US6836849B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling power and performance in a multiprocessing system according to customer level operational requirements
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2001-04-05
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Granted: 2004-12-28
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Expires: 2021-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A method and controller for managing power and performance of a multiprocessor (MP) system is described. The controller receives sensor data corresponding to physical parameters within the MP system. The controller also receives quality of service and policy parameters corresponding to the MP system. The quality of service parameters define commitments to customers for utilization of the MP system. The policy parameters correspond to operation limits on inputs and outputs of the MP system. The operation input limits relate to the cost and availability of power or individual processor availability. The operation output limits relate to the amount of heat, acoustic noise levels, EMC levels, etc. that the individual or group of processors in the MP system are allowed to generate in a particular environment. A controller receives the physical parameters, the quality of service parameters and policy parameters and determines performance goals for the MP system and processors within the MP system. Then controller generates controls and applies them to individual processors to achieve the performance goals.
Inventors
- 👤 Bishop Chapman Brock
- 👤 Harm Peter Hofstee
- 👤 Mark A. Johnson
- 👤 Thomas Walter Keller, Jr.
- 👤 Kevin John Nowka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/26; G06F1/32; G06F1/3203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for managing power utilization and performance of a multiprocessor (MP) system comprising the steps of: receiving first sensor data defining physical parameters of said MP system; receiving first parameters corresponding to customer level operational requirements of said MP system; determining power and performance goal settings for processors in said MP system in response to said first sensor data and said first parameters; generating a set of controls for said MP system in response to said power and performance goal settings; and applying said set of controls to adjust operation parameters of said processors in said MP system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method for managing power utilization and performance of a multiprocessor (MP) system comprising the steps of: receiving first sensor data defining physical parameters of said MP system; receiving first parameters corresponding to customer level operational requirements of said MP system; determining power and performance goal settings for processors in said MP system in response to said first sensor data and said first parameters; generating a set of controls for said MP system in response to said power and performance goal settings; and applying said set of controls to adjust operation parameters of said processors in said MP system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises the step of: applying said controls to adjust operation parameters of cooling systems for said MP system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said MP system comprises a single multiprocessor very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI) chip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein said MP system comprises a cooling means for said multiprocessor VLSI chip.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said cooling means comprises a single chip cooling fan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein said cooling means comprises a controllable single chip thermo-electric cooler.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein said MP system comprises a self-contained MP system, said self-contained MP system comprising a plurality of said multiprocessor VLSI chips, said self-contained MP system further comprising a first controllable cooling system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein said MP system comprises a rack MP system, said rack MP system comprising a plurality of said self-contained MP systems and a controllable rack cooling system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein said MP system comprises a plurality of said rack MP systems, said MP system further comprising a controllable MP system cooling means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said first sensor data comprises temperatures of said processors in said MP system, supply voltages corresponding to circuits in said processors, clock frequencies of said processors, electromagnetic radiation (EMC) of said MP system, acoustic levels of said MP system, vibration levels of said MP system, and air temperatures of cooling systems in said MP system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said first parameters comprise customer level quality of service parameters for said MP system.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said first parameters comprise policy of operation parameters for said MP system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein said quality of service parameters comprise assignment data defining processor assignment to tasks performed by said MP system, access availability data for processors in said MP system, performance level data defining a performance for an application executing on processors of said MP system, and processor operational data defining which of said processors are operational.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein said policy of operation parameters comprise data defining a cost of power for said MP system, acceptable acoustic noise level data for said MP system, acceptable EMC output noise level data for said MP system, acceptable output vibration level data of said MP system and acceptable temperature level data for elements of said MP system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said power and performance goals comprise data defining a desired MP system power consumption level, data defining a desired processor power consumption level, data defining desired MP system temperatures, desired MP acoustic noise output levels, desired EMC noise levels, and desired processor instruction execution speeds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said set of controls comprise power supply voltage settings for said processors, clock frequency settings for said processors, cooling fan speeds, controls for said MP system cooling means and operational mode settings for said processors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said operational mode settings comprise an active mode and a sleep low power mode.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 , wherein said MP system cooling means comprises channeled temperature conditioned air.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
125 words
A controller for managing power and performance in a multiprocessor MP system comprising: a first receiving circuit operable to receive first sensor data corresponding to physical parameters of said MP system; a second receiving circuit operable to receive first parameters defining customer level quality of service operational requirements of said MP system; a third circuit operable to determine power and performance goal settings for said processors in said MP system in response to said first data and said first parameters; a fourth circuit operable to generate a set of controls for said MP system in response to said power and performance goal settings; and a fifth circuit operable to apply said set of controls to adjust operation parameters of said processors in said MP system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
125 words
A controller for managing power and performance in a multiprocessor MP system comprising: a first receiving circuit operable to receive first sensor data corresponding to physical parameters of said MP system; a second receiving circuit operable to receive first parameters defining customer level quality of service operational requirements of said MP system; a third circuit operable to determine power and performance goal settings for said processors in said MP system in response to said first data and said first parameters; a fourth circuit operable to generate a set of controls for said MP system in response to said power and performance goal settings; and a fifth circuit operable to apply said set of controls to adjust operation parameters of said processors in said MP system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The controller of claim 19 , wherein said fifth circuit is further operable to apply said set of controls to adjust operation parameters of cooling systems of said MP system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The controller of claim 19 , wherein said set of controls comprise power supply voltage settings for said processors, clock frequency settings for said processors, cooling fan speeds, controls for said MP system cooling means and operational mode settings for said processors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The controller of claim 21 , wherein said operational mode settings comprise an active mode and a sleep low power mode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The controller of claim 21 , wherein said MP system cooling means comprises channeled temperature conditioned air, chilled fluid and solid state cooling units.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
120 words
A multiprocessor (MP) system comprising a plurality of processors and a controller for managing power and performance in said MP system, said controller further comprising: circuitry for receiving first sensor data defining physical parameters of said MP system; circuitry for receiving first parameters corresponding to customer level quality of service operational requirements of said MP system; circuitry for determining power and performance goal settings for processors in said MP system in response to said first sensor data and said first parameters; circuitry for generating a set of controls for said MP system in response to said power and performance goal settings; and circuitry for applying said set of controls to adjust operation parameters of said processors in said MP system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
120 words
A multiprocessor (MP) system comprising a plurality of processors and a controller for managing power and performance in said MP system, said controller further comprising: circuitry for receiving first sensor data defining physical parameters of said MP system; circuitry for receiving first parameters corresponding to customer level quality of service operational requirements of said MP system; circuitry for determining power and performance goal settings for processors in said MP system in response to said first sensor data and said first parameters; circuitry for generating a set of controls for said MP system in response to said power and performance goal settings; and circuitry for applying said set of controls to adjust operation parameters of said processors in said MP system.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The MP system of claim 24 , wherein said controller is one of said plurality of processors in said MP system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The MP system of claim 24 , further comprising: circuitry for applying said controls to adjust operation parameters of cooling systems for said MP system.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
22 words
The MP system of claim 24 , wherein said MP system comprises a single multiprocessor very large scale integrated circuit (VLSI) chip.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The MP system of claim 27 , wherein said MP system comprises a cooling means for said multiprocessor VLSI chip.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The MP system of claim 28 , wherein said cooling means comprises a single chip cooling fan.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The MP system of claim 27 , wherein said MP system comprises a self-contained MP system, said self-contained MP system comprising a plurality of said multiprocessor VLSI chips, said self-contained MP system further comprising a first controllable cooling system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The MP system of claim 30 , wherein said MP system comprises a rack MP system, said rack MP system comprising a plurality of said self-contained MP systems and a controllable rack cooling system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The MP system of claim 31 , wherein said MP system comprises a plurality of said rack MP systems, said MP system further comprising a controllable MP system cooling means.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The MP system of claim 24 , wherein said first parameters comprise policy of operation parameters for said MP system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-12-28 | 2008-06-28 | 2008-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-12-28 | 2012-06-28 | 2012-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-12-28 | 2016-06-28 | 2016-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |