acpi

2 definitions found

acpi - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
  ACPI
  
     <hardware, standard> (ACPI) An open industry standard
     developed by Intel, Microsoft, and Toshiba for
     configuration and power management.
  
     The key element of the standard is power management with two
     important improvements.  First, it puts the OS in control of
     power management.  In the currently existing APM model most
     of the power management tasks are run by the BIOS, with
     limited intervention from the OS.  In ACPI, the BIOS is
     responsible for the dirty details of communicating with
     hardware equipment but the control is in the OS.
  
     The other important feature is bringing power management
     features now available in portable computers only to the
     desktop as well as into servers.  Extremely low consumption
     states, i.e., in which only memory, or not even memory is
     powered, but from which ordinary interrupts (real time clock,
     keyboard, modem, etc.) can quickly wake the system, are today
     available in portables only.  The standard should make these
     available for a wider range of systems.
  
     For ACPI to work the operating system, the motherboard
     chipset, and for some functions even the CPU has to be
     designed for it.  Microsoft is heavily driving a move toward
     ACPI, both Windows NT 5.0 and Windows 98 will support it.
     It remains to be seen how much hardware manufacturers will
     embrace the technology and whether other operating system
     vendors will support it.
  
     ACPI Information Page (http://teleport.com/~acpi/).
  
     (1998-03-27)
  

acpi - V.E.R.A. -- Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (June 2006) :

  ACPI
         Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (Intel, MS, Toshiba,
  ACPI, OSPM, BIOS)