US6272642B2 — Managing a system's performance state

Claim 1

Independent Claim 66 words

A system comprising: a component; a detector adapted to detect generation of a power management event; and a controller adapted to, in response to the power management event, transition the component from a first internal performance mode to a reduced activity state, and to change a setting of the component to a second, different internal performance mode while the component is in the reduced activity state.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 66 words

A system comprising: a component; a detector adapted to detect generation of a power management event; and a controller adapted to, in response to the power management event, transition the component from a first internal performance mode to a reduced activity state, and to change a setting of the component to a second, different internal performance mode while the component is in the reduced activity state.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the component includes a clock set to a first frequency in the first internal performance mode and to a second, different frequency in the second internal performance mode.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the component includes a supply voltage set to a first level in the first internal performance mode and to a second, different level in the second internal performance mode.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is adapted to change the supply voltage without resetting the component.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 16 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the reduced activity state includes a deep sleep state.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the reduced activity state includes the C 3 state defined under an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface Specification.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the component includes an internal clock stopped in the reduced activity state.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the component includes an external clock stopped in the reduced activity state.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the power management event includes an event generated in response to a change of power source.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 9 , further comprising an internal power source and an external power source, the controller adapted to select at least one of the first and the second internal performance modes based on which of the internal or external power source is used.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 14 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is partly implemented in software.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the component is a processor.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the component has a clock input and at least one other input, the controller to provide a value to the at least one other input to change the setting of the component.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 13 , the component to sample a state of the at least one input while the component is in the reduced activity state.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein the component has a clock input receiving an external clock, wherein the setting of the component is changed without changing the frequency of the external clock.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 15 , wherein the component further comprises a clock generator to generate an internal clock, a frequency of the internal clock being changed when the setting of the component is changed.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus to adjust power states of a system including a component having a clock input to receive an external clock, the component having an internal clock running at a frequency, comprising: a detector to receive an indication to change power states in the system; and a controller adapted to place the system into a lower activity state in response to the indication, the controller adapted to change a setting in the component to change the internal clock frequency without changing a frequency of the external clock to transition the system from one performance state to another performance state while the system is in the lower activity state.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 108 words

An apparatus to adjust power states of a system including a component having a clock input to receive an external clock, the component having an internal clock running at a frequency, comprising: a detector to receive an indication to change power states in the system; and a controller adapted to place the system into a lower activity state in response to the indication, the controller adapted to change a setting in the component to change the internal clock frequency without changing a frequency of the external clock to transition the system from one performance state to another performance state while the system is in the lower activity state.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the internal clock of the component is stopped in the lower activity state.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the component is set to operate at a first voltage in a first performance state and at a second, different voltage in a second performance state.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the indication is generated in response to a change in a power source in the system.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the controller includes a software module.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the controller further includes hardware control logic responsive to commands from the software module.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 80 words

An article including a machine-readable storage medium containing instructions for controlling power states of a system, the instructions when executed causes a system to: detect an event generated in response to a predetermined activity; place a processor in the system into a lower activity state in response to the event; and change a setting in the processor to transition the processor from a first performance state to a second performance state while the processor is in the lower activity state.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 80 words

An article including a machine-readable storage medium containing instructions for controlling power states of a system, the instructions when executed causes a system to: detect an event generated in response to a predetermined activity; place a processor in the system into a lower activity state in response to the event; and change a setting in the processor to transition the processor from a first performance state to a second performance state while the processor is in the lower activity state.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 34 words

The article of claim 23 , wherein the storage medium contains instructions for causing the system to further detect a power source change event that indicates a power source of the system has changed.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 35 words

The article of claim 23 , wherein the storage medium contains instructions for causing the system to further detect an over-temperature condition event that indicates a temperature in the system has exceeded a predefined threshold.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 35 words

The article of claim 23 , wherein a supply voltage of the processor is set to a first level in the first performance state and to a second, different level in the second performance state.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 37 words

The article of claim 23 , wherein an internal clock of the processor is set to a first frequency setting in the first performance state and to a second, different frequency setting in the second performance state.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 46 words

The article of claim 23 , wherein the processor has a clock input and at least one other input, and wherein the instructions when executed cause the system to provide a value to the at least one other input to change the setting in the processor.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 37 words

The article of claim 23 , wherein the processor has a clock input to receive an external clock, the instructions when executed causing the system to change the setting in the processor without changing the external clock.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 35 words

The article of claim 29 , wherein the processor has an internal clock, the instructions when executed causing the system to change a frequency of the internal clock to change the setting in the processor.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 66 words

A method of managing a power state of a system, comprising: detecting a power management event; placing a processor in the system into a lower activity state in response to detection of the power management event; and changing a setting in the processor to transition the processor from a first performance state to a second performance state while the processor is in the lower activity state.

Claim 35

Independent Claim 66 words

A method of managing a power state of a system, comprising: detecting a power management event; placing a processor in the system into a lower activity state in response to detection of the power management event; and changing a setting in the processor to transition the processor from a first performance state to a second performance state while the processor is in the lower activity state.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 31 , further comprising stopping an internal clock of the processor in the lower activity state.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 31 , further comprising stopping an external clock of the processor in the lower activity state.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 31 , further comprising changing an internal clock frequency of the processor to a different frequency in the transition.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 31 , further comprising changing a supply voltage of the processor to a different level in the transition.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 31 , wherein the processor has a clock input and at least another input, the method further comprising providing a value to the at least another input to change the setting.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 31 , wherein the processor has a clock input to receive an external clock, and wherein changing the setting in the processor comprises changing the setting without clanging a frequency of the external clock.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-08-06	2005-02-05	2005-08-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-08-06	2009-02-05	2009-08-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-08-06	2013-02-05	2013-08-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Managing a system's performance state

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