Patent ID: 7353409
Filing Date: 2008-04-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for maintaining operation of a data processing system in the event of a degraded system cooling condition, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: identifying a first temperature of a processor that equals or exceeds a processor throttling threshold; responsive to identifying the first temperature, reducing a frequency of the processor by a first frequency increment; responsive to reducing the frequency by a first frequency increment, reducing an operational voltage of the processor by a first voltage increment; responsive to reducing the operational voltage of the processor by the first voltage increment, acquiring a second temperature of the processor; comparing the second temperature with a stable throttling temperature range; responsive to determining that the second temperature is not within the stable throttling temperature range, further reducing the frequency of the processor by a second frequency increment; responsive to reducing the frequency by the second frequency increment, further reducing the operational voltage of the processor by a second voltage increment; responsive to reducing the frequency of the processor by the second frequency increment and reducing the operational voltage of the processor by the second voltage increment, incrementing a counter variable representing a number of second frequency increment and second voltage increment reductions performed; and wherein the first frequency increment, second frequency increment, first voltage increment, and second voltage increment are specified in a processor throttling routine controlled by system firmware.