Power saving for FIFO buffer without performance degradation

摘要

A power-saving method for a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer implemented in a memory. The memory is segmented into a plurality of logical segments. For each logical segment, for each power saving mode, a recovery time and recovery overhead to an operational mode, and a transition overhead for transitioning the logical segment into the power saving mode, are determined. During each clock cycle, a determination is made as to whether a net power saving will result by entering each logical segment into a power saving mode based on a minimum time before a read or write pointer will enter the logical segment as well as the recovery time, the recovery overhead, and the transition overhead. The logical segment is transitioned to the power saving mode only if a net power saving will result, and is returned to the operational mode when the minimum time is no longer greater than the recovery time.

主权项

1. A power-saving method for a first-in-first-out (FIFO) buffer implemented in a memory, the method comprising:
segmenting the memory into a plurality of logical segments; and for each one of the segments:
a) determining a transition overhead for entering the segment into and exiting the segment out of a power saving mode, and further determining a recovery time for exiting the segment out of the power saving mode;b) determining a minimum time before a current pointer of the FIFO buffer can point to the segment;c) if the segment is not in the power saving mode, determining based on the minimum time, the transition overhead, and the recovery time whether a net power saving will result by entering the segment into the power saving mode and, if so, entering the segment into the power saving mode; andd) if the segment is in the power saving mode, exiting the segment out of the power saving mode when the minimum time is not greater than the recovery time.