JP5561806B2 - Computer device and CPU clock adjustment method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for adjusting a clock frequency of a CPU in a computer apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a POS (Point Of Sales) equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  In recent years, CPUs have greatly improved processing performance, but on the other hand, power consumption tends to increase.

  Therefore, recently, a method of adjusting the clock frequency of the CPU according to the load on the CPU and suppressing power consumption has been attracting attention.

  Specifically, the above method is a method of decreasing the clock frequency when the CPU load is low and increasing the clock frequency when the CPU load is high. As a CPU corresponding to the above method, for example, a CPU that is mounted mainly on a battery-driven notebook PC or the like and whose clock frequency is variable by a core voltage can be cited.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of a conventional computer device equipped with a CPU corresponding to the above method will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional computer device includes a CPU 1, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 2, an auxiliary storage device 3, an input device 4, a control circuit 5, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 6, have.

  The CPU 1 varies the clock frequency according to the core voltage.

  When the CPU 1 activates an OS 31 described later, a driver (Driver) 311 and a clock adjusting unit 312 in the OS 31 are realized on the CPU 1. The driver 311 is a means for changing the core voltage of the CPU 1, and the clock adjusting means 312 is a means for adjusting the clock frequency of the CPU 1 by changing the core voltage of the CPU 1 through the driver 311.

  The ROM 2 stores a basic control program 21 for performing basic control of the computer apparatus. The CPU 1 reads the basic control program 21 from the ROM 2 when the computer apparatus is activated, and performs initial setting according to the basic control program 21.

  In addition, the ROM 2 stores basic information unique to the computer apparatus. The basic information includes information unique to the CPU 1 (VID (Voltage ID), FID (Frequency ID)). The CPU 1 reads information unique to the CPU 1 from the ROM 2 at the time of initial setting.

  The auxiliary storage device 3 is a general storage unit such as a hard disk that stores the OS 31. The CPU 1 reads the OS 31 from the auxiliary storage device 3 and activates the OS 31. When the OS 31 is activated, the CPU 1 notifies the OS 31 of information unique to the CPU 1 obtained at the time of initial setting. Based on this, the OS 31 can know the variation range of the clock frequency of the CPU 1 and adjusts the clock frequency of the CPU 1 within this variation range.

  The input device 4 is a keyboard or a touch panel on which an operator performs operations such as input.

  The control circuit 5 is connected to a ROM 2, an auxiliary storage device 3, and an input device 4 that are generally connected to a bus different from the CPU 1, and controls them.

  The RAM 6 is a general storage unit that serves as a work area for the CPU 1. The CPU 1 performs calculations while temporarily storing data in the RAM 6.

  Here, the operation when the clock frequency of the CPU 1 is increased in the computer apparatus shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

  In general, the clock frequency of the CPU 1 is increased when an event such as an operation of the input device 4 by the operator occurs.

  Therefore, when an event occurs, the clock adjusting unit 312 in the OS 31 changes the core voltage of the CPU 1 through the driver 311 and increases the clock frequency of the CPU 1. This method is disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-110063

  However, in the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the clock frequency of the CPU 1 is increased after an event occurs.

  Then, since the process generated by the event and the process of increasing the clock frequency of the CPU 1 are processed in parallel, sufficient resources are not given to the process when executing the process generated by the event. There was a problem that the response was delayed.

  For example, it is assumed that an event for starting a business application occurs when no application is started. In this case, the process of increasing the clock frequency of the CPU 1 and the process of executing the business application are performed in parallel.

  For this reason, the resources given to the process of executing the business application are limited, and as a result, the operator may feel that the response from the business application, that is, the computer device, is slow.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a computer device and a CPU clock adjustment method capable of solving the above-described problems and speeding up a response from the computer device to an event.

The computer apparatus of the present invention
A computer device having a CPU and adjusting the clock frequency of the CPU,
Event prediction means for predicting the next event to occur,
Clock adjusting means for adjusting in advance the clock frequency of the CPU in accordance with the event before the predicted event occurs.

The clock adjustment method of the present invention includes:
In a computer apparatus having a CPU, a clock adjustment method for adjusting a clock frequency of the CPU,
An event prediction step for predicting the next event to occur;
A clock adjusting step of adjusting a clock frequency of the CPU in advance according to the event before the predicted event occurs.

  The present invention predicts an event to occur next in a computer device and adjusts the clock frequency of the CPU in advance before the event occurs.

  Therefore, when a process generated by an event is executed, sufficient resources for the process can be given in advance, so that an operator can obtain a quick response to the event.

  For example, when an external sensor is used, when an operator reaches for the input device, the external sensor detects it when the operator reaches for the input device, and adjusts the CPU clock frequency to the optimum value before starting the operation. Since the operator's operation can be accepted, the operator can obtain a quick response.

  In addition, when event pattern information of past events is used, it is possible to predict an event that occurs next to the current event, so that the operator can obtain a quick response and an efficient calculation speed. . Further, since the clock frequency of the CPU can be adjusted at an appropriate timing, power consumption can be suppressed.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the computer apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram of a CPU shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure explaining the event log memorize | stored in the auxiliary storage device shown in FIG. 1, or RAM. It is a block diagram which shows the example of 1 structure of the conventional computer apparatus.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the computer device of this embodiment is different from the conventional computer device shown in FIG. 4 in that an external sensor 7 is provided and an event predicting unit 313 is present in the OS 31. Is different. In FIG. 1, the same components as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The following description will focus on differences from the conventional computer apparatus shown in FIG.

  The event prediction unit 313 is a unit that predicts an event that occurs next. Note that the event prediction unit 313 is realized on the CPU 1 when the CPU 1 starts the OS 31, as in the case of the driver 311 and the clock adjustment unit 312.

  For example, the event prediction unit 313 uses the external sensor 7 to predict the occurrence of an event.

  The external sensor 7 is a detection unit such as a human sensor that is arranged near the input device 4 and detects the presence of an operator approaching the vicinity of the input device 4.

  When the external sensor 7 detects the presence of an operator in the vicinity of the input device 4, the event prediction unit 313 predicts that an event that causes the operator to operate the input device 4 will occur.

  Alternatively, the event prediction unit 313 stores an event log related to an event that has occurred in the past in the RAM 6 or the auxiliary storage device 3, and predicts the occurrence of the event using the event log.

The RAM 6 and the auxiliary storage device 3 store the following information as event logs.
-Clock frequency at event occurrence of past event-Event start time of past event-Event completion time of past event-Event pattern of events that occurred continuously in the past Note that event prediction means 313 Based on information such as event start times and event completion times of past events, it is analyzed in advance.

  The event predicting unit 313 predicts an event that occurs next to the current event based on event pattern information stored as an event log in the RAM 6 or the auxiliary storage device 3.

  When the event prediction unit 313 predicts the occurrence of an event as described above, the clock adjustment unit 312 adjusts the clock frequency of the CPU 1 in advance according to the predicted event before the predicted event occurs. To do.

  At this time, the clock adjusting unit 312 adjusts the clock frequency of the CPU 1 based on the clock frequency of the CPU 1 when the predicted event occurs in the past, which is stored as an event log in the RAM 6 or the auxiliary storage device 3. To do.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the computer apparatus according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the state transition diagram of the CPU 1 in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 1 reads the basic control program 21 from the ROM 2 when the computer apparatus is activated, and performs initial setting according to the basic control program 21. At the time of this initial setting, the CPU 1 reads information unique to the CPU 1 (VID, FID) (step S1).

  Thereafter, when the CPU 1 starts up the OS 31 stored in the auxiliary storage device 3, a driver 311, a clock adjustment unit 312, and an event prediction unit 313 are realized on the CPU 1. When the OS 31 is activated, the CPU 1 notifies the OS 31 of information (VID, FID) unique to the CPU 1 read from the ROM 2 at the initial setting (steps S2 and S3). Based on this, each means in the OS 31 can know the variation range of the clock frequency of the CPU 1 and adjusts the clock frequency of the CPU 1 within this variation range.

  In general, the clock frequency of the CPU 1 is increased when an event occurs as described above. However, as in Patent Document 1, when the clock frequency of the CPU 1 is increased after an event has occurred, the processing that occurs due to the event and the processing that increases the clock frequency of the CPU 1 are processed in parallel. Therefore, resources given to processing generated by the event are limited, and a response to the event is delayed.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the event prediction unit 313 predicts the next event to occur (step S4), and the clock adjustment unit 312 increases the clock frequency of the CPU 1 in advance before the occurrence of the predicted event (step S4). Step S5).

  For example, assuming that the time required for increasing the clock frequency of the CPU 1 is 3 seconds, the clock adjusting unit 312 generates a trigger 3 seconds before the event occurs, and increases the clock frequency of the CPU 1 through the driver 311. To do.

Hereinafter, two methods for predicting an event will be described in detail.
(1) First Method This method uses the external sensor 7.

  When the computer apparatus is a PC or POS, a keyboard or a touch panel is used as the input apparatus 4. In that case, the external sensor 7 is installed in the vicinity of the input device 4, and the external sensor 7 detects that when the operator reaches for the keyboard input or touch panel input operation.

  Then, the event predicting unit 313 predicts that an event occurs when the operator operates the input device 4, and the clock adjusting unit 312 increases the clock frequency of the CPU 1 through the driver 311.

  Thus, by using the external sensor 7, the clock frequency of the CPU 1 can be increased in advance before an event for operating the input device 4 actually occurs.

  As a result, when the operator starts the operation, the clock frequency of the CPU 1 is already high, so that the operator can obtain a quick response from the computer apparatus.

  At this time, the clock adjusting unit 312 adjusts the clock frequency as follows.

  In the RAM 6 and the auxiliary storage device 3, information on the clock frequency of the CPU 1 when an event of a past event occurs is stored as an event log.

The clock adjusting unit 312 then sets the clock frequency of the CPU 1 to an optimum value (maximum value) based on information on the clock frequency of the CPU 1 when an event for operating the input device 4 has occurred in the past, which is stored as an event log. Etc.).
(2) Second Method This method uses an event log stored in the RAM 6 or the auxiliary storage device 3.

  When this computer apparatus is a PC or POS, generally, an event pattern of events that occur continuously is often fixed.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 6 or a part of the auxiliary storage device 3 is used as a work area for analyzing an event pattern, and the event predicting means 313 is continuously generated in the past in this work area. The event pattern of the event is analyzed and stored in the RAM 6 or the auxiliary storage device 3 as an event log.

  In the event pattern analysis, for example, it is conceivable to store information on event start times and event completion times of past events in the RAM 6 and the auxiliary storage device 3 and use them as event logs.

Further, the clock adjusting unit 312 sets the event completion time of each event included in the event pattern as the timeout time based on the information of the event completion time of the past event.
(2-1) PC For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the PC is provided with three input devices 4-1 to 4-3, and the operator operates the input devices 4-1 to 4-3. Assume that the following event patterns are stored when the events to be performed are represented as operation events I / O # 1 to I / O # 3, respectively.
・ Event pattern 1
Pattern / event pattern 2 in which operation events occur in the order of I / O # 1, I / O # 2, and I / O # 3
Pattern in which operation events occur in the order of I / O # 1 → I / O # 1 → I / O # 3 In this case, if operation events occur in the order of I / O # 1 → I / O # 2 Since the event pattern 1 is highly likely to match, the operation event I / O # 3 can be considered as the next event to occur.

  Therefore, the event prediction unit 313 predicts that the operation event I / O # 3 will occur after the current operation event I / O # 2, and the clock adjustment unit 312 completes the current operation event I / O # 2. At that time, the clock frequency of the CPU 1 is adjusted in advance according to the operation event I / O # 3.

However, when the operation event I / O # 3 does not occur and the timeout time elapses, the clock adjustment unit 312 considers that the operation event I / O # 3 is completed, and according to the load of the CPU 1 at that time, The clock frequency of the CPU 1 is adjusted.
(2-2) In the case of POS For example, in POS, an event for scanning the barcode of a product or an event for inputting the amount of the product when scanning is impossible is repeatedly performed. The event to be entered is performed.

  Therefore, even after an event that scans the barcode of a product occurs, there is a possibility that an event that scans the barcode of the next product may occur until the checkout process is completed, although there is a waiting time for input. high.

  Therefore, the event prediction unit 313 analyzes the above-described event pattern in POS and stores it in the RAM 6 or the auxiliary storage device 3 as an event log.

  And when the event which scans the barcode of goods generate | occur | produces, the event estimation means 313 estimates that an event will generate | occur | produce until completion of a checkout process based on the information of the above-mentioned event pattern in POS, The clock adjusting unit 312 continues to maintain the optimum value without lowering the clock frequency of the CPU 1.

  However, when the time-out period elapses without an event for scanning the next product or an event for inputting the amount of the next product, the clock adjustment unit 312 considers that the event has been completed and suppresses power consumption. Therefore, the clock frequency of the CPU 1 is lowered.

  After that, when the event predicting unit 313 predicts that an event will occur again after a certain period of time based on the event pattern information up to the present time, the clock adjusting unit 312 determines that the CPU 1 before the event occurs. The clock frequency is adjusted to an optimum value in advance.

  When the computer apparatus is an apparatus operated by various operators such as POS, the processing time from the process of scanning the bar code of the product to the settlement process varies depending on the operator. Therefore, in such a case, it is possible to efficiently adjust the clock frequency of the CPU 1 by storing the event log in the RAM 6 and dynamically predicting the occurrence of the event.

1 CPU
2 ROM
21 Basic control program 3 Auxiliary storage device 31 OS
311 Driver 312 Clock adjustment means 313 Event prediction means 4 Input device 5 Control circuit 6 RAM
7 External sensor

Claims (8)

A computer device having a CPU and adjusting the clock frequency of the CPU,
Event prediction means for predicting the next event to occur,
Clock adjusting means for adjusting in advance the clock frequency of the CPU according to the event before the predicted event occurs;
A storage means for storing the information of the event patterns, and
The event prediction means includes
Analyzing the event pattern of events that occurred continuously in the past, storing the event pattern information in the storage means,
A computer apparatus that predicts an event that occurs next to a current event based on the event pattern information.   The computer apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of input devices, wherein a plurality of pieces of information on the event pattern stored in the storage unit. The storage means
Further storing information on the clock frequency of the CPU when a past event has occurred,
The clock adjusting means includes
Based on the clock frequency information of the CPU when the predicted event occurred in the past, to adjust the clock frequency of the CPU, computer apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The storage means
Storing further information on the completion time of the event when the past event occurred,
The clock adjusting means includes
Setting the completion time of the event when the predicted event has occurred in the past as a timeout time,
The predicted if the event has passed the time-out period without occurrence, all to with the event has been completed to adjust the clock frequency of the CPU, computer apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . In a computer apparatus having a CPU, a clock adjustment method for adjusting a clock frequency of the CPU,
An event prediction step for predicting the next event to occur;
A clock adjustment step of adjusting the CPU clock frequency in advance according to the event before the predicted event occurs;
Analyzing event pattern information of events that have occurred continuously in the past, and storing it in the storage means as event pattern information ,
In the event prediction step,
A clock adjustment method for predicting an event that occurs next to a current event based on information on the event pattern. The computer device has a plurality of input devices,
  The clock adjustment method according to claim 5, wherein in the storing step, information of a plurality of event patterns is stored in the storage unit. In the storing step,
Further storing information on the CPU clock frequency when a past event has occurred in the storage means,
In the clock adjustment step,
The clock adjustment method according to claim 5 , wherein the clock frequency of the CPU is adjusted based on information on the clock frequency of the CPU when the predicted event has occurred in the past. In the storing step,
Further storing in the storage means information on the completion time of the event when a past event has occurred;
In the clock adjustment step,
Setting the completion time of the event when the predicted event has occurred in the past as a timeout time,
If the predicted event has passed the time-out period without occurrence, all to with the event has been completed to adjust the clock frequency of the CPU, clock adjustment according to one of claims 5 to 7 Method.

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