Abstract:
A graphical user interface (“GUI”) for enabling a user to select an acoustic level at which a computer should operate, for example, as a percentage of the full acoustic level. Once a level is selected, the performance of various computer subsystems is adjusted to achieve the selected acoustic level and the user may preview the selected level by selecting a button on the GUI. In one embodiment, this adjustment is performed using predefined operational states of the computer.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The disclosures herein relate generally to computers and more particularly to a system and method for providing acoustic management in a computer.  
           [0002]    With the increase in speed (“RPM”) of computer hard disk drives, the noise attributable to the drives may tend to annoy purchasers of computers, causing them to them either to contact customer support in search of methods by which to reduce the noise level or, in extreme cases, return the hard drive or the entire computer. Currently, a standard exists for providing 126 different acoustic levels of hard drive operation. A lowering in the acoustic level is accomplished by decreasing the seek performance (or RPM) of the drive, thereby to reduce the seek noise. Currently, the acoustic level of each hard drive in a computer is set by the manufacturer of the hard disk drive at a level specified by an OEM customer. At present, there are no means for enabling the end-user to adjust this level.  
           [0003]    Additional noise is generated by the fans in the computer, including, for example, the system fan and the processor fan. In particular, as computers become capable of operating at higher speeds, it is necessary to include more and/or higher power fans to keep the computer sufficiently cool to operate properly. As a result, considerable noise is generated by these fans. This can also cause annoyance to the customer, who may react as described above. The noise created by the fans can be reduced by decreasing the speed of one or more of the fans; however, if the reduction in fan speed is not accompanied by a commensurate reduction in peripheral and/or processor activity level, the thermal level of the computer can rise to such a degree as to pose a danger to components thereof.  
           [0004]    Therefore, what is needed is a system and method for providing an interface to enable a user to select an acoustic level for a computer and for causing an appropriate adjustment in overall system operation to accommodate the selected acoustic level.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    One embodiment, accordingly discloses a method of providing acoustic management in a computer including receiving from a user, instructions regarding a selected acoustic level via an interface. An operational level of at least one subsystem of the computer is adjusted to achieve the selected acoustic level.  
           [0006]    A principal advantage of this embodiment is that it enables a user easily to select a desired acoustic level of a computer, while automatically adjusting system performance to accommodate the selected level. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a computer for implementing one embodiment.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 illustrates a GUI of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a state diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of a computer  100  for implementing one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the computer  100  includes a CPU subsystem  102  including a central processing unit, memory controller hardware (“MCH”), and an optional CPU fan, connected to interface controller hardware (“ICH”)  104 . A power subsystem  106 , including a conventional power source and fan, and system memory  108  are also connected to the CPU subsystem  102 . The primary function of the ICH  104  is to control the operation and interaction with the CPU subsystem  102  of various components, including PCI and other types of buses  110 , embedded communications ports, including, but not limited to NIC and USB ports, collectively designated by a reference numeral  112 , an optional system fan  114 , an embedded hard disk drive port  116 , such as IDE, serial ATA, SCSI, or FCAL, and various I/O ports, collectively designated by a reference numeral  118 . Power management systems  120  are located in both the ICH  104  and the MCH within the CPU subsystem  102 , such that each provides power management functions for the hardware to which it is connected in a conventional fashion.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 illustrates a GUI  200  for use in connection with the embodiment described herein. As shown in FIG. 2, the GUI  200  includes an acoustic level bar  202  for enabling a user to select a desired acoustic level by adjusting the level of an indicator  204  using an input device of the computer  100 , such as a mouse (not shown). A dial  206  indicates, as a percentage of the maximum possible acoustic level, the acoustic level selected using the bar  202  and indicator  204 . Referring now also to FIG. 3, which is a flowchart of the operation of the embodiment described herein, once the indicator  204  has been set to the desired level (step  300 ), responsive to selection of a “Set Acoustic Level” button  208 , a pre-test is run (step  302 ). During the pre-test, the current hard disk drive seek settings and current system settings are determined. The hard disk drive has a number of preset seek profiles (1 to X), each of which has a known acoustic level. System settings will determine the level of power management, CPU/bus and fan speed; again, each setting has an acoustic level associated therewith.  
         [0013]    Next, the acoustic level of the computer  100  is adjusted by performing one or more of steps  304 - 312  in order until the selected acoustic level is achieved. Specifically, in step  304 , the hard disk drive seek times are adjusted downward until the selected acoustic level is achieved or the maximum seek time is reached. Upon completion of step  304 , if additional downward adjustment to the acoustic level is necessary, in step  306 , the RPM of the system fan  114  is decreased. In addition, the power management system  120  makes appropriate and corresponding adjustments to overall operation of the computer system to decrease the heat production of the computer to a level that can be managed by the system fan operating at its new level. Upon completion of step  306 , if additional downward adjustment to the acoustic level is necessary, in step  308 , the RPM of the processor fan  102  is decreased. In addition, the power management system  120  makes appropriate and corresponding adjustments to overall operation of the computer system to decrease the heat production of the computer to a level that can be managed by the processor fan operating at its new level.  
         [0014]    Upon completion of step  308 , if additional downward adjustment to the acoustic level is necessary, in step  320 , the power management levels (FIG. 4) are adjusted to reduce noise creation. Upon completion of step  310 , if additional downward adjustment to the acoustic level is necessary, in step  312 , the speed of the PCI bus  110  is decreased. In addition, the power management system  120  makes appropriate and corresponding adjustments to overall operation of the computer system so that the level of computer system activity can be accommodated by the PCI bus operating at the decreased speed. It should be noted that steps  304 - 312  may be performed in any order, as warranted by the particular situation or as desired.  
         [0015]    Once one or more of steps  304 - 312  have been performed, execution proceeds to step  314 , in which a post-test is run. The post-test is similar to the pretest, but is used to demonstrate to the user what the new acoustic level sounds like. At that point, the user indicates whether or not he or she would like to continue adjusting the acoustic level. In step  316 , a determination is made whether the user wants to readjust the acoustic level of the computer  100 . If so, execution returns to step  300 ; otherwise, execution terminates in step  318 .  
         [0016]    It will be recognized that computer program instructions executable by a processor, such as the CPU, for causing the computer  100  to display the GUI of FIG. 2 and to execute the steps described in FIG. 3 are stored on appropriate storage media or devices within or inserted into the computer  100 .  
         [0017]    Referring again to FIG. 2, selection of a “Preview Acoustic Level” button  210  results in the acoustic level selected by the user being demonstrated to the user to enable him or her to decide whether to readjust the acoustic level (step  316 ).  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 illustrates a state diagram  400  of the operational states of the computer  100 . These states are the power management states the computer  100  supports and are a subset of the flowchart and the GUI. As shown in FIG. 4, in a first state S 0 , the computer  100  is fully operational, power savings occurs on a per-device basis, and devices that are not in use can save power by entering a lower power state. In a second or “sleep” state S 1 , the hard disk drive and monitor are disabled. In a third or “Suspend-to-RAM (‘STR’)” state of a fourth or “Suspend-to-Disk (‘STD’)” state, collectively designated S 3 /S 4 , the computer  100  is suspended to RAM and powered off with the operating system (“OS”) context saved in system memory or the computer  100  is suspended to disk. In this state S 3 /S 4 , there is no power except to DIMMs. In a fifth or “Soft Off” state S 5 , the computer  100  is powered off and requires a full boot to load the OS. Depending on the acoustic level selected by the end-user, certain operational states may be adjusted through the predetermined power management states illustrated in the state diagram  400 .  
         [0019]    Although illustrative embodiments have been shown and described, a wide range of modification change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances, some features of the embodiments may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiments disclosed herein.