Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing a virtualization environment includes host machines implementing a virtualization environment, a plurality of clusters of the host machines, a virtualized file server (VFS) comprising a plurality of file server virtual machines (FSVMs), and a VFS cluster manager (CM) configured to distribute storage items among the clusters and receive cluster storage statistics for one or more shares of the VFS. The CM is further configured to, in response to a request from a first FSVM to identify a storage location for a storage item, identify a cluster at which the storage item is to be located based on the cluster storage statistics, identify a second FSVM at which the storage item is to be located based on compute usage statistics of one or more FSVMs in the identified cluster, and send an address of the second FSVM to the first FSVM.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for reduced computing device power consumption. Example methods disclosed herein includes detecting frame updates corresponding to input frames to be presented by a display, and causing a programmable timer to generate second interrupts corresponding to first interrupts generated by a display engine, the second interrupts to be generated when there are no frame updates detected for at least a first duration of time defined by a first threshold. Example methods further include causing the display engine to transition to a low power state when (1) the programmable timer is configured to generate the second interrupts and (2) no frame updates have been detected for at least a second duration of time following the first duration of time, the second duration of time defined by a second threshold.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to improve user experience on computing devices are disclosed. An example computing device includes an image sensor. The example computing device further includes wireless communication circuitry. The example computing device also includes an operations controller to cause the wireless communication circuitry to switch between different operation modes based on an analysis of image data generated by the image sensor. Different ones of the operation modes to consume different amounts of power.

Abstract: Technology for a display controller is described. The display controller can detect a frame update when the display controller is in a dynamic sleep state. The display controller can wake up from the dynamic sleep state and enter a selective update state at a programmed vertical blanking interrupt (VBI) that precedes an actual VBI. The display controller can perform a scan-out with a display panel during the selective update state. The display controller can return to the dynamic sleep state in a same time frame after the scan-out is completed. The display controller can exclude timing logic to send a VBI at every time frame to the display panel to maintain time synchronization between the display controller and the display panel.

Abstract: Techniques for selective display frame fetching can include receiving or fetching rendered display frames by a display engine. The display engine can determine if a new frame includes one or more dirty portions. If the new frame includes one or more dirty portions, just the dirty portions can be loaded by the display engine into a display buffer. The display engine can also scan out just the dirty portions from the display buffer to a display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing a virtualization environment comprises a plurality of host machines, one or more virtual disks comprising a plurality of storage devices, a virtualized file server (VFS) comprising a plurality of file server virtual machines (FSVMs), wherein each of the FSVMs is running on one of the host machines and conducts I/O transactions with the one or more virtual disks, and a virtualized file server backup system configured to back up data stored in a VFS located a cluster of host machines to an object store, and retrieve the backed-up data as needed to restore the data in the VFS. The object store may be located in a public cloud. The object store may include a low-cost storage medium within the cluster. An FSVM of the VFS may provide an object store interface to low-cost storage media.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing a virtualization environment includes host machines implementing a virtualization environment, a plurality of clusters of the host machines, a virtualized file server (VFS) comprising a plurality of file server virtual machines (FSVMs), and a VFS cluster manager (CM) configured to distribute storage items among the clusters and receive cluster storage statistics for one or more shares of the VFS. The CM is further configured to, in response to a request from a first FSVM to identify a storage location for a storage item, identify a cluster at which the storage item is to be located based on the cluster storage statistics, identify a second FSVM at which the storage item is to be located based on compute usage statistics of one or more FSVMs in the identified cluster, and send an address of the second FSVM to the first FSVM.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for reduced computing device power consumption. Example methods disclosed herein includes detecting frame updates corresponding to input frames to be presented by a display, causing a programmable timer to generate second interrupts corresponding to first interrupts generated by a display engine, the second interrupts to be generated when there are no frame updates detected for at least a first duration of time defined by a first threshold. Example methods further include causing the display engine to transition to a low power state when (1) the programmable timer is configured to generate the second interrupts and (2) no frame updates have been detected for at least a second duration of time following the first duration of time, the second duration of time defined by a second threshold.

Abstract: Examples relate to a display control apparatus for a display, to a computing device with an integrated display and a display control apparatus, a processing unit for a computing device with an integrated display and to corresponding methods and computer programs. The display control apparatus comprises interface circuitry and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to obtain, via the interface circuitry, information on a user of the display, the information on the user indicating a presence of the user relative to the display or an engagement of the user with the display. The processing circuitry is configured to control, based on the information on the user, a display mode of the display, the display mode affecting at least one of a refresh rate and a backlight of the display.

Abstract: A method for power-efficient touch input, in which touch sensor data from a touch input is obtained by touch circuitry. Touch sensor data is obtained from touch input at touch circuitry included in a device that also includes a system-on-a-chip (SOC) and a display controller stack outside of the SOC. The touch sensor data is stored in a buffer. When the SOC is in a low-power state, the touch sensor data is communicated to the display controller stack for immediate display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing a virtualization environment comprises a plurality of host machines, one or more virtual disks comprising a plurality of storage devices, a virtualized file server (VFS) comprising a plurality of file server virtual machines (FSVMs), wherein each of the FSVMs is running on one of the host machines, and a backup system configured to, in response to a request to access a data item, determine an access frequency for the data item. The backup system is further configured to, in response a request to store a data item, determine a storage tier at which the data item is to be stored in a cloud storage service, wherein the tier is determined based on the access frequency associated with the data item, and store the data item at the determined tier of the cloud storage service.

Abstract: Technology for a display controller is described. The display controller can detect a frame update when the display controller is in a dynamic sleep state. The display controller can wake up from the dynamic sleep state and enter a selective update state at a programmed vertical blanking interrupt (VBI) that precedes an actual VBI. The display controller can perform a scan-out with a display panel during the selective update state. The display controller can return to the dynamic sleep state in a same time frame after the scan-out is completed. The display controller can exclude timing logic to send a VBI at every time frame to the display panel to maintain time synchronization between the display controller and the display panel.

Abstract: Techniques for selective display frame fetching can include receiving or fetching rendered display frames by a display engine. The display engine can determine if a new frame includes one or more dirty portions. If the new frame includes one or more dirty portions, just the dirty portions can be loaded by the display engine into a display buffer. The display engine can also scan out just the dirty portions from the display buffer to a display.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to manage power and performance of computing devices based on user presence are disclosed. An apparatus includes an engagement detector to determine an engagement of a user with a device based on at least one of image data generated by an image sensor or an application running on the device; and an operation mode selector to select one of a plurality of operation modes for the device based on a level of engagement of the user, the plurality of operation modes including (1) a first operation mode associated with the device operating at a first performance level and a first power level and (2) a second operation mode associated with the device operating at a second performance level and a second power level, the first performance level being higher than the second performance level, the first power level being higher than the second power level.

Abstract: Techniques for selective display frame fetching can include receiving or fetching rendered display frames by a display engine. The display engine can determine if a new frame includes one or more dirty portions. If the new frame includes one or more dirty portions, just the dirty portions can be loaded by the display engine into a display buffer. The display engine can also scan out just the dirty portions from the display buffer to a display.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficient rendering and transmission of video content in a virtual reality system. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a first frame buffer to store image frames to be transmitted to a virtual reality apparatus; tile-based image rendering circuitry and/or logic to concurrently render multiple tiles of a first image frame, wherein tiles are categorized core tiles or a peripheral tiles; tile-based transmission circuitry and/or logic to transmit a first core tile rendered to the virtual reality apparatus before one or more remaining tiles have been rendered, the tile-based transmission circuitry and/or logic to continue to transmit one or more subsequently rendered core tiles following the first tile until all core tiles have been transmitted; and the tile-based transmission circuitry and/or logic to identify a subset of peripheral tiles to be transmitted based on first coordinate/offset data and to responsively transmit the subset of peripheral tiles.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for reduced computing device power consumption. Example methods disclosed herein includes detecting frame updates corresponding to input frames to be presented by a display, causing a programmable timer to generate second interrupts corresponding to first interrupts generated by a display engine, the second interrupts to be generated when there are no frame updates detected for at least a first duration of time defined by a first threshold. Example methods further include causing the display engine to transition to a low power state when (1) the programmable timer is configured to generate the second interrupts and (2) no frame updates have been detected for at least a second duration of time following the first duration of time, the second duration of time defined by a second threshold.

Abstract: A method for power-efficient touch input, in which touch sensor data from a touch input is obtained by touch circuitry. Touch sensor data is obtained from touch input at touch circuitry included in a device that also includes a system-on-a-chip (SOC) and a display controller stack outside of the SOC. The touch sensor data is stored in a buffer. When the SOC is in a low-power state, the touch sensor data is communicated to the display controller stack for immediate display.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for managing a virtualization environment comprises a plurality of host machines, one or more virtual disks comprising a plurality of storage devices, a virtualized file server (VFS) comprising a plurality of file server virtual machines (FSVMs), wherein each of the FSVMs is running on one of the host machines and conducts I/O transactions with the one or more virtual disks, and a virtualized file server backup system configured to back up data stored in a VFS located a cluster of host machines to an object store, and retrieve the backed-up data as needed to restore the data in the VFS. The object store may be located in a public cloud. The object store may include a low-cost storage medium within the cluster. An FSVM of the VFS may provide an object store interface to low-cost storage media.

Abstract: Techniques for selective display frame fetching can include receiving or fetching rendered display frames by a display engine. The display engine can determine if a new frame includes one or more dirty portions. If the new frame includes one or more dirty portions, just the dirty portions can be loaded by the display engine into a display buffer. The display engine can also scan out just the dirty portions from the display buffer to a display.