Patent ID: 8140808

Claim:
A method of managing power in a data processing system, comprising: monitoring a system parameter indicative of system power consumption, wherein the system parameter comprises at least a power consumption of a system memory, wherein the system comprises a guest driver; determining, for the guest driver, an allocated amount of the system memory and an attributable amount of activity of the system; calculating, using the allocated amount of the system memory and the attributable amount of activity of the system, an amount of the system memory to be released by the guest driver; responsive to determining that the system parameter differs from a specified threshold, causing the guest driver to release a portion of the system memory allocated to the guest driver, wherein a size of the portion of the system memory that is released is the calculated amount of the system memory; and reclaiming the portion of system memory released by the guest driver and, responsive thereto, reducing power consumption of the system memory.