公开(公告)号：EP1444563A4

公开(公告)日：2009-03-11

申请号：EP02780516

申请日：2002-10-22

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： SMITH JACK ROBERT ,  VENTRONE SEBASTIAN THEODORE

IPC: G06F1/04 ,  G06F1/32 ,  G06F15/78 ,  G06F1/26

CPC classification number: G06F1/3203

Abstract: In a first aspect, a method is provided for conserving power in a processing integrated circuit. This method includes the steps of calculating (401-408) power consumption for executing an instruction and data corresponding to the instruction; and executing (409, 410) the instruction if such execution does not exceed a predetermined power level. In a second aspect, a method is provided for conserving power in a processing integrated circuit employing a plurality of execution units. The method includes the steps of comparing (301, 302) a total power to be consumed by the processing integrated circuit to a power budget for the processing integrated circuit; and if the total power exceeds the power budget, freezing (304) execution of an instruction by one of the plurality of execution units so as to allow execution of the instruction to continue at a later time from where execution waSt frozen. Numerous other aspects are provided, as are systems and apparatus.