CSR-EHS: System-Wide Dynamic Voltage Scaling and Power Management in Battery-Powered Embedded Systems

University Of Southern California, Los Angeles CA

Investigators

Abstract

One of the key problems confronting computer system designers is the management and conservation of energy sources. This challenge is evident in a number of ways. The goal may be to extend the battery lifetime in a computer system comprising of a processor and a number of memory modules, I/O cores, and bridges. This is especially important in light of the fact that power consumption in a typical portable electronic system is increasing rapidly whereas the gravimetric energy density of its battery source is improving at a much slower pace. Other goals may be to limit the cooling requirements of a computer system or to reduce the financial burden of operating a large computing facility. The objective of this research is to develop system-wide power optimization algorithms and techniques that eliminate waste or overhead and allow energy-efficient use of the various memory and I/O devices while meeting an overall performance requirement. More precisely, this project tackles two related problems: dynamic voltage and frequency scaling targeting the minimization of the total system energy dissipation and global power management in a system comprising of modules that are potentially managed by their own local power management policies, yet must closely interact with one another in order to yield maximum system-wide energy efficiency. The broader impacts of this project include the development of energy-aware computer systems as the key for cost-effective realization of a large number of high-performance applications running on battery-powered portable platforms and the education and training of young researchers and engineers to be able to address complex and intertwined energy efficiency/performance challenges that arise in the context of designing next-generation information technology products and services.