Fast Stream Switching in Mobile TV Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In digital television systems, the interactive channel guide feature in mobile devices leads to increased power consumption and reduced battery life due to the need to receive and decode multiple streams for dynamic programming information, which is not efficiently managed by existing power management schemes like DVB-H.
Innovation Solution
A method for fast stream switching is implemented using dynamic power management, where the device operates at a low power level until the selection panel is activated, then switches to continuous mode to receive all streams, deactivates unselected streams, and reverts to time slicing for power savings, employing components like a multi-stream transport processor and power sequencing module to manage power efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the device receives and decodes multiple streams for interactive channel guide, then the channel guide functionality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stream reception process into distinct phases: time-sliced reception during normal operation and continuous reception only during selection panel activation. This segmentation allows the device to maintain channel guide functionality while minimizing power consumption by receiving streams only when necessary for channel switching operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic time-sliced stream reception where the receiver alternates between active reception periods and idle periods. During normal channel guide viewing, only periodic time-sliced streams are received, and continuous stream reception is activated temporarily only when the selection panel is activated, creating a periodic action pattern that reduces overall power consumption.
2Speed
If the device operates in continuous reception mode for fast stream switching, then stream switching speed is improved, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power management that adapts the reception mode based on operational state. The system dynamically switches between time-sliced reception (battery-saving mode) and continuous reception (performance mode) based on whether the selection panel is activated, optimizing the balance between stream switching speed and battery life in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the reception parameter (continuous vs. time-sliced) based on operational context. When the selection panel is activated, the system transitions from time-sliced reception to continuous reception to enable fast stream switching, then reverts to time-sliced reception afterward, using parameter changes to resolve the contradiction between switching speed and battery life.
3Ease of operation
If multiple streams are continuously received for channel switching, then channel switching capability is improved, but device overheating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments stream reception into minimal necessary periods (during selection panel activation) rather than continuous reception. This segmentation reduces the cumulative thermal load on the device while maintaining channel switching capability, as streams are received continuously only when actually needed for switching operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of continuous reception (overheating) into a beneficial conditional operation mode. By using continuous reception only during brief selection panel activation periods and otherwise using time-sliced reception, the system allows continuous reception's benefit (fast switching) while minimizing its harm (overheating) through contextual application.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of fast stream switching including receiving at least one first stream at a device corresponding to at least one first program, wherein the device employs dynamic power management and is operating at a first power level; activating a selection panel; receiving a plurality of streams corresponding to a plurality of programs; and adjusting to a second power level. After a stream is selected, the non-selected streams may be deactivated and the device may return to the first power level.