Method and apparatus for optimizing performance and battery life of electronic devices based on system and application parameters

Abstract

An electronic device (e.g., computer system, etc.) employing dynamic power management of the present invention adjusts power consumption in accordance with an analysis of parameters and events occurring over one or more time-periods. Preferably, the electronic device monitors microprocessor, operating system, peripheral and/or device-level events and adjusts run-time parameters, such as microprocessor clock frequency and voltage, to reduce power consumption with minimal perceived degradation in performance.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . A system for dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising: 
 a power management device including: 
 a sampling module to ascertain a value for at least one parameter associated with said electronic device during a sampling interval, wherein said at least one parameter includes a quantity of instructions executed by an electronic device processor within a particular time interval;  
 an analysis module to evaluate said at least one parameter value and determine at least one control value to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation; and  
 an adjustment module to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.  
   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one control value includes an operating frequency and voltage of said electronic device processor.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said analysis module includes: 
 an evaluation module to set at least one control value to a maximum operating frequency of said electronic device processor in response to said instruction quantity parameter value being equal to or exceeding a threshold and to set at least one control value to a desired operating frequency for said electronic device processor derived from the product of the current processor operating frequency and said instruction quantity parameter value in response to said instruction quantity parameter value being less than said threshold.    
   
   
       15 - 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A method of dynamically managing power within an electronic device comprising the steps of: 
 (a) ascertaining a value for at least one parameter associated with said electronic device during a sampling interval, wherein said at least one parameter includes a quantity of instructions executed by an electronic device processor within a particular time interval;    (b) evaluating said at least one parameter value and determining at least one control value to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation; and    (c) adjusting power consumption of said electronic device in accordance with said at least one control value to control electronic device power consumption.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein step (b) further includes: 
 (b.1) determining an operating frequency and voltage of an electronic device processor to adjust power consumption of said electronic device in response to said parameter evaluation.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein step (b) further includes: 
 (b.1) setting at least one control value to a maximum operating frequency of said electronic device processor in response to said instruction quantity parameter value being equal to or exceeding a threshold; and    (b.2) setting at least one control value to a desired operating frequency for said electronic device processor derived from the product of the current processor operating frequency and said instruction quantity parameter value in response to said instruction quantity parameter value being less than said threshold.