Patent ID: 8195970

Claim:
A device comprising: a temperature measurement module configured to determine a temperature in a server, to output a first control signal when the temperature in the server is above a threshold temperature, to output a second control signal when the temperature in the server in below the threshold temperature, and to output a third control signal when the temperature in the server is continuing to increase above the threshold temperature; a performance state module in communication with the temperature measurement module, the performance state module configured to change a performance state of the device to a lowest system performance state in response to the first control signal, and further configured to reduce a processor power consumption and a subsystem power consumption to a minimum power level in response to reducing the performance state to the lowest system performance state; and a fan speed module in communication with the temperature measurement module, the fan speed module configured to reduce a fan speed level based on the first control signal, and to gradually reduce, in response to the third control signal, the fan speed proportionally to an amount that the temperature has increased above the threshold temperature until the fan speed is at the minimum fan speed level.