Re: [PATCH V4] PM / Domains: Remove intermediate states from the power off sequence

[Lina Iyer <lina.iyer@linaro.org>]

On Wed, Jul 08 2015 at 13:56 -0600, Kevin Hilman wrote:
>Ulf Hansson <ulf.hansson@linaro.org> writes:
>
>> Genpd's ->runtime_suspend() (assigned to pm_genpd_runtime_suspend())
>> doesn't immediately walk the hierarchy of ->runtime_suspend() callbacks.
>> Instead, pm_genpd_runtime_suspend() calls pm_genpd_poweroff() which
>> postpones that until *all* the devices in the genpd are runtime suspended.
>>
>> When pm_genpd_poweroff() discovers that the last device in the genpd is
>> about to be runtime suspended, it calls __pm_genpd_save_device() for *all*
>> the devices in the genpd sequentially. Furthermore,
>> __pm_genpd_save_device() invokes the ->start() callback, walks the
>> hierarchy of the ->runtime_suspend() callbacks and invokes the ->stop()
>> callback. This causes a "thundering herd" problem.
>>
>> Let's address this issue by having pm_genpd_runtime_suspend() immediately
>> walk the hierarchy of the ->runtime_suspend() callbacks, instead of
>> postponing that to the power off sequence via pm_genpd_poweroff(). If the
>> selected ->runtime_suspend() callback doesn't return an error code, call
>> pm_genpd_poweroff() to see if it's feasible to also power off the PM
>> domain.
>>
>> Adopting this change enables us to simplify parts of the code in genpd,
>> for example the locking mechanism. Additionally, it gives some positive
>> side effects, as described below.
>>
>> i)
>> One device's ->runtime_resume() latency is no longer affected by other
>> devices' latencies in a genpd.
>>
>> The complexity genpd has to support the option to abort the power off
>> sequence suffers from latency issues. More precisely, a device that is
>> requested to be runtime resumed, may end up waiting for
>> __pm_genpd_save_device() to complete its operations for *another* device.
>> That's because pm_genpd_poweroff() can't confirm an abort request while it
>> waits for __pm_genpd_save_device() to return.
>>
>> As this patch removes the intermediate states in pm_genpd_poweroff() while
>> powering off the PM domain, we no longer need the ability to abort that
>> sequence.
>>
>> ii)
>> Make pm_runtime[_status]_suspended() reliable when used with genpd.
>>
>> Until the last device in a genpd becomes idle, pm_genpd_runtime_suspend()
>> will return 0 without actually walking the hierarchy of the
>> ->runtime_suspend() callbacks. However, by returning 0 the runtime PM core
>> considers the device as runtime_suspended, so
>> pm_runtime[_status]_suspended() will return true, even though the device
>> isn't (yet) runtime suspended.
>>
>> After this patch, since pm_genpd_runtime_suspend() immediately walks the
>> hierarchy of the ->runtime_suspend() callbacks,
>> pm_runtime[_status]_suspended() will accurately reflect the status of the
>> device.
>>
>> iii)
>> Enable fine-grained PM through runtime PM callbacks in drivers/subsystems.
>>
>> There are currently cases were drivers/subsystems implements runtime PM
>> callbacks to deploy fine-grained PM (e.g. gate clocks, move pinctrl to
>> power-save state, etc.). While using the genpd, pm_genpd_runtime_suspend()
>> postpones invoking these callbacks until *all* the devices in the genpd
>> are runtime suspended. In essence, one runtime resumed device prevents
>> fine-grained PM for other devices within the same genpd.
>>
>> After this patch, since pm_genpd_runtime_suspend() immediately walks the
>> hierarchy of the ->runtime_suspend() callbacks, fine-grained PM is enabled
>> throughout all the levels of runtime PM callbacks.
>>
>> iiii)
>> Enable fine-grained PM for IRQ safe devices
>>
>> Per the definition for an IRQ safe device, its runtime PM callbacks must
>> be able to execute in atomic context. In the path while genpd walks the
>> hierarchy of the ->runtime_suspend() callbacks for the device, it uses a
>> mutex. Therefore, genpd prevents that path to be executed for IRQ safe
>> devices.
>>
>> As this patch changes pm_genpd_runtime_suspend() to immediately walk the
>> hierarchy of the ->runtime_suspend() callbacks and without needing to use
>> a mutex, fine-grained PM is enabled throughout all the levels of runtime
>> PM callbacks for IRQ safe devices.
>>
>> Unfortunately this patch also comes with a drawback, as described in the
>> summary below.
>>
>> Driver's/subsystem's runtime PM callbacks may be invoked even when the
>> genpd hasn't actually powered off the PM domain, potentially introducing
>> unnecessary latency.
>>
>> However, in most cases, saving/restoring register contexts for devices are
>> typically fast operations or can be optimized in device specific ways
>> (e.g. shadow copies of register contents in memory, device-specific checks
>> to see if context has been lost before restoring context, etc.).
>>
>> Still, in some cases the driver/subsystem may suffer from latency if
>> runtime PM is used in a very fine-grained manner (e.g. for each IO request
>> or xfer). To prevent that extra overhead, the driver/subsystem may deploy
>> the runtime PM autosuspend feature.
>>
>> Signed-off-by: Ulf Hansson <ulf.hansson@linaro.org>
>
>Reviewed-by: Kevin Hilman <khilman@linaro.org>
>
>I believe Geert and Lina have both tested earlier versions, but would be
>nice to see their Tested-by for this one.
>

I tested verssion 4. Did not see any issues with genpd suspend/resume.

Tested-by: Lina Iyer <lina.iyer@linaro.org>

Thanks,
Lina