Patent attributes
Power management techniques include a method for power management of a processor chip which comprises the following steps. An initial operating level is set for the processor chip. After a predetermined time interval, slack is calculated. If the slack is greater than zero, the initial operating level is increased to a next higher level, otherwise the initial operating level is maintained. After the predetermined time interval, the slack is re-calculated and further includes accumulated slack. If the re-calculated slack is greater than zero, the operating level is increased to the next higher level if the processor chip is being operated at the initial operating level, otherwise the operating level is returned to the initial operating level if the processor chip is being operated at the next higher operating level. The steps to re-calculate the slack and either increase the operating level to the next higher level or return the operating level to the initial operating level are repeated.
