Patent ID: 7797564
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method in a data processing system for dynamically modifying operating parameters of processing units included in a processor core included within a central processing unit (CPU), said method comprising: allocating, according to a predicted optimal allocation, a first processing unit's processing time among general purpose processing units and specialized processing units, wherein said general purpose processing units and said specialized processing units are included in said CPU, and wherein each one of said general purpose processing units and each one of said specialized processing units being independently powered on and off; retrieving a next context to be processed, said next context including an identification of all first specialized processing units in said processor core that will be needed to process said next context, said specialized processing units including said first specialized processing units and other unused specialized processing units; dynamically altering said predicted optimal allocation of said first processing unit's time, said first processing unit's processing time being allocated among said general purpose processing units and said first processing units, and not among said unused specialized processing units; and prior to said processing core that includes said first processing unit executing said next context, dynamically altering said predicted optimal allocation according to an expected usage of ones of said special processing units.