Remote Device Wake-Up Control for Set-Top Box Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Set-top boxes face challenges in reducing power consumption in low-power modes due to increasing size and quiescent state leakage currents, requiring specialized wake-up circuits that add cost and increase power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A remote device is configured to monitor the set-top box's schedule and transmit transition commands to switch from low-power modes to active modes, reducing the need for dedicated wake-up circuits and minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If specialized wake-up circuits are added to the set-top box to enable low-power mode operation, then the set-top box can achieve low-power mode functionality, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wake-up function from the set-top box itself and relocates it to the remote device. The remote device monitors schedule information and sends wake-up commands to the set-top box, eliminating the need for complex specialized wake-up circuits within the set-top box while maintaining the ability to operate in low-power modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote device is given multiple functions: it serves as both a control device for user interaction and as a wake-up monitoring device that tracks schedule information and initiates wake-up commands. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated specialized wake-up circuits in the set-top box.
2Reliability
If specialized wake-up circuits are added to the set-top box, then wake-up functionality is provided, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wake-up function is extracted from the set-top box and implemented in the remote device, which already exists as a separate component. This eliminates the need to manufacture specialized wake-up circuits as part of the set-top box, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining wake-up reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote device acts as an intermediary between the schedule information source and the set-top box. It receives schedule information, monitors for wake-up conditions, and communicates wake-up commands to the set-top box, providing reliable wake-up functionality without requiring expensive specialized circuits in the set-top box.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the set-top box operates in low-power mode with minimal circuits, then power consumption is reduced, but the ability to perform wake-up functions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The wake-up monitoring function is extracted from the set-top box and placed in the remote device. This allows the set-top box to operate in low-power mode with minimal circuits while the remote device handles the complexity of schedule monitoring and wake-up command generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing components (the remote device and schedule information already present in the system) to provide wake-up functionality without requiring additional specialized circuits in the set-top box. The remote device serves itself by monitoring its own schedule information and initiating wake-up commands when appropriate.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a set-top box and a remote device. The remote device receives data representing an event from the set-top box. The remote device determines whether the event has occurred based on the data representing the event and generates a transition command to transition the set-top box from a first operating mode to a second operating mode. Further, the remote device transmits the transition command to the set-top box if the event has occurred.