NSF PFI: AIR-TT: Real-time Power Measurement Software Technology for Microprocessor

该PFI：AIR技术翻译项目的重点是翻译片上数字功率监控研究发现，以满足对上级片上功率测量技术的需求。 实时功率测量软件技术（RTPMSoft）项目将为片上系统中的嵌入式处理器提供高精度子组件级功率估计软件的原型。该功率估计软件系统具有以下独特特征：（1）与直接功率（硬件）测量方法相当的高精度，（2）数字时钟速率量级的采样率，以及（3）具有自动自校准的子组件运行时功率估计。与片上模数转换器（ADC）、推理数字传感器和基于事件的功率建模等市场领域的领先技术相比，这些特性在系统成本、测量精度和监控性能方面具有显著优势。 RTPMSoft之所以重要，是因为为原型开发的技术对其他计算领域具有更广泛的适用性，如低功耗计算、高性能服务器系统和消费电器（如移动的电话）。事实上，所有的技术趋势都表明，未来的计算设备中，细粒度的能量计算系统将成为不可或缺的一部分。虽然业界专家已经认识到在集成电路（IC）设计中使用细粒度的功率测量以实现低功耗和高性能系统的进步的必要性，但最先进的测量技术不足以支持现代芯片设计的需求。 随着该项目从研究发现转向商业应用，翻译的产品将填补功率测量技术的技术空白，使现代集成电路中的片上功率管理能够在不需要专门硬件的情况下取得进步。该项目由创新的功率测量技术驱动，以产生运行在全功能芯片上的纯软件原型。能够运行Linux操作系统的成熟的嵌入式处理器平台。 更具体地说，该项目将（a）设计实用的软件分析方法，揭示细粒度的系统运行时的过程;（B）开发运行时探测方法的操作系统，允许仪器的软件？传感器？(c)将研究发现算法移植到一个纯粹基于软件的原型中并对其进行评估。该原型将提供超越研究结果的结论。潜在的经济影响预计将在未来5到10年内迅速增加，影响3000亿美元IC市场的很大一部分。 更具体地说，这项工作将有助于美国在未来的功率感知IC产业中的竞争力。

This PFI: AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating an on-chip digital power monitoring research discovery to fill the need for superior on-chip power measurement technology. The Real-time Power Measurement Software Technology (RTPMSoft) project will result in a prototype of a highly accurate subcomponent level power estimation software for an embedded processor in a System-on-Chip. This power estimation software system has the following unique features: (1) high accuracy comparable to the direct power (hardware) measurement method(s), (2) sampling rate in the order of digital clock rate, and (3) run-time power estimation of subcomponents with automated self-calibration. These features provide significant advantages in system cost, measurement accuracy, and monitoring performance when compared to the leading technology in this market space such as on-chip analog-digital converters (ADCs), inferential digital sensors, and event based power modeling. The RTPMSoft is important because the techniques developed for the prototype have broader applicability to other areas of computing such as low power computing, high performance server systems, and consumer appliances such as mobile phones. Indeed, all the technology trends suggest a future where a fine-grained energy accounting system will be an integral part of most computing devices.While the experts in industry have recognized the necessity of using fine grained power measurement in integrated circuit (IC) designs to make advances in low-power and high performance systems, the state-of-the-art measurement technologies are insufficient to support the needs of modern chip designs. As this project translates from research discovery toward commercial application, the translated product(s) will fill the technology gap in the power measurement technology to enable advances in on-chip power management in modern ICs without the need for specialized hardware.The project is driven by an innovative power measurement technology to produce purely software based prototype running on a full-fledged embedded processor platform capable of running Linux operating system. More specifically, the project will (a) devise practical software analysis methods exposing the fine-grained system run-time processes; (b) develop runtime probing methods within the operating system that allows instrumentation of software ?sensors?; (c) port research discovery algorithms to a purely software based prototype and evaluate it. This prototype will provide conclusions that generalize beyond the research results.The potential economic impact is expected to increase rapidly in the next five to ten years to affect a significant portion of $300B IC market. More specifically, the work will contribute to the U.S. competitiveness in the future of power aware IC industry.