US5590342A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for reducing power consumption in a computer system using virtual device drivers
Assignee: Intel Corp
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Filing: 1994-11-29
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Granted: 1996-12-31
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Expires: 2014-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A power management mechanism for use in a computer system having a bus, a memory for storing data and instructions, and a central processing unit (CPU). The CPU runs an operating system having a power management virtual device driver (PMVxD) responsible for performing idle detection for devices. The PMVxD performs idle detection using event timers that provide an indicator as to the activity level. The PMVxD places idle local devices in a reduced power consumption state when no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time.
Inventors
- 👤 Suresh K. Marisetty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:14
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203; G06F1/3234; G06F1/325; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3409; G06F11/3419; G06F11/3423; G06F11/3466; G06F11/348; Y; Y02; Y02D; Y02D10/00; Y02D30/00; Y02D30/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 39
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; at least one memory coupled to the bus for storing data, including an operating system; and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the bus running the operating system with a virtual device driver (VxD), wherein the virtual device driver performs device idle detection using one or more events timers indicating the activity level of at least one local device, and further wherein the virtual device driver places idle local devices in a reduced power consumption state when associated events timers indicate that no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; at least one memory coupled to the bus for storing data, including an operating system; and a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the bus running the operating system with a virtual device driver (VxD), wherein the virtual device driver performs device idle detection using one or more events timers indicating the activity level of at least one local device, and further wherein the virtual device driver places idle local devices in a reduced power consumption state when associated events timers indicate that no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system defined in claim 1 wherein the virtual device driver performs system idle detection.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system defined in claim 1 wherein the virtual device driver comprises I/O trapping capabilities to perform idle detection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system defined in claim 1 wherein the virtual device driver comprises a VxD trap handler to perform idle detection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system defined in claim 1 wherein the virtual device driver comprises a chained-interrupt trap handier to perform idle detection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system defined in claim 1 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating enabled local devices being monitored by the device driver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system defined in claim 1 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating events being monitored by the device driver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system defined in claim 1 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating I/O address ranges for local devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system defined in claim 1 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating activity level of local devices to the device driver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer system defined in claim 1 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating power management states into which the device driver may place the computer system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the bus running an operating system and at least one power-unaware application, wherein the operating system has a virtual device driver performing device idle detection using one or more events timers indicating the activity level of at least one local device, and further wherein the virtual device driver places idle local devices in a reduced power consumption state when associated events timers indicate that no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time transparent to said at least one power-unaware application.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the bus running an operating system and at least one power-unaware application, wherein the operating system has a virtual device driver performing device idle detection using one or more events timers indicating the activity level of at least one local device, and further wherein the virtual device driver places idle local devices in a reduced power consumption state when associated events timers indicate that no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time transparent to said at least one power-unaware application.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The computer system defined in claim 11 wherein the virtual device driver performs system idle detection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system defined in claim 11 wherein the virtual device driver comprises I/O trapping capabilities to perform idle detection.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system defined in claim 11 wherein the virtual device driver comprises a VxD trap handler to perform idle detection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system defined in claim 11 wherein the virtual device driver comprises a chained-interrupt trap handler to perform idle detection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer system defined in claim 11 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating enabled local devices being monitored by the virtual device driver.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The computer system defined in claim 11 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating events being monitored by the virtual device driver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer system defined in claim 11 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating I/O address ranges for local devices.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer system defined in claim 11 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating activity level of local devices to the virtual device driver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer system defined in claim 11 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating power management states into which the virtual device driver may place the computer system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer system comprising: at least one bus; a memory coupled to said at least one bus; a device coupled to said at least one bus; a processor coupled to said at least one bus, wherein the processor is configured to execute a virtual device driver to control placement of said device into a reduced power consumption state.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
58 words
A computer system comprising: at least one bus; a memory coupled to said at least one bus; a device coupled to said at least one bus; a processor coupled to said at least one bus, wherein the processor is configured to execute a virtual device driver to control placement of said device into a reduced power consumption state.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system defined in claim 21 wherein the virtual device driver performs idle detection for the device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer system defined in claim 21 wherein the virtual device driver performs idle detection for the device using at least one event timer indicating the activity level of the device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer system defined in claim 23 wherein the virtual device driver places the device in a reduced power consumption state when said at least one events timer indicates that no activity has occurred for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer system defined in claim 21 wherein the processor runs at least one power-unaware application and the virtual device driver places the device in the reduced power consumption state transparent to said at least one power-unaware application.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer system defined in claim 21 wherein the memory stores data structures indicating enabled local devices being monitored by the virtual device driver, events being monitored by the virtual device driver, I/O address ranges for local devices, and activity level of local devices to the virtual device driver.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system defined in claim 21 wherein the virtual device driver comprises a VxD trap handler to perform idle detection.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system defined in claim 21 wherein the device comprises an I/O device.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for controlling an input/output (I/O) device, said method comprising the steps of: executing a virtual device driver; monitoring activity of the I/O device; detecting the I/O device being inactive for a predetermined period of time; and the virtual device driver placing the I/O device in a reduced power consumption state in response to the I/O device being detected as inactive.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for controlling an input/output (I/O) device, said method comprising the steps of: executing a virtual device driver; monitoring activity of the I/O device; detecting the I/O device being inactive for a predetermined period of time; and the virtual device driver placing the I/O device in a reduced power consumption state in response to the I/O device being detected as inactive.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 29 further comprising the step of initializing, at boot-up time, a plurality of data structures associated with the virtual device driver.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method defined in claim 29 wherein the step of monitoring comprises the virtual device driver monitoring activity of the I/O device at the occurrence of a system timer interrupt.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method defined in claim 29 further comprising the step of varying the predetermined period of time.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 32 wherein the predetermined period of time is varied based on desired power savings.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method defined in claim 29 further comprising the step of the virtual device driver adjusting an events timer according to activity of the device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method defined in claim 29 further comprising the steps of: a configuration manager notifying the virtual device driver of system resources being remapped; and the virtual device driver examining its data structures to adapt itself to the remapped system resources.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-31 | 2000-07-01 | 2000-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-31 | 2004-07-01 | 2004-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-31 | 2008-07-01 | 2008-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |