Modal workload scheduling in a heterogeneous multi-processor system on a chip

摘要

Various embodiments of methods and systems for mode-based reallocation of workloads in a portable computing device (“PCD”) that contains a heterogeneous, multi-processor system on a chip (“SoC”) are disclosed. Because individual processing components in a heterogeneous, multi-processor SoC may exhibit different performance capabilities or strengths, and because more than one of the processing components may be capable of processing a given block of code, mode-based reallocation systems and methodologies can be leveraged to optimize quality of service (“QoS”) by allocating workloads in real time, or near real time, to the processing components most capable of processing the block of code in a manner that meets the performance goals of an operational mode. Operational modes may be determined by the recognition of one or more mode-decision conditions in the PCD.

主权项

1. A method for mode-based workload reallocation in a portable computing device (“PCD”) having a heterogeneous, multi-processor system on a chip (“SoC”), the method comprising:
determining the performance capabilities of each of a plurality of individual processing components in the heterogeneous, multi-processor SoC, wherein the performance capabilities comprise a maximum processing frequency and a quiescent supply current; ranking the plurality of processing components according to the maximum processing frequency of each of the plurality of processing components and according to the quiescent supply current of each of the plurality of processing components; recognizing one or more mode-decision conditions present in the PCD, wherein a mode-decision condition is associated with either a high performance processing (“HPP”) mode or a power saving (“PS”) mode; reconciling the one or more mode-decision conditions based on a priority and based on the reconciled one or more mode-decision conditions, selecting either the HPP mode or the PS mode; and based on the selected mode, reallocating a workload across the processing components based on the performance capabilities of each, wherein:
if the selected mode is the HPP mode, reallocating comprises allocating the workload across the plurality of processing components based on the ranking of the maximum processing frequency of each processing component; andif the selected mode is the PS mode, reallocating comprises allocating the workload across the plurality of processing components based on the ranking of the quiescent supply current of each processing component.