Computer power management

Claim 2

The method of claim 1 wherein the time rate of communications is measured periodically.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 further comprising assigning a state indicator to the device based on the rate, and regulating power use based on the indicator.

Claim 4

The method of claim 3 wherein regulating power use by the device comprises updating power usage parameters of the device based on the indicator.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring a time rate of communications that occur with a second power-using device in the computer, and regulating power use by the second device based on its time rate of communications.

Claim 7

A computer program managing power usage in a computer, comprising instructions that cause computer to monitor a time rate of communications that occur with a power-using device associated with the computer, and instructions that cause the computer to maintain stored rate information for the device based on the results of the monitoring.

Claim 8

The program of claim 7 wherein the instructions monitor the time rate of communications periodically.

Claim 9

The program of claim 7 wherein the instructions maintain stored rate information assigns a state indicator to the device based on the results of the monitoring and stores the indicator.

Claim 10

The program of claim 7 further comprising instructions for regulating power use by the device based on the stored rate information.

Claim 11

The program of claim 7 wherein the instructions monitor a time rate of communications that occur with a second power-using device in the computer, and the instructions maintain stored rate information for the second device.

Claim 12

The program of claim 7, wherein the instructions are implemented as firmware in the computer.

Claim 13

A firmware program for managing power usage in a computer, comprising instructions that cause the computer to periodically monitor a time rate of communications that occur with power-using devices, instructions that cause the computer to assign a state indicator to each device based on the results of the monitoring and store the indicators, and instructions that cause the computer to regulate power use by each device based on its indicator.

Claim 14

Apparatus for managing power usage in a computer, comprising a counter connected to count communications that occur with a power-using device in the computer, and a regulator connected to regulate power use by the device based on the count accumulated by the counter.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a range register coupled to the counter, the register specifying the device to the counter.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the register specifies a range of ports associated with the device to the counter, the counter counting communications with the device by monitoring signals exchanged over the ports.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the regulator periodically reads the counter.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a second counter counting communications with a second power-using device.

Claim 19

Apparatus for managing power usage in a computer, comprising counters connected to count communications that occur over ports of power-using devices, a range register connected to each counter, each register assigning ports associated with a device to a counter, and a regulator connected to periodically regulate power use by each device based on the count accumulated in its corresponding counter.

Claim 20

A computer system comprising a main processor, a power-using device coupled by a communication line to the main processor, a circuit connected to monitor the time rate of communications that occur between the main processor and the power-using device, and a regulator connected to regulate power use by the device based on the time rate of communications.

Claim 21

The system of claim 20 wherein the device is coupled to the processor by a port, the circuit monitoring the time rate signals are exchanged over the port.

Claim 22

The system of claim 21 further including a range register connected to the circuit, the range register assigning the port to the circuit.

Claim 23

The system of claim 20, wherein the regulator regulates power use of the device by updating power parameters of the device based on the time rate.

Claim 24

The system of claim 20, further comprising a memory connected to the regulator, the regulator regulating power use of the device by executing firmware in the memory.

Claim 25

The system of claim 20 further comprising a timer connected to periodically activate the regulator.

Claim 26

A computer system comprising a main processor, power-using devices each having a port coupled by a communication line to the main processor, circuits connected to monitor the time rate of communications that occur over the ports, a range register connected to each circuit, each register assigning a port to a circuit, a memory comprising firmware, a regulator connected to update power usage parameters for each device based on its time rate of communications by executing the firmware, and a timer connected to periodically activate the regulator.