US Patent 7779276 Power management in a power-constrained processing system

Systems and methods are provided for managing power in a processing system. In one embodiment, a target system having a plurality of electronic devices is operated within a net power limit. A local controller detects power consumption for each device, and communicates the power consumption to a power management module. The power management module dynamically apportions the net power limit among the devices, and communicates the apportioned power limit for each device back to the associated local controller. Each local controller enforces the apportioned power limit to an associated device on behalf of the power management module.