Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Advanced Configuration and Power Interface
     
         (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://www.teleport.com/~acpi/)}.
     
        (1998-03-27)