Power management using relative energy break-even time

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

determining an absolute energy break-even time for a first low power state with respect to a current state of a system;

determining a relative energy break-even time for the first low power state with respect to a second low power state based on at least in part the absolute energy break-even time; and

selecting an operating state for the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

2. The method of claim 1 , further including using a power consumption associated with the first low power state and a power consumption associated with the second low power state to determine the relative energy break-even time.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second low power state is shallower and has a shorter exit latency than the first low power state.

4. The method of claim 3 , further including selecting the second low power state as the operating state if a projected idleness duration is less than the relative energy break-even time for the first low power state.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the projected idleness duration is greater than the absolute energy break-even time for the first low power state.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including:

detecting a first break event from a first event source;

detecting a second break event from a second event source; and

coordinating issuance of the first and second break events to the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein coordination of the issuance of the first and second break events includes a determination of a holding time based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time, and a deference of at least one of the first and second break events based on at least in part the holding time.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions which, if executed by a processor, cause a computer to:

determine an absolute energy break-even time for a first low power state with respect to a current state of a system;

determine a relative energy break-even time for the first low power state with respect to a second low power state based on at least in part the absolute energy break-even time; and

select an operating state for the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

9. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, if executed, cause a computer to further use a power consumption associated with the first low power state and a power consumption associated with the second low power state to determine the relative energy break-even time.

10. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the second low power state is to be shallower and is to have a shorter exit latency than the first low power state.

11. The medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, if executed, cause a computer to select the second low power state as the operating state if a projected idleness duration is less than the relative energy break-even time for the first low power state.

12. The medium of claim 11 , wherein the projected idleness duration is to be greater than the absolute energy break-even time for the first low power state.

13. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, if executed, cause a computer to:

detect a first break event from a first event source;

detect a second break event from a second event source; and

coordinate issuance of the first and second break events to the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

14. The medium of claim 13 , wherein coordination of the issuance of the first and second break events is to include a determination of a holding time based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time, and a deference of at least one of the first and second break events based on at least in part the holding time.

15. An apparatus comprising:

logic to,

determine an absolute energy break-even time for a first low power state with respect to a current state of a system,

determine a relative energy break-even time for the first low power state with respect to a second low power state based on at least in part the absolute energy break-even time, and

select an operating state for the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the logic is to further use a power consumption associated with the first low power state and a power consumption associated with the second low power state to determine the relative energy break-even time.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second low power state is to be shallower and is to have a shorter exit latency than the first low power state.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the logic is to select the second low power state as the operating state if a projected idleness duration is less than the relative energy break-even time for the first low power state.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the projected idleness duration is to be greater than the absolute energy break-even time for the first low power state.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the logic is to,

detect a first break event from a first event source,

detect a second break event from a second event source, and

coordinate issuance of the first and second break events to the system based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein coordination of the issuance of the first and second break events is to include a determination of a holding time based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time, and a deference of at least one of the first and second break events based on at least in part the holding time.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first and second low power states are to include at least one of a platform state, a processor state and a device state.

23. A platform comprising:

a processor; and

logic to,

determine an absolute energy break-even time for a first low power state with respect to a current state of the processor,

determine a relative energy break-even time for the first low power state with respect to a second low power state based on at least in part the absolute energy break-even time, and

select an operating state for the processor based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

24. The platform of claim 23 , wherein the logic is to further use a power consumption associated with the first low power state and a power consumption associated with the second low power state to determine the relative energy break-even time.

25. The platform of claim 23 , wherein the second low power state is to be shallower and is to have a shorter exit latency than the first low power state.

26. The platform of claim 25 , wherein the logic is to select the second low power state as the operating state if a projected idleness duration is less than the relative energy break-even time for the first low power state.

27. The platform of claim 26 , wherein the projected idleness duration is to be greater than the absolute energy break-even time for the first low power state.

28. The platform of claim 23 , wherein the logic is to,

detect a first break event from a first event source,

detect a second break event from a second event source, and

coordinate issuance of the first and second break events to the processor based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time.

29. The platform of claim 28 , wherein coordination of the issuance of the first and second break events is to include a determination of a holding time based on at least in part the relative energy break-even time, and a deference of at least one of the first and second break events based on at least in part the holding time.