous power of the IC below the power limit.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a processor includes a plurality of cores and a plurality of temperature sensors, where each core is proximate to at least one temperature sensor. The processor also includes a power control unit (PCU) including temperature logic to receive temperature data that includes a corresponding temperature value from each of the temperature sensors. Responsive to an indication that a highest temperature value of the temperature data exceeds a threshold, the temperature logic is to adjust a plurality of domain frequencies according to a determined policy that is based on instruction execution characteristics of at least two of the plurality of cores. Each domain frequency is associated with a corresponding domain that includes at least one of the plurality of cores and each domain frequency is independently adjustable. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining, in a controller of a multi-domain processor, whether a temperature of a second domain of the multi-domain processor is greater than a sum of a throttle threshold and a cross-domain margin, and if so, reducing a frequency of a first domain of the multi-domain processor by a selected amount. In this way, a temperature of the second domain can be allowed to reduce, given a thermal coupling of the domains. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining if a core of a multicore processor is in a low power state, and if so, estimating a temperature of the core and storing the estimated temperature in a thermal storage area for the first core. By use of this estimated temperature, an appropriate voltage at which to operate the core when it exits the low power state can be determined. Other embodiments are described and claimed.