Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Computer power control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-16
2001-03-20
Ray, Gopal C. (Department: 2181)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Computer power control
C713S320000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205555
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a processor power consumption estimating system, a processor power consumption estimating method, and a storage medium from which a processor power consumption estimating program can be read out. More particularly, the present invention relates to a power consumption estimating technology for estimating power consumption in a microprocessor with good precision based on a source program which is described by a programmer.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to select type of a package into which a processor is incorporated and a battery capacity employed in the processor, power consumption is taken account when instructions are executed. As a means for evaluating power consumption in the processor, there is a system in which, after a processor is assumed virtually, the power consumption is calculated by simulating operations of the processor when an execution program is carried out by the processor.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram showing a configuration of a simulation system. First, this simulation system receives a source program sequence
1
described by a programmer. This source program is a program which is at a function level and described by a source code. The source code is a program prior to compile. More particularly, the source code is described by a higher level language such as C language, Pascal, etc. and can be read by the human being. The source program sequence
1
is converted into an assembly code
3
by a compiler
2
. The assembly code
3
is converted into an input signal
5
, which is operated on the processor at a gate/transistor level, by a gate/transistor level converter
4
. A gate/transistor level simulator
6
can estimate the power consumption
7
A with high precision by executing a simulation at the gate/transistor level by using the gate/transistor level input signal
5
.
In this manner, in the above simulation system, the source program
1
, which is described by the programmer at the function level, is converted into the input signal
5
which is operated on the actual processor at the gate/transistor level. The power consumption is then calculated by simulating the actual operation in the processor at the gate/transistor level by using the gate/transistor level input signal
5
. Therefore, estimation precision of the power consumption by using the above simulation system can be improved extremely high. For this reason, it is feasible to estimate the power consumption in the processor by applying the already-described program to this simulation system. However, since an execution speed of the simulation system is slow, it is not practical to employ the simulation system in the course of programming.
As a method of avoiding the problem that the execution speed of the above simulation system is slow, an estimation system which can estimate the power consumption directly from the assembly code has been proposed. This estimation system can compile the source program described by the programmer to the assembly code, and then estimate the power consumption with the use of the assembly code. Since the power consumption can be estimated from the assembly code without simulation of the operation in the processor, the higher execution speed can be achieved. Accordingly, it is possible to estimate quickly the power consumption of the processor with high precision by using the estimation system at the early stage of program design. As a result, in case a plurality of programs each having the same function are described and then the power consumption of the processor is compared with each other when the programs are executed, this estimation system is very effective. However, since the function level being programmed by the programmer and the assembly level do not always correspond to each other one by one, it is difficult for the programmer to correct the source program directly in the middle of programming, based on the estimated result of the power consumption being derived from the assembly code.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and it is an object of the present invention to provide a processor power consumption estimating system which is capable of estimating power consumption in a microprocessor directly based on a source program which is described by a programmer, a processor power consumption estimating method, and a storage medium capable of mechanical read-out that stores a processor power consumption estimating program.
In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power consumption estimating system for estimating power consumption in a processor when instructions contained in an execution program are executed, comprising means for tracing a source program of the execution program; means for receiving trace information and detecting whether or not the processor is put into a stall when the instructions are executed; and means for receiving trace information to which stall information is added and estimating power consumption when the instructions are executed; wherein the detecting means detects the stall information by looking up operation information of the processor, and the estimating means estimates the power consumption in the processor by looking up a library in which power consumption for each instruction is collected with regard to the stall information.
In the first aspect of the present invention, the power consumption for each instruction is calculated previously with regard to the stall information and stored as a library, and then the power consumption for each instruction can be detected by referring to the library based on the trace information to which the stall information are added. The power consumption of the processor can be estimated precisely and quickly by summing up the power consumption for each instruction when the instructions contained in the execution program are executed. Then, this estimated result can be fed back quickly to the programmer who programs the source program. Since the power consumption can be estimated from the source program prior to compile, it is possible for the programmer to execute the programming with regard to the estimated result. As a result, the lower power consumption of the processor can be achieved.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power consumption estimating system for estimating power consumption in a processor when instructions contained in an execution program are executed, comprising means for statically expanding a source program of the execution program; and means for receiving the source program which has been expanded statically and estimating power consumption when the instructions are executed; wherein the statically expanding means has information necessary for expansion of the source program and expands the source program based on expansion information, and the estimating means estimates the power consumption in the processor with reference to a library in which the power consumption for each instruction is collected with regard to information indicating whether or not the processor is put into a stall when the instructions are executed.
In the second aspect of the present invention, information necessary for the expansion of the source program can be provided previously to the statically expanding means. Accordingly, it is feasible to expand the source program without the actual simulation. In addition, the power consumption for the unfinished source program can be estimated.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power consumption estimating method of estimating power consumption in a processor when instructions contained in an execution program are executed, comprising the steps of receiving a source program of the execution program; tracing the source program; receiving trace information and detecting whether or not the processor is put into a stall when the instructions are
Kageshima Atsushi
Tachibana Masayoshi
Foley & Lardner
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Ray Gopal C.
LandOfFree
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