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EP0670539A1
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EP
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Method and apparatus for conserving power in a computer system using a power management pseudo-device driver
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 1995-01-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2015-01-26
Abstract
Abstract A power management system for conserving power in a computer system that runs the UNIX® operating system. The power management system comprises a power management pseudo-device driver 100, power management compatible device drivers for power manageable hardware devices, and additions to the Device Driver Interface and Driver Kernel Interface (DDI/DKI) layer. Each power management compatible device driver maintains last access times for its associated hardware device components. The power management pseudo-device driver periodically checks the last access time for all the power manageable hardware device components in the computer system. If the power management pseudo-device driver determines that a hardware device component is idle, the power management pseudo-device driver instructs the idle hardware device's associated device driver to reduce power to the idle hardware device component. If an access request is later received by a powered down device component, the power management pseudo-device driver is informed about the access request. The power management pseudo-device driver then powers the hardware device component back up such that the hardware device component can process the access request.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony Glenning
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:23
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3206; G06F1/3215; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F1/3287; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An apparatus for conserving power in a computer system, said computer system including a first power manageable hardware component, said apparatus comprising the elements of: a first device driver in said computer system, said first device driver for controlling said first power manageable hardware component, said first device driver for determining a last access time for said first power manageable hardware component; and a power management driver, said power management driver for adjusting power provided to said first power manageable hardware component if said first power manageable hardware component is idle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power management driver comprises a device driver without an associated hardware device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power management driver further comprises a configuration interface for configuring said power management driver.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first device driver comprises a signaling unit for signaling said power management driver if an access occurs to said first device driver when said first power manageable hardware component is powered down.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: a second power manageable hardware component, said second power manageable hardware component dependent upon said first power manageable hardware component such that said power management driver does not power down said first power manageable hardware component unless said second power manageable hardware component has been powered down.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power management driver comprises an independently loadable module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first device driver comprises a power controller for controlling power supplied to said first hardware device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as daimed in claim 1 wherein said power management driver is written for the UNIX® operating system.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
76 words
A method of conserving power in a computer system, said computer system including a first hardware device, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining a last access time for said first hardware device by a first device driver; determining in a power management driver if said first hardware device is idle using said last access time; and adjusting power to said first hardware device if said power management driver determines said first hardware device is idle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said power management driver comprises a device driver without an associated hardware device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the step of configuring said power management driver according to a user's preferences.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said step of adjusting power to said first hardware device is performed by said first device driver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the step of requesting access to said first hardware device when said first hardware device is powered down; informing said power management driver about said access to said first hardware device from said user application program; and powering said first hardware device back up such that said first hardware device can process said access to said first hardware device from said user application program.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said step of powering said first hardware device back up is performed by said device driver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said power management driver comprises an independently loadable module for an operating system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said operating system comprises the UNIX® operating system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the step of informing said power management driver that a second hardware device is dependent upon said first hardware device such that said power management driver does not adjust power to said first hardware device unless power to said second hardware device has been adjusted.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
72 words
A computer system, said computer system comprising the elements of: a computer processor; a first hardware device, said first hardware device coupled to said computer processor; a first device driver for controlling said first hardware device, said first device driver for determining a last access time for said first hardware device; and a power management driver for adjusting power provided to said first hardware device when said first hardware device is idle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first device driver further comprises a signaling unit for signaling said power management driver if an access to said first device driver occurs when said first power manageable hardware component is powered down.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
The computer system as claimed in claim 18 further comprising: a second hardware device dependent upon said first hardware device such that said power management driver does not adjust power to said first hardware device unless power to said second hardware device has been adjusted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
WO1993006545A1
Cited
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