Policy optimization for dynamic power management

ABSTRACT

Dynamic power management schemes (also called policies) can be used to control the power consumption levels of electronic systems, by setting their components in different states, each characterized by a performance level and a power consumption. In this paper, we describe power-managed systems using a finite-state, stochastic model. Furthermore, we show that the fundamental problem of finding an optimal policy which maximizes the average performance level of a system, subject to a constraint on the power consumption, can be formulated as a stochastic optimization problem called policy optimization. Policy optimization can be solved exactly in polynomial time (in the number of states of the model). We implemented a policy optimization tool and tested the quality of the optimal policies on a realistic case study.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  J. Computer Applications
  J.2 PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
      Subjects: Electronics

Additional Classification:
  G. Mathematics of Computing
  G.3 PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS
      Subjects: Stochastic processes

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.6 SIMULATION AND MODELING

  J. Computer Applications

General Terms:
Design, Management, Measurement, Performance, Theory

Keywords:
emulation, functional simulation, reconstruction, visibility