Clock-based time slicing

• US 20050157650A1
• Filed: 03/10/2005
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Auranen, Tommi, Laiho, Kimmo
• Application Number:
  US11/077,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20050157650A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/42 Arrangements for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/13 Arrangements for device control affected by the broadcast information
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/235 Processing of additional data, e.g. scrambling of additional data or processing content descriptors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/262 Content or additional data distribution scheduling, e.g. sending additional data at off-peak times, updating software modules, calculating the carousel transmission frequency, delaying a video stream transmission, generating play-lists scheduling strategies for dispatcher in multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/4881; arrangements for scheduling broadcast services or broadcast-related services H04H60/06; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a time schedule or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/62
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26216 involving the channel capacity, e.g. network bandwidth admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; flow control in packet networks H04L47/10; establishing a schedule or organising the servicing of application requests taking into account QoS H04L67/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4126 The peripheral being portable, e.g. PDAs or mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4432 Powering on the client, e.g. bootstrap loading using setup parameters being stored locally or received from the server resetting in general G06F1/14; program loading or initiating in general G06F9/445; bootstrapping in general G06F9/4401; secure boots of computer platforms G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0248 dependent on the time of the day, e.g. according to expected transmission activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system that allows mobile terminals to periodically remove power from at least some components is disclosed. The mobile terminal receives bursts of content. Some of the bursts of content include relative time information identifying the transmission time of a subsequent burst of content. The mobile terminal may remove power from a receiving module during times when the mobile terminal is not scheduled to receive content bursts.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A transmitter unit located at a head-end location for communicating data to a mobile terminal, the transmitter unit comprising:

a transmission module for communicating data over a network, wherein said transmission module transmits data comprising a value of a relative time period between bursts of data transmissions;

a component for formatting the data into bursts having a predetermined bandwidth and interval, and communicating the data to said transmission module;

31. The transmitter unit of claim 30, wherein said component performs time division multiplexing on the data.

32. The transmitter unit of claim 30, wherein said component formats the data into bursts having a predetermined bandwidth that is less than or equal to a maximum bandwidth.

33. The transmitter unit of claim 30, further including a buffer that stores the bursts of data.

34. The transmitter unit of claim 30, wherein said data communicated is a conventional information signal.

35. An encapsulater unit for formatting content at a head-end location, the encapsulater unit comprising:

an encapsulater capable of encapsulating the content with a value equal to a relative time period between bursts of data transmissions;

a processor programmed with computer-executable instructions for receiving the content from said encapsulator and formatting the data into bursts; and

an interval module for calculating said value equal to the relative time period between bursts of data transmissions and communicating said value to said encapsulater;

36. The encapsulater unit of claim 35, wherein said encapsulater uses a multiprotocol encapsulater.

37. The encapsulater unit of claim 35, wherein said encapsulater encodes into Internet protocol packets.

38. A power unit located at a mobile terminal for providing power to at least part of the mobile terminal, said battery unit comprising:

a power source for providing power to at least a receiving module located at the mobile terminal;

a power management module for selectively applying power from said power source to at least said receiving module; and

an extraction module for extracting relative timing information communicated from a head-end location and communicating the relative timing information to said power management module;

39. The power unit of claim 38, wherein said power source is a battery.

40. The power unit of claim 38, wherein said power source is a stationary power source.

41. The power unit of claim 38, wherein power from said power source to at least a receiving module is removed for a time period less than a first relative time period extracted from said relative timing information communicated from a head-end location.

42. The power unit of claim 38, wherein said power management module removes power from at least the receiving module for power off time periods that correspond to the relative time periods.

43. The power unit of claim 38, wherein said extraction module extracts the relative timing information from digital video broadcast modulation data.

44. The power unit of claim 38, wherein said power management module operates in a constant on state for a period of time when an error condition occurs at the receiving module.

45. The power unit of claim 44, wherein said error condition is caused by a burst of data being lost while being transmitted from a transmitter module to said receiving module.