Patent ID: 7681054
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling power consumption in a processing system, said method comprising: measuring an activity level within a processor of said processing system, wherein said processor operates at one of multiple selectable operating points corresponding to differing levels of power consumption, wherein said measuring is performed by event counters that indicate a usage of multiple functional units within said processor; predicting a power consumption level of said processor for an operating point other than a present operating point of said processor, by calculating a predicted power consumption level in from the measured activity level at the presently selected operating point of said processor; determining whether or not said predicted power consumption of said processor would yield a power consumption higher than a threshold if at least one other operating point were selected; and in response to determining that said processor would not yield a power consumption higher than said threshold if said at least one other operating point were selected, selecting said at least one other operating point as an operating point of said processor; dynamically measuring actual power consumption of said processor at intervals of operation of said processing system; observing a relationship between changes in said actual power consumption and values of said set of event counters; and revising a model relating predicted power consumption and said values of said set of event counters in conformity with a result of said observing.