Patent ID: 7908493
Filing Date: 2011-03-15
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for unified management of power, performance, and thermals in a computer system, the method comprising: initializing a power management controller in a thermal power management device card in the computer system; receiving, by the power management controller, power input data about power from detection circuits that measure power drawn from a bulk power supply in the computer system; receiving, by the power management controller, thermal input data about thermals from at least one temperature sensor in the computer system; receiving, by the power management controller, first performance input data about performance from at least one monitor on at least one processor in the computer system; receiving, by the power management controller, second performance input data about performance from in-band software running on the at least one processor; and generating, the power management controller, actuation commands based on the power input data, the thermal input data, the first performance input data, and the second performance input data, wherein the actuation commands comprise a clock signal to serve as a clock input for the at least one processor and at least one voltage control to serve as an input for at least one voltage regulator module that receives power from the bulk power supply and supplies power to the at least one processor.