Low-power broadcast receiver

• US 20020152473A1
• Filed: 04/16/2001
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Unger, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,865,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/120
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/426 Receiver side
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/25 Arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4436 Power management, e.g. shutting down unused components of the receiver power management in computer systems G06F1/3203; hibernate or awake process in computer systems G06F9/4418
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4586 Content update operation triggered locally, e.g. by comparing the version of software modules in a DVB carousel to the version stored locally deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction of the data by redundancy during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/818 OS software
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Broadcast receivers operate in a power-saving standby mode while retaining the ability to receive broadcast program, software, and firmware updates. The most power hungry circuits are deprived of power in the standby mode using a wake-up switch controlled by an update sensor that actively monitors the broadcast channel in the standby mode. If the receiver receives an update-pending indication while in the standby mode, then the wake-up switch provides power to those components needed to receive the update without indicating a power-on condition to the user.

Claims

1. A broadcast receiver comprising:

a. a power supply having a power-supply output terminal; and

b. a broadcast interface circuit including;

i. an interface-circuit input terminal adapted to receive a plurality of broadcast communications signals on the tuner input terminal, each signal modulated about a selected carrier frequency;

ii. a tuner having a tuner input terminal connected to the interface input terminal, wherein the tuner is adapted to select one of the signals and provide the selected signal on a tuner output terminal;

iii. a wake-up sensor having a sensor input terminal connected to the interface input terminal and a wake-up-sensor output terminal, the wake-up sensor being adapted to produce a wake-up signal on the wake-upsensor output terminal in response to first selected signal; and

iv. a wake-up switch having a wake-up-switch input terminal connected to the power-supply output terminal, a wake-up-switch output terminal, and a wake-up-switch control terminal connected to the wake-up-sensor output terminal.

2. The receiver of claim 1, the wake-up sensor further including a second tuner tuned to a carrier frequency associated with the first selected signal.

3. The receiver of claim 2, the wake-up sensor further comprising a digitizer connected between the tuner and the wake-up-switch control terminal.

4. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the tuner includes a power terminal connected to the wake-up-switch output terminal.

5. The receiver of claim 1, further comprising a display capable of indicating a power-on condition for the receiver, the display having a power-input terminal connected to the power supply via a second switch.

6. The receiver of claim 5, wherein the display does not indicate a power-on condition in response to the wake-up signal.

7. The receiver of claim 1, further comprising a processor having a processor power terminal connected to the wake-up-switch output terminal.

8. A broadcast communication network comprising:

a. a broadcast head-end adapted to broadcast a plurality of signals about a corresponding plurality of carrier frequencies, the signals including an occasional wake-up instruction;

b. a plurality of receivers adapted to receive the plurality of signals, each receiver including;

i. a power supply having a power-supply output terminal; and

ii. a broadcast interface circuit including;

(1) an interface-circuit input terminal adapted to receive a plurality of broadcast communications signals on the tuner input terminal, each signal modulated about a selected carrier frequency;

(2) a wake-up sensor having a sensor input terminal connected to the interface input terminal and a wake-up-sensor output terminal, the wake-up sensor being adapted to produce a wake-up signal on the wake-up-sensor output terminal in response to first selected signal; and

(3) a wake-up switch having a wake-up-switch input terminal connected to the power-supply output terminal, a wake-up-switch output terminal, and a wake-up-switch control terminal connected to the wake-up-sensor output terminal.

9. The network of claim 8, the wake-up sensor further including a tuner tuned to a carrier frequency associated with the first selected signal.

10. The network of claim 9, the wake-up sensor further comprising a digitizer connected between the tuner and the wake-up-switch control terminal.

11. The network of claim 9, the interface circuit including a second tuner having a tuner input terminal connected to the interface input terminal, wherein the second tuner is adapted to select one of the signals and provide the selected signal on a tuner output terminal.

12. The network of claim 11, further comprising a processor, the interface circuit further comprising a digitizer connected between the tuner and the processor.

13. The network of claim 11, wherein the second tuner includes a power terminal connected to the wake-up-switch output terminal.

14. The network of claim 8, further comprising, for each receiver, a display capable of indicating a power-on condition for the receiver, the display having a power-input terminal connected to the power supply via a second switch.

15. The network of claim 14, wherein the display does not indicate a power-on condition in response to the wake-up instruction.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, upon receipt of the wake-up instruction, providing power to a first portion of the receiver and indicating a standby condition for the receiver while receiving a receiver update.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, upon receipt of a power-on instruction in the standby condition, providing power to the first portion and a second portion of the receiver and indicating the power-on condition.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein indicating a power-on condition includes providing a video signal to a video display device.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the user-input device comprises an infrared receiver.

16. A method of reducing power usage in a broadcast receiver, the method comprising:

a. monitoring, in a standby mode, a user-input device for a power-on instruction;

b. indicating a power-on condition for the receiver in response to the power-on instruction;

c. monitoring the user-input device for a power-off instruction;

d. indicating a standby condition for the receiver in response to the power-off instruction; and

e. monitoring, with the receiver in the standby condition, a broadcast communication channel for a wake-up instruction.

21. A broadcast receiver comprising:

a. means for monitoring a user-input device for a power-on instruction;

b. display means for indicating a power-on condition for the receiver in response to the power-on instruction;

c. means for monitoring the user-input device for a power-off instruction;

d. means responsive to the power-off instruction for indicating a power-off condition for the receiver; and

e. means for monitoring a broadcast communication channel for a wake-up instruction with the receiver in the power-off condition.

22. The receiver of claim 21, wherein the means for monitoring the broadcast communication channel includes a power switch for providing power to a processor in response to the wake-up instruction.

23. The receiver of claim 22, wherein the display means indicates the power-off condition when the power switch provides power to the processor in response to the wake-up instruction.