diff --git a/drivers/acpi/fan.c b/drivers/acpi/fan.c
index eaaee1660bdf..ae41cf3cf4e5 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/fan.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/fan.c
@@ -68,31 +68,35 @@ static struct acpi_driver acpi_fan_driver = {
 };
 
 /* thermal cooling device callbacks */
-static int fan_get_max_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, char *buf)
+static int fan_get_max_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, unsigned long
+			     *state)
 {
 	/* ACPI fan device only support two states: ON/OFF */
-	return sprintf(buf, "1\n");
+	*state = 1;
+	return 0;
 }
 
-static int fan_get_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, char *buf)
+static int fan_get_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, unsigned long
+			     *state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
-	int state;
 	int result;
+	int acpi_state;
 
 	if (!device)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	result = acpi_bus_get_power(device->handle, &state);
+	result = acpi_bus_get_power(device->handle, &acpi_state);
 	if (result)
 		return result;
 
-	return sprintf(buf, "%s\n", state == ACPI_STATE_D3 ? "0" :
-			 (state == ACPI_STATE_D0 ? "1" : "unknown"));
+	*state = (acpi_state == ACPI_STATE_D3 ? 0 :
+		 (acpi_state == ACPI_STATE_D0 ? 1 : -1));
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int
-fan_set_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, unsigned int state)
+fan_set_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, unsigned long state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	int result;
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/processor_thermal.c b/drivers/acpi/processor_thermal.c
index b1eb376fae45..0e47e299a9ac 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/processor_thermal.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/processor_thermal.c
@@ -373,7 +373,8 @@ static int acpi_processor_max_state(struct acpi_processor *pr)
 	return max_state;
 }
 static int
-processor_get_max_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, char *buf)
+processor_get_max_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
+			unsigned long *state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	struct acpi_processor *pr = acpi_driver_data(device);
@@ -381,28 +382,29 @@ processor_get_max_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, char *buf)
 	if (!device || !pr)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	return sprintf(buf, "%d\n", acpi_processor_max_state(pr));
+	*state = acpi_processor_max_state(pr);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int
-processor_get_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, char *buf)
+processor_get_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
+			unsigned long *cur_state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	struct acpi_processor *pr = acpi_driver_data(device);
-	int cur_state;
 
 	if (!device || !pr)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	cur_state = cpufreq_get_cur_state(pr->id);
+	*cur_state = cpufreq_get_cur_state(pr->id);
 	if (pr->flags.throttling)
-		cur_state += pr->throttling.state;
-
-	return sprintf(buf, "%d\n", cur_state);
+		*cur_state += pr->throttling.state;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int
-processor_set_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, unsigned int state)
+processor_set_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
+			unsigned long state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	struct acpi_processor *pr = acpi_driver_data(device);
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/thermal.c b/drivers/acpi/thermal.c
index 99e6f1f8ea45..1c410ef859c6 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/thermal.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/thermal.c
@@ -954,7 +954,8 @@ static void acpi_thermal_check(void *data)
 /* sys I/F for generic thermal sysfs support */
 #define KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(t) (t * 100 - 273200)
 
-static int thermal_get_temp(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal, char *buf)
+static int thermal_get_temp(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
+			    unsigned long *temp)
 {
 	struct acpi_thermal *tz = thermal->devdata;
 	int result;
@@ -966,25 +967,28 @@ static int thermal_get_temp(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal, char *buf)
 	if (result)
 		return result;
 
-	return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(tz->temperature));
+	*temp = KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(tz->temperature);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static const char enabled[] = "kernel";
 static const char disabled[] = "user";
 static int thermal_get_mode(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
-				char *buf)
+				enum thermal_device_mode *mode)
 {
 	struct acpi_thermal *tz = thermal->devdata;
 
 	if (!tz)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	return sprintf(buf, "%s\n", tz->tz_enabled ?
-			enabled : disabled);
+	*mode = tz->tz_enabled ? THERMAL_DEVICE_ENABLED :
+		THERMAL_DEVICE_DISABLED;
+
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int thermal_set_mode(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
-				const char *buf)
+				enum thermal_device_mode mode)
 {
 	struct acpi_thermal *tz = thermal->devdata;
 	int enable;
@@ -995,9 +999,9 @@ static int thermal_set_mode(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
 	/*
 	 * enable/disable thermal management from ACPI thermal driver
 	 */
-	if (!strncmp(buf, enabled, sizeof enabled - 1))
+	if (mode == THERMAL_DEVICE_ENABLED)
 		enable = 1;
-	else if (!strncmp(buf, disabled, sizeof disabled - 1))
+	else if (mode == THERMAL_DEVICE_DISABLED)
 		enable = 0;
 	else
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -1013,7 +1017,7 @@ static int thermal_set_mode(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
 }
 
 static int thermal_get_trip_type(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
-				 int trip, char *buf)
+				 int trip, enum thermal_trip_type *type)
 {
 	struct acpi_thermal *tz = thermal->devdata;
 	int i;
@@ -1022,27 +1026,35 @@ static int thermal_get_trip_type(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	if (tz->trips.critical.flags.valid) {
-		if (!trip)
-			return sprintf(buf, "critical\n");
+		if (!trip) {
+			*type = THERMAL_TRIP_CRITICAL;
+			return 0;
+		}
 		trip--;
 	}
 
 	if (tz->trips.hot.flags.valid) {
-		if (!trip)
-			return sprintf(buf, "hot\n");
+		if (!trip) {
+			*type = THERMAL_TRIP_HOT;
+			return 0;
+		}
 		trip--;
 	}
 
 	if (tz->trips.passive.flags.valid) {
-		if (!trip)
-			return sprintf(buf, "passive\n");
+		if (!trip) {
+			*type = THERMAL_TRIP_PASSIVE;
+			return 0;
+		}
 		trip--;
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ACPI_THERMAL_MAX_ACTIVE &&
 		tz->trips.active[i].flags.valid; i++) {
-		if (!trip)
-			return sprintf(buf, "active%d\n", i);
+		if (!trip) {
+			*type = THERMAL_TRIP_ACTIVE;
+			return 0;
+		}
 		trip--;
 	}
 
@@ -1050,7 +1062,7 @@ static int thermal_get_trip_type(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
 }
 
 static int thermal_get_trip_temp(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
-				 int trip, char *buf)
+				 int trip, unsigned long *temp)
 {
 	struct acpi_thermal *tz = thermal->devdata;
 	int i;
@@ -1059,31 +1071,39 @@ static int thermal_get_trip_temp(struct thermal_zone_device *thermal,
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	if (tz->trips.critical.flags.valid) {
-		if (!trip)
-			return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(
-				tz->trips.critical.temperature));
+		if (!trip) {
+			*temp = KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(
+				tz->trips.critical.temperature);
+			return 0;
+		}
 		trip--;
 	}
 
 	if (tz->trips.hot.flags.valid) {
-		if (!trip)
-			return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(
-					tz->trips.hot.temperature));
+		if (!trip) {
+			*temp = KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(
+				tz->trips.hot.temperature);
+			return 0;
+		}
 		trip--;
 	}
 
 	if (tz->trips.passive.flags.valid) {
-		if (!trip)
-			return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(
-					tz->trips.passive.temperature));
+		if (!trip) {
+			*temp = KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(
+				tz->trips.passive.temperature);
+			return 0;
+		}
 		trip--;
 	}
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ACPI_THERMAL_MAX_ACTIVE &&
 		tz->trips.active[i].flags.valid; i++) {
-		if (!trip)
-			return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(
-					tz->trips.active[i].temperature));
+		if (!trip) {
+			*temp = KELVIN_TO_MILLICELSIUS(
+				tz->trips.active[i].temperature);
+			return 0;
+		}
 		trip--;
 	}
 
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/video.c b/drivers/acpi/video.c
index bb5ed059114a..5259d502add6 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/video.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/video.c
@@ -358,32 +358,36 @@ static struct output_properties acpi_output_properties = {
 
 
 /* thermal cooling device callbacks */
-static int video_get_max_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, char *buf)
+static int video_get_max_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, unsigned
+			       long *state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	struct acpi_video_device *video = acpi_driver_data(device);
 
-	return sprintf(buf, "%d\n", video->brightness->count - 3);
+	*state = video->brightness->count - 3;
+	return 0;
 }
 
-static int video_get_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, char *buf)
+static int video_get_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, unsigned
+			       long *state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	struct acpi_video_device *video = acpi_driver_data(device);
 	unsigned long long level;
-	int state;
+	int offset;
 
 	acpi_video_device_lcd_get_level_current(video, &level);
-	for (state = 2; state < video->brightness->count; state++)
-		if (level == video->brightness->levels[state])
-			return sprintf(buf, "%d\n",
-				       video->brightness->count - state - 1);
+	for (offset = 2; offset < video->brightness->count; offset++)
+		if (level == video->brightness->levels[offset]) {
+			*state = video->brightness->count - offset - 1;
+			return 0;
+		}
 
 	return -EINVAL;
 }
 
 static int
-video_set_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, unsigned int state)
+video_set_cur_state(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev, unsigned long state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	struct acpi_video_device *video = acpi_driver_data(device);
diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/intel_menlow.c b/drivers/platform/x86/intel_menlow.c
index 27b7662955bb..29432a50be45 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/x86/intel_menlow.c
+++ b/drivers/platform/x86/intel_menlow.c
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ MODULE_LICENSE("GPL");
  * In that case max_cstate would be n-1
  * GTHS returning '0' would mean that no bandwidth control states are supported
  */
-static int memory_get_int_max_bandwidth(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
-					unsigned long *max_state)
+static int memory_get_max_bandwidth(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
+				    unsigned long *max_state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	acpi_handle handle = device->handle;
@@ -83,22 +83,12 @@ static int memory_get_int_max_bandwidth(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int memory_get_max_bandwidth(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
-				    char *buf)
-{
-	unsigned long value;
-	if (memory_get_int_max_bandwidth(cdev, &value))
-		return -EINVAL;
-
-	return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", value);
-}
-
 static int memory_get_cur_bandwidth(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
-				    char *buf)
+				    unsigned long *value)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	acpi_handle handle = device->handle;
-	unsigned long long value;
+	unsigned long long result;
 	struct acpi_object_list arg_list;
 	union acpi_object arg;
 	acpi_status status = AE_OK;
@@ -108,15 +98,16 @@ static int memory_get_cur_bandwidth(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
 	arg.type = ACPI_TYPE_INTEGER;
 	arg.integer.value = MEMORY_ARG_CUR_BANDWIDTH;
 	status = acpi_evaluate_integer(handle, MEMORY_GET_BANDWIDTH,
-				       &arg_list, &value);
+				       &arg_list, &result);
 	if (ACPI_FAILURE(status))
 		return -EFAULT;
 
-	return sprintf(buf, "%llu\n", value);
+	*value = result;
+	return 0;
 }
 
 static int memory_set_cur_bandwidth(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
-				    unsigned int state)
+				    unsigned long state)
 {
 	struct acpi_device *device = cdev->devdata;
 	acpi_handle handle = device->handle;
@@ -126,7 +117,7 @@ static int memory_set_cur_bandwidth(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
 	unsigned long long temp;
 	unsigned long max_state;
 
-	if (memory_get_int_max_bandwidth(cdev, &max_state))
+	if (memory_get_max_bandwidth(cdev, &max_state))
 		return -EFAULT;
 
 	if (state > max_state)
@@ -142,7 +133,7 @@ static int memory_set_cur_bandwidth(struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev,
 				  &temp);
 
 	printk(KERN_INFO
-	       "Bandwidth value was %d: status is %d\n", state, status);
+	       "Bandwidth value was %ld: status is %d\n", state, status);
 	if (ACPI_FAILURE(status))
 		return -EFAULT;
 
diff --git a/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c b/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
index 8171ca17b936..bd139adc6d32 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
@@ -104,22 +104,36 @@ static ssize_t
 temp_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr, char *buf)
 {
 	struct thermal_zone_device *tz = to_thermal_zone(dev);
+	long temperature;
+	int ret;
 
 	if (!tz->ops->get_temp)
 		return -EPERM;
 
-	return tz->ops->get_temp(tz, buf);
+	ret = tz->ops->get_temp(tz, &temperature);
+
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
+	return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", temperature);
 }
 
 static ssize_t
 mode_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr, char *buf)
 {
 	struct thermal_zone_device *tz = to_thermal_zone(dev);
+	enum thermal_device_mode mode;
+	int result;
 
 	if (!tz->ops->get_mode)
 		return -EPERM;
 
-	return tz->ops->get_mode(tz, buf);
+	result = tz->ops->get_mode(tz, &mode);
+	if (result)
+		return result;
+
+	return sprintf(buf, "%s\n", mode == THERMAL_DEVICE_ENABLED ? "enabled"
+		       : "disabled");
 }
 
 static ssize_t
@@ -132,7 +146,13 @@ mode_store(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 	if (!tz->ops->set_mode)
 		return -EPERM;
 
-	result = tz->ops->set_mode(tz, buf);
+	if (!strncmp(buf, "enabled", sizeof("enabled")))
+		result = tz->ops->set_mode(tz, THERMAL_DEVICE_ENABLED);
+	else if (!strncmp(buf, "disabled", sizeof("disabled")))
+		result = tz->ops->set_mode(tz, THERMAL_DEVICE_DISABLED);
+	else
+		result = -EINVAL;
+
 	if (result)
 		return result;
 
@@ -144,7 +164,8 @@ trip_point_type_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 		     char *buf)
 {
 	struct thermal_zone_device *tz = to_thermal_zone(dev);
-	int trip;
+	enum thermal_trip_type type;
+	int trip, result;
 
 	if (!tz->ops->get_trip_type)
 		return -EPERM;
@@ -152,7 +173,22 @@ trip_point_type_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 	if (!sscanf(attr->attr.name, "trip_point_%d_type", &trip))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	return tz->ops->get_trip_type(tz, trip, buf);
+	result = tz->ops->get_trip_type(tz, trip, &type);
+	if (result)
+		return result;
+
+	switch (type) {
+	case THERMAL_TRIP_CRITICAL:
+		return sprintf(buf, "critical");
+	case THERMAL_TRIP_HOT:
+		return sprintf(buf, "hot");
+	case THERMAL_TRIP_PASSIVE:
+		return sprintf(buf, "passive");
+	case THERMAL_TRIP_ACTIVE:
+		return sprintf(buf, "active");
+	default:
+		return sprintf(buf, "unknown");
+	}
 }
 
 static ssize_t
@@ -160,7 +196,8 @@ trip_point_temp_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 		     char *buf)
 {
 	struct thermal_zone_device *tz = to_thermal_zone(dev);
-	int trip;
+	int trip, ret;
+	long temperature;
 
 	if (!tz->ops->get_trip_temp)
 		return -EPERM;
@@ -168,7 +205,12 @@ trip_point_temp_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 	if (!sscanf(attr->attr.name, "trip_point_%d_temp", &trip))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	return tz->ops->get_trip_temp(tz, trip, buf);
+	ret = tz->ops->get_trip_temp(tz, trip, &temperature);
+
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
+	return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", temperature);
 }
 
 static DEVICE_ATTR(type, 0444, type_show, NULL);
@@ -236,8 +278,13 @@ thermal_cooling_device_max_state_show(struct device *dev,
 				      struct device_attribute *attr, char *buf)
 {
 	struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev = to_cooling_device(dev);
+	unsigned long state;
+	int ret;
 
-	return cdev->ops->get_max_state(cdev, buf);
+	ret = cdev->ops->get_max_state(cdev, &state);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+	return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", state);
 }
 
 static ssize_t
@@ -245,8 +292,13 @@ thermal_cooling_device_cur_state_show(struct device *dev,
 				      struct device_attribute *attr, char *buf)
 {
 	struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev = to_cooling_device(dev);
+	unsigned long state;
+	int ret;
 
-	return cdev->ops->get_cur_state(cdev, buf);
+	ret = cdev->ops->get_cur_state(cdev, &state);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+	return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", state);
 }
 
 static ssize_t
@@ -255,10 +307,10 @@ thermal_cooling_device_cur_state_store(struct device *dev,
 				       const char *buf, size_t count)
 {
 	struct thermal_cooling_device *cdev = to_cooling_device(dev);
-	int state;
+	unsigned long state;
 	int result;
 
-	if (!sscanf(buf, "%d\n", &state))
+	if (!sscanf(buf, "%ld\n", &state))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	if (state < 0)
@@ -312,13 +364,20 @@ static DEVICE_ATTR(name, 0444, name_show, NULL);
 static ssize_t
 temp_input_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr, char *buf)
 {
+	long temperature;
+	int ret;
 	struct thermal_hwmon_attr *hwmon_attr
 			= container_of(attr, struct thermal_hwmon_attr, attr);
 	struct thermal_zone_device *tz
 			= container_of(hwmon_attr, struct thermal_zone_device,
 				       temp_input);
 
-	return tz->ops->get_temp(tz, buf);
+	ret = tz->ops->get_temp(tz, &temperature);
+
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
+	return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", temperature);
 }
 
 static ssize_t
@@ -330,8 +389,14 @@ temp_crit_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 	struct thermal_zone_device *tz
 			= container_of(hwmon_attr, struct thermal_zone_device,
 				       temp_crit);
+	long temperature;
+	int ret;
 
-	return tz->ops->get_trip_temp(tz, 0, buf);
+	ret = tz->ops->get_trip_temp(tz, 0, &temperature);
+	if (ret)
+		return ret;
+
+	return sprintf(buf, "%ld\n", temperature);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/include/linux/thermal.h b/include/linux/thermal.h
index 917707e6151d..4cb3292fb6e4 100644
--- a/include/linux/thermal.h
+++ b/include/linux/thermal.h
@@ -31,23 +31,39 @@
 struct thermal_zone_device;
 struct thermal_cooling_device;
 
+enum thermal_device_mode {
+	THERMAL_DEVICE_DISABLED = 0,
+	THERMAL_DEVICE_ENABLED,
+};
+
+enum thermal_trip_type {
+	THERMAL_TRIP_ACTIVE = 0,
+	THERMAL_TRIP_PASSIVE,
+	THERMAL_TRIP_HOT,
+	THERMAL_TRIP_CRITICAL,
+};
+
 struct thermal_zone_device_ops {
 	int (*bind) (struct thermal_zone_device *,
 		     struct thermal_cooling_device *);
 	int (*unbind) (struct thermal_zone_device *,
 		       struct thermal_cooling_device *);
-	int (*get_temp) (struct thermal_zone_device *, char *);
-	int (*get_mode) (struct thermal_zone_device *, char *);
-	int (*set_mode) (struct thermal_zone_device *, const char *);
-	int (*get_trip_type) (struct thermal_zone_device *, int, char *);
-	int (*get_trip_temp) (struct thermal_zone_device *, int, char *);
+	int (*get_temp) (struct thermal_zone_device *, unsigned long *);
+	int (*get_mode) (struct thermal_zone_device *,
+			 enum thermal_device_mode *);
+	int (*set_mode) (struct thermal_zone_device *,
+		enum thermal_device_mode);
+	int (*get_trip_type) (struct thermal_zone_device *, int,
+		enum thermal_trip_type *);
+	int (*get_trip_temp) (struct thermal_zone_device *, int,
+			      unsigned long *);
 	int (*get_crit_temp) (struct thermal_zone_device *, unsigned long *);
 };
 
 struct thermal_cooling_device_ops {
-	int (*get_max_state) (struct thermal_cooling_device *, char *);
-	int (*get_cur_state) (struct thermal_cooling_device *, char *);
-	int (*set_cur_state) (struct thermal_cooling_device *, unsigned int);
+	int (*get_max_state) (struct thermal_cooling_device *, unsigned long *);
+	int (*get_cur_state) (struct thermal_cooling_device *, unsigned long *);
+	int (*set_cur_state) (struct thermal_cooling_device *, unsigned long);
 };
 
 #define THERMAL_TRIPS_NONE -1