IP Library Granted Patent US 7,421,623
Granted Patent B2
US 7,421,623 · App. 10/887,440 · Granted Sep 2, 2008

Systems, methods, and media for controlling temperature in a computer system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,421,623
App. No.
10/887,440
Granted
Sep 2, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems, methods and media for controlling temperature of a system are disclosed. More particularly, hardware, software and/or firmware for controlling the temperature of a computer system are disclosed. Embodiments may include receiving component temperatures for a group of components and selecting a component to perform an activity based at least partially on the component temperatures. In one embodiment, the lowest temperature component may be selected to perform the activity. Other embodiments may provide for determining an average temperature of the components, and if the average temperature exceeds a threshold, delaying or reducing the performance of the components. In some embodiments, components may include computer processors, memory modules, hard drives, etc.

Claims (18)

1. A method for controlling temperatures of a system, the method comprising:

receiving a request for an activity to be performed;

receiving component temperatures of two or more available components from one or more temperature sensors, wherein the available components are capable of performing the requested activity;

selecting a component from the available components, wherein the selection of the selected component is based at least partially on the component temperatures of the available components, wherein the selected component has a lower temperature than other available components; and

directing the selected component to perform the requested activity.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising requesting the temperature from the available components.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the component temperatures includes receiving an indication of the component temperatures and determining the component temperatures based on the indication of the component temperatures.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the components are processors.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the components are memory modules.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the components are hard drives.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

calculating an average component temperature of the available components;

determining if the average temperature is above a threshold; and,

in response to determining that the average temperature is above the threshold, delaying directing the selected component to perform the requested activity.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

calculating an average component temperature of the available components;

determining if the average temperature is above a threshold; and

in response to determining that the average temperature is above the threshold, directing the selected component to perform the activity at a reduced level of performance.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
To: LENOVO INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 034194/0280 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2004
From: HAUGH, JULIANNE FRANCES
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014893/0795 →