`
`SUBMITTED ON NOVEMBER 17, 2004
`
`METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SAVING BANDWIDTH SENT TO A DIGITAL
`
`
`TITLE:
`
`SET TOP BOX
`
`INVENTOR:
`
`ROLF MEIER
`
`NEPEAN, ONTARIO, CANADA
`
`Attorney Docket No.2 17475ROUSO1 P
`
`SONY - Ex.-1010
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
`
`SONY - Ex.-1010
`Sony Corporation - Petitioner
`
`1
`
`
`
`August 25, 2003
`Bandwidth/Screen Saver for Network Media Gateway 2
`
`This invention is a device and method which detects the supply current being
`consumed by a TV in use or turned off, and, upon sensing a current below a
`particular threshold, turns off the incoming sound and picture signal.
`
`The invention consists of 1) a circuit which measures the amount of current
`being consumed by the TV and 2) a decision-making algorithm in the NMG
`which uses the current information together with other information to decide
`whether or not to turn off the incoming picture and sound signal.
`
`2
`
`
`
`Need for this Invention
`
`The requirement for this invention comes about because the Network Media
`Gateway (hereafter called the NMG) and the network would benefit from
`knowing whether or not a TV is in use or turned on.
`If the TV is not being
`used, then significant downstream bandwidth and processing can be saved
`in the network by not sending the detailed picture information to the TV.
`
`This invention satisfies that need by detecting whether the TV is on or not by
`monitoring the supply current of the TV.
`If the current is lower than a
`particular threshold, the NMG sends a message to the network to stop
`sending the picture and sound information for that TV.
`
`The NMG could also be call a STB (Set Top Box).
`
`3
`
`
`
`Prior Art
`
`This invention makes use of a conventional power sensing circuit which
`has many generic uses.
`
`4
`
`
`
`Block Diagram of Components
`
`——>
`power
`network picture and sound
`
`
` television set
`
`
`remote
`
`transport and
`servers and
`
`
`access network
`routers
`
`
`
`
` user picture
`
`
`and sound
`
`‘—
`
`\
`
`
`
`control
`|:| mouse
`
`Problem:
`
`It television has been turned off
`using its remote control, how can
`we ensure that the network does
`
`not waste resources by continuing
`to send picture and sound to the
`NMG? That problem is solved
`with this invention‘
`
`joystick
`
`remote
`control
`
`controls:
`TV volume
`channel change
`PIP
`
`program guide
`Internet surfing
`gaming
`etc.
`
`remote
`control
`
`controls:
`TV on/off
`TV volume
`
`5
`
`
`
`Detailed Description of Invention
`
`NMG — only the blocks relevant to invention are shown
`
`NMG power cord to ac
`power outlet
`
`110 vac 60 Hz or 220
`
`l vac 50 Hz or similar
`
`NMG power
`supply
`
`outlet for TV
`power
`
`connectors for TV
`
`picture and sound
`
`user picture and sound
`
`network picture
`and sound
`—>
`
`NMG Main Processing Board
`
`current
`i
`sensing —'
`— circuit
`
`0' re erence
`
`6
`
`
`
`Detailed Description of Invention — Part of Main Processing Board
`
`Main Processing Board
`
`.
`main processor
`
`signals from remote, keyboard, etc.
`
`digital signal
`readable by main
`processor
`
`A to D
`converter -
`
`IV re erence
`
`7
`
`
`
`Detailed Description of Invention — Current Sensing Circuit
`
`NMG power cord to ac
`power outlet
`
`110 vac 60 Hz or 220
`
`l vac 50 Hz or similar
`
`
`
`
`
`.
`0.01 ohms x 2
`
`differential
`—>i
`amplifier
`
`
` .
`
`0V reference
`
`outlet for TV
`
`power
`
`i = ac current
`
`consumed by TV
`
`8
`
`
`
`DECISIOU Algorithm
`
`network video
`
`and sound
`
`THRESHOLD=-1
`
`
`
`
`measure TV
`
`supply current
`
`
`are buttons
`
`
`
`being pushed
`
`on remote (or keybd, et
`oeriodically?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TV must be off.
`TV must be on.
`
`
`Store supply
`Store supply
`current value
`current value
`
`
`as “OFF"
`as “ON”
`
`
`
`
`compare to
`
`
`
`
`
`picture being
`delivered?
`
`
`
`delivered?
`picture being
`
`
`
`
`
`
`THRESHOLD =
`
`(ON+OFF)/2
`
`sound
`
`discontinue
`reception of
`network video
`
`and sound
`
`start reception of
`network video
`and sound
`
`continue to accept
`network video and
`
`9
`
`
`
`Products to be used in
`
`If the user preference is appropriately set, the NMG could turn off
`1.
`power to the television if it supports this function.
`2. Since most of the bandwidth is in the picture information, the NMG
`could optionally continue to receive the sound information from the
`network.
`
`3. The feature could be automatically disabled by certain types of
`programming such as VoD, which may involve less user interaction or
`require a fee for viewing.
`4. The actions could be performed sequentially. For example, a
`reduced quality picture could appear at first which would prompt the
`user to push a button, thereby resetting the event timer.
`If no button is
`pushed, eventually the bandwidth saver action would be taken.
`5. A message would be flashed on the screen prior to bandwidth saver
`activation to warn of the coming picture shutdown. Canceling the
`message with the remote would reset the event timer.
`
`10
`
`
`
`11
`
`
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