Patent ID: 7272735

Claim:
A computer system comprising: a plurality of computers each having at least one processor and an activity monitor identifying a level of activity information for said at least one processor; each of said computers being operable in: (i) a first mode having a first maximum performance level and a first power consumption rate, and (ii) a third mode having a third maximum performance level lower than said first maximum performance level and a third power consumption rate lower than said first power consumption rate; each of said computers further being operable in (iii) a second mode having a second maximum performance level intermediate between said first maximum performance level and said third maximum performance level and a second power consumption rate intermediate between said first power consumption rate and said third power consumption rate; and a power manager coupled to each of said computers configured to manage the power consumption of each of said computers by: (i) receiving said level of activity information from each of said plurality of computers; (ii) analyzing said plurality of received level of activity information; (iii) determining an operating mode for each of said computers selected from said first mode, said second mode, and third mode based on said analyzed activity information and predetermined policies; and (iv) generating commands to each of said plurality of computers directing each of said plurality of computers to operate in said determined operating mode.