11  EP 1 499 943 B1 12  to thermal considerations. Further, after the processor transitions to the actual maximum performance state 306 , then predefined periods of time inhibiting transition to actual maximum performance state  306  occur such asthermal gaps  320 . Ifa userevent, suchasmouse click 326 , occurs during a thermal gap period  320 , then the algorithm transitions the processor to the thermal maxi- mum performance state  304 . For example, if two user events such as a key stroke  324  and a mouse click  326 occur at virtually the same time, then the key stroke  324 transitions the processor totheactualmaximumperform- ance state  306  andthe mouse click  326  occurring during a thermal gap  320  only triggers a transition tothethermal maximum performance state  304 . In one embodiment, thethermal gap periods  320  are spaced equalto the time delay observed between user events  308  generated by a fast user. [0049] Figure 4 illustrates a flow diagram of one em- bodiment of the algorithm to transition the state of per- formance of the integrated circuit. In one embodiment, a programembedded ina computerreadablemediumper- forms the following steps. [0050] In block  402,  the algorithm detects a trigger to transition the integrated circuit, such as a processor, to a higher state of performance. Thetrigger maybedetec- tion of a prioritized event such as a user event or similar event. The trigger may also be a preset threshold such asan average percent utilizationof theCPU.Ifthe trigger is a non-prioritized event a delay in responding to the trigger may exist to balance processor performance ver- sus power consumption considerations. [0051] In block  404 , the algorithm determines whether theprocessing eventisa prioritized event such asa user event, to cause the algorithm to immediately transition the processor to a higher state of performance. [0052] In block  406 , if the algorithm determines the processingevent is a prioritized event, thenthealgorithm immediately transitions the processor to a higher state of performance for a predefined period of timebypassing over the next higher state of performance, if applicable. Thus, if a first state of performance, a second state of performance higher than the first state of performance, a third stateof performancehigher than the second state of performance,and a fourth state of performance higher than the third state of performance exist, then the algo- rithm may transitionto either thethird state or fourth state in order to give the user a potential dramatic increase in performance. Inan embodiment, ifonly two performance states exist, then the algorithm transitions the processor to the highest state of performance. In an embodiment, if two or more performance states exist, then the algo- rithm transitionsthe processor to thehighest state ofper- formance.In an embodiment, after the predefinedperiod of time expires, then the power management algorithm based upon CPU utilization transitions the processor to the appropriate state of performance. [0053] In one embodiment, the highest state of per- formance is sustainable for a prolonged period of time based upon thermal considerations to operate at the highest state ofperformancewithouta failure.In oneem- bodiment, thehighest state ofperformance issustainable for a momentary period of time based upon thermal con- siderationstooperate atthe highest state ofperformance without a failure. [0054] In block  408 , if the algorithm determines the processing event is not a prioritized event, then the al- gorithm transitions the processor the next higher per- formance state. [0055] In one embodiment, the software used to facil- itate the algorithm can be embodied onto a machine- readable medium. Amachine- readablemediumincludes any mechanism that provides (e.g., stores and/or trans- mits) information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium includesread only memory (ROM); randomaccessmem- ory (RAM);magnetic disk storagemedia; opticalstorage media; flash memory devices; DVD’s, electrical, optical, acoustical or other form of propagated signals (e.g., car- rier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, EPROMs, EEPROMs, FLASH, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions. Slower mediums couldbecachedtoa faster, more prac- tical, medium. [0056] Some portions of the detailed descriptions aboveare presented intermsofalgorithmsandsymbolic representations of operations on data bits within a com- puter memory. These algorithmic descriptions and rep- resentations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to most effectively convey the sub- stance of their work to others skilled in the art. An algo- rithm is here, and generally, conceived to be a self-con- sistent sequenceof stepsleading to adesired result. The stepsare those requiring physical manipulations ofphys- ical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, com- pared, and otherwise manipulated. It hasprovenconven- ient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, sym- bols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. [0057] It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely conven- ientlabelsappliedtothese quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the above discus- sions, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizingterms suchas"processing" or"com- puting" or "calculating" or "determining" or "displaying" or thelike, refer to the actionandprocessesof a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that ma- nipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system’s reg- istersandmemoriesinto other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer system mem- ories or registers, or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 7