CN101296090A

CN101296090A - Method and apparatus for electric power management

Info

Publication number: CN101296090A
Application number: CNA2007101026850A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 亨利·法伦; 斯特凡娜·德马尔希
Original assignee: DiBcom SA
Current assignee: DiBcom SA
Priority date: 2007-04-25
Filing date: 2007-04-25
Publication date: 2008-10-29

Abstract

The invention relates to a modem (10) of signals that is burst-transmitted by data packets which comprises devices (20, 12) used for receiving identification (PID) of burst to be processed (B0 ellipsis B9) coming from a separation processor (6); the device (14) used for the filtration of the signals to restore the bursts with received identification; the device (16) used for processing the bursts; the devices (20, 22) used for receiving the time information corresponding to the identification of the bursts to be processed and coming from the separation processor; and a power management device (24) used for driving at least parts (14, 16) of the modem between an idle status and a moving status according to the time information.

Description

The method and apparatus that is used for power management

Technical field

The present invention relates to be used for power management at the receiver of the signal of packet burst transmission.

Background technology

When signal was transmitted in burst, reducing the power that offers some components and parts in the burst interval phase was very easily, does the overall power consumption that can reduce whole receiver like this.

For example, following situation just is fit to above-mentioned situation: can be cut apart and expand the receiver that is used for receiving digital television signal in several bursts in data, the sign that each burst is known as PID identifies.More precisely, burst comprises several packets, and wherein each packet has identical PID.

Usually, in this receiver, coprocessor that is implemented on the different chips of a primary processor order of receiver, described coprocessor are used for being responsible for to data burst and carry out demodulation.

The primary processor of more existing receivers is responsible for some power management functions, and primary processor sends instruction to other element, also is tuner and demodulator, and they are switched between active state and idle condition.

Yet, carry out such power management function and need consume the operation time of a lot of primary processors, and cause the raising of the flow on the bus between primary processor and the coprocessor.

And, not switching to active state to avoid the obliterated data burst for there being the transmission instruction of time-delay ground, described bus must keep up state.

Because above-mentioned shortcoming, this method for managing power supply is that efficient is not high.

Summary of the invention

Purpose of the present invention is exactly by providing a kind of demodulator with effective power management function and correlation method and program to solve these problems.

For reaching this purpose, the demodulator of PM signal PM that passes through burst transfer that the present invention relates to is described in claim 1, and corresponding with it method is described in claim 14.The present invention also relates to a kind of processor program, in claim 18, describe.

Because the coprocessor transmission time information of demodulator and execution power management function make power management more efficient.And the bus between primary processor and primary processor and the coprocessor has more ability to handle other function.

Description of drawings

Other characteristic of the present invention and advantage will be in conjunction with the drawings explanation and displaying clearly:

-Fig. 1 is the block diagram according to receiver of the present invention;

-Fig. 2 is the flow chart of the method according to this invention;

-Fig. 3,4 and 5 is according to definite free time of several embodiments of the present invention and the time diagram of active stage.

Embodiment

Fig. 1 shows the structure according to receiver 2 of the present invention, and this receiver 2 is used for receiving radio frequency (RF) signal of the digital television signal of the use MPEG-2 form that picture transmits at DVB-H or DVB-T.

This transmission means comprises the program that expands in several packet bursts.Each packet of this data burst carries bag sign or the burst sign that is known as PID in transmission.

Packet further is divided into the basic stream of a plurality of ES of being illustrated as, and is multiplexed on a plurality of transmission channels.

According to current transmission standard, each packet comprises about interlude information between notebook data bag and the next packet burst that has an identical PID.

Equally according to current standard, some data information that has no time is arranged.These data may be the service data bursts, or the metadata of transmitting on spendable time slot burst, also claim procedure service information (PSI) or information on services (SI), perhaps any other service.

Receiver 2 comprises the antenna 4 that is used for received RF signal, and output is connected to the tuner 8 and the primary processor 6 of demodulator 10.

By convention, demodulator 10 comprises PID table 12, and described PID table 12 is included as the tabulation of each PID of each receive frequency or the necessary packet burst of handling of channel frequency sign.A PID filter 14 links to each other and addressable PID table 12 with the downstream of tuner 8, so that come trap signal and restore data burst by the PID in the table 12.

The output of PID filter 14 is provided for demodulating unit 16, and demodulating unit 16 is used relevant demodulation or equilibrium treatment and extracted the information signal that is called S, and they are offered other treatment circuit related with receiver 2.

In the embodiment of foregoing description, demodulator 10 also comprises a receiving element 20, and it is used for receiving the need sent from primary processor 6 in the PID of PID table 12 registration and the temporal information relevant with these PID.These temporal informations are stored in the demodulator 10 in the corresponding table 22.

Described demodulator 10 also comprises Power Management Unit 24, is used for the element that temporal information based on described timetable 22 drives receiver and switches between free time and active state.

In described example, Power Management Unit 24 drives tuner 8, PID filter 14 and demodulating unit 16 and switches between activity and idle condition together.When in idle condition, owing to each receiving element all is closed, so there are not data to be received and to handle.

More precisely, Power Management Unit 24 comprises the element 26 that is used for determining idle and cycle of activity, and is used for driving the control element 28 that switches between each comfortable activity of related elements and idle condition in the described cycle.

Favourable part is, these elements or cell mesh or all be integrated in the coprocessor that is formed in the demodulator chip.

Below with reference to Fig. 2 the general function of this equipment is described.

In step 30, primary processor 6 is to new PID for being for further processing and must registering in the PID table of demodulator 10 transmission.

In the example of describing, PID1 and relative temporal information are transmitted in same message.

This message is received device 20 and receives, and after this receiving system 20 separates PID and it is delivered to PID table 12 respectively and is delivered to timetable in step 34 in step 32 with temporal information.

This will trigger PID1 will be registered to step 33 in the PID table 12, and the step 35 in the table 22 will register into the corresponding temporal information of PID1 the time.

Primary processor 6 can send message and come deletion PID, just PID0 from the PID table in step 36.

In described example, the message of deletion PID from table 12 that primary processor 6 sends is only carried this PID.This message is received unit 20 and receives and be delivered in step 38 in the PID table 12, in step 39 PID0 is deleted from PID table 12.

In described embodiment, Power Management Unit 34 is used to detect any variation of PID table 12 and timetable 22.Thereby Power Management Unit 34 is read PID table 12 and timetable 22 in step 40, and subsequently, movable and idling cycle will be determined according to the temporal information that obtains in step 42.

More precisely, as noted above, described temporal information is included in the length that the next one has the burst time before of relevant PID at least.

Determine that element 26 is used for storing the temporal information of the time of reception of the last burst of each PID of PID table 12, then, uses this temporal information to determine the next time of reception of burst to be processed.

More precisely, in described embodiment, determine that element 26 is used for determining and storing the moment and the duration of next cycle of activity.

Definite process below with reference to Fig. 3, the 4 and 5 pairs of activities and idling cycle is described in more detail.

In case be determined next cycle of activity, Power Management Unit 24 will be switched between activity and idle condition by each parts that drives receiver 2 as transmission first out code in step 44.Then, thereby it sends the burst that open command execution in step 48 receives and PID 1 mark is carried in demodulation in step 46, and after this, in step 50, Power Management Unit 24 is closed each parts in the receiver 2.

In described example, all parts switch between activity and idle condition simultaneously.Another kind of mode is that Power Management Unit independently drives each parts.

Be described in more detail below in conjunction with Fig. 3,4 and 5 definite processes activity and idling cycle.

First row of Fig. 3 shows the sequence of the burst that is received on a certain specific communication channel.Time sequencing is from left to right.

Data burst according to receive sequence notation be B0 to B9, B0 is first burst that receives, B9 is last burst that receives.The packet of burst B0, B3 and B9 uses same PID, i.e. PID0.The packet of burst B1, B2, B6 and B8 uses PID1.The packet of burst B4, B5 and B7 uses PID2.

Be expert among the L1, shown first example of definite cycle of activity.

In this example, only for receiving the packet burst that carries the PID of storage in the PID table 12, Power Management Unit drives receiver and enters active state, and in this example, correspondence is carried the packet of PID1.

Thereby receiver is entering active state under the control of Power Management Unit 24 in 4 different cycles, and each in this 4 cycles is corresponding to the reception that has the data burst of PID1 to.After in receiving burst B1, B2, B6 and B8 each, receiver is driven the not busy state that makes the return trip empty.

In row another example shown in the L2, required time when Power Management Unit has considered that parts switch between free time and active state.Some parts need the time when starting and closing.In view of the above, if the time interval between twice cycle of activity is very little, some parts need not switch between activity and idle condition.

This function is to realize by the interval of estimating or be provided with between each moment that switches to idle condition and the moment that switches to active state thereafter.If this then will be merged at interval less than a certain thresholding of setting according to associated components two cycles of activity.

As shown in this example, Power Management Unit drives receiver and enters the active state period 1 and receive data burst B1 and B2, and enters two different active state cycles at this rear drive receiver and receive burst B6 and B8 respectively.

Be expert in another example shown in the L3, used the characteristic of house dog, this means after beginning to receive the burst that needs to handle, in case the time cycle of determining goes over, Power Management Unit will make parts switch the not busy state that makes the return trip empty.

In this example, Zui Da time cycle is set to a value greater than the expection time of reception of a packet.Thereby, after beginning to receive last packet of burst B6, in case expeced time period expires, even receiver because as loss etc. is former thereby the end part of last packet of the B6 that successfully obtains to happen suddenly, Power Management Unit 24 also can drive receiver and enter idle condition.

Be expert in another example shown in the L4, Power Management Unit makes receiver after reception carries the packet of the PID in the PID table 12, keeps active state in a definite time cycle.In this example, the cycle is known as " suspending (time out) " during this period of time, and corresponding at interval with the maximum time between two packets.

Thereby, receive as last packet of burst B2 PID be stored in packet in the PID table 12 after, receiver remains on the sufficiently long time of active state so that the PID of reception subsequent data bag, first packet of the B3 that just happens suddenly.Thereby only after confirmation packet subsequently was not pending, Power Management Unit just can drive receiver and return idle condition.

Advantageously, the present invention also comprises the use of priority parameters, and this priority parameters is associated with burst and transmits with temporal information.Described priority parameters is used for determining free time and cycle of activity.

By the use of priority parameters, make when losing previous burst or receiving the data burst that in it determines the time interval, does not transmit, as PSI and the burst of SI metadata, and during not free information, can receive first burst of a program effectively.

In first example as reference Fig. 4 description, before reception had the burst of relevant PID, priority parameters was provided with the maximum time of idle condition.This priority parameters is called as the priority cycle below.

In this example, as the common way in the DVB transmission, data burst and metadata burst are multiplexed on the communication channel.This data burst is the same with the data burst B0 that describes with reference to Fig. 3 to B9.

The burst B*0 that includes metadata and be programming system information (PSI) or system information (SI) is received on same communication channel to B*6 simultaneously.Two different metadata bursts that are illustrated as PSI1 and PSI2 respectively are received.

Data burst and metadata burst are split into multiplexing basic stream, and are received simultaneously and handle.

For the use in priority cycle is described, supposes the corresponding PID registration in PID table 12 before receiving data burst B0 of PSI2 metadata burst, and after receiving corresponding burst, deleted at once.

Row L5 has shown first example of using the priority cycle.In this example, the pairing priority of PSI1 is very high, and its priority cycle is set to 0.In case the instruction message that sends from primary processor 6 is received by demodulator 10, corresponding PID will be stored in the PID table 12, and temporal information and priority parameters will be stored in the timetable 22.When Power Management Unit 24 these times of visit and precedence information, it finds that priority cycle is set to 0 and drive receiver at once and switch to active state and keep until receiving a metadata burst that includes PSI2 always.In this example, receiver remains on active state until receiving metadata burst B*3.

Receiver returns idle condition and receives data burst B6 and B8 until as described above then.

Be expert among the L6, show another other priority of level, wherein, the priority cycle value of being set to T.Thereby after the Power Management Unit 24 access privileges information, in case the priority period T is gone over, Power Management Unit drives receiver and enters active state.Certainly, simultaneously, receiver is unlocked and is used to receive data burst B1 and B2.

After the priority period T, receiver still keeps active state up to receiving the burst of carrying PID PSI2.In this example, the corresponding metadata burst is B*4.

After burst B*4 received, because burst B*4 and B6 are overlapped, Power Management Unit made receiver remain on active state and receives up to data burst B6.

Alternatively, shown in row L7, with burst be infinitely great in the PSI2 corresponding priority cycle.This means that Power Management Unit will drive receiver never and enter active state so that receive corresponding burst.Yet because PID is stored in the PID table, receiver might utilize and be in active state and receive this data burst.

It when for example receiving data burst B6 this situation.Receiver is in the active state of deal with data burst B6, and simultaneously, metadata burst B*5 also is received, thereby burst B*5 also can be processed.

According to setting, receiver can after receiving data burst B6, return idle condition and no matter the burst PSI2 accepting state.Perhaps, as shown in the figure, remain in the active state up to metadata burst B*5 and receive.

Describe another example of priority parameters below in conjunction with Fig. 5, wherein, priority parameters is used to define the level between the burst.

In this example, receiver monitors several communication channels, and each PID that is used to receive and handle that is registered by demodulator 10 has a corresponding with it priority-level.

More precisely, this example is based on the reception of two data flow, and one is passed through main channel C0 transmission, and another transmits by secondary channel C1.The data flow that on channel C0, receives be the same in conjunction with the described data flow of Fig. 4.The data flow that receives on channel C1 also is MPEG-2, and the DVB-H data flow comprises data burst B ' 0 to B ' 10 and metadata burst B ' * 0 and B ' * 0.

5 grades of priority of from 0 to 4 have been defined.Necessary processed data burst on the priority level 4 corresponding main channels; Metadata burst on the priority level 3 corresponding main channels.Similar, the data burst on the priority level 2 corresponding secondary channels, the metadata burst on the priority level 1 corresponding secondary channel, the no priority of priority 0 expression.

Power Management Unit is used for only opening demodulator when receiving the data burst of priority level 4, and only closes demodulator when monitoring the burst of reception low priority data.Power Management Unit also can trigger the frequency switching of tuner so that switch between receive channel.

For example, the PID1 on the channel C0 has priority level 4, and the PSI2 on the channel C0 has priority level 3, and the PID2 on the channel C1 has priority level 2, and the PSI2 on the channel C1 has priority level 1.Other PID has priority level 0.

Set demodulator and only receive several bursts simultaneously during in same channel when several bursts, and the initial part that all happening suddenly of PID.This means that demodulator only just can detect the PID of burst after receiving the initial part of burst.Last column of Fig. 5 has shown treated data burst.

By information service time, demodulator is scheduled and starts to be received in the data pulse B1 that main channel C0 goes up transmission, B2, B6, and B8.Demodulator cut out before receiving data burst B1, and was switched to active state for receiving burst B1 and B2.

After receiving data burst B2, demodulator is searched the burst of lower priority on same channel and secondary channel.This will cause the reception to the burst B ' 3 on the channel C1.After receiving data burst B ' 3, only priority level is that 0 burst is being received on communication channel.So demodulator switches the not busy state that makes the return trip empty, and be that 4 data burst B6 opens again only for receiving priority level.

When receiving burst B6, demodulator also receive simultaneously and handle on same channel and have a more burst B*5 of low priority.Thereby Power Management Unit is that the demodulator power supply receives up to burst B*5.

After this, demodulator is closed, up to opening again for receiving data burst B8.Burst is checked the burst of lower priority grade after B 8 receives, then on channel C1 burst B ' * 6 be detected.

This example is very effective for the optimization of the cycle of activity of demodulator.Certainly, when considering between channel switches needed switching time for the reception of guaranteeing higher priority burst, this example can be extended under the multi channel situation.

Certainly, the combination of the example that uses of more priority parameters and above-mentioned various examples also can be carried out.

Method of the present invention also can be carried out by one section computer program on the processor in the demodulator.The computer program that above-mentioned processor is carried out has the instruction of carrying out following process:

-from primary processor, receive the identification list of pending burst;

-receive and the corresponding temporal information of above-mentioned pending burst;

At least some parts of the described demodulator of-management drive them according to described temporal information and switch between active state and idle condition.

Said procedure can be carried out any above-mentioned example by adjusting this program, also can be used for other similar equipment and inner parts thereof, such as DTV receiver, and computer, PDA etc.

Claims

1. demodulator by the signal of packet burst transfer comprises:

-be used for receiving device (20,12) from the sign (PID) of the pending burst (B0...B9) of separation processor (6);

-be used for described signal filtering to recover the device (14) of the received burst of its sign;

-be used to handle the device (16) of the described burst that recovers,

It is characterized in that, also comprise:

-be used to receive from device (20,22) described separation processor and the corresponding temporal information of sign pending burst (PID);

-be used for according to the next electric power controller to small part parts (14,16) (24) that between idle condition and active state, drives described demodulator of described temporal information.

2. demodulator according to claim 1, wherein, described electric power controller (24) comprising:

-determine element (26), be used for determining idling cycle and cycle of activity according to described temporal information;

-control element (28) is used in described each cycle driver part between idle condition and active state.

3. demodulator according to claim 2, wherein, described definite element (26) is used for the moment and the duration of the next cycle of activity of definite described each parts.

4. according to each described demodulator in the claim 1 to 3, wherein, described electric power controller (24) is used to consider that parts switch the required time between active state and idle condition.

5. according to each described demodulator in the claim 1 to 4, it is characterized in that, also comprise the device (20) that is used for receiving the priority parameters that is associated with burst sign (PID), described electric power controller (24) drives described parts according to described priority parameters.

6. demodulator according to claim 5, wherein, described priority parameters is provided with the time cycle, described electric power controller is used for, when after the corresponding time cycle, when the burst that has a sign that is associated with priority parameters is not received, drives described parts and enter active state and keep described parts and be in active state and be received until this this burst.

7. demodulator according to claim 5, wherein, described priority parameters is provided with the level between data burst, described electric power controller is used to drive described parts and enters active state receiving the burst of higher priority level, and drives described parts enter idle condition when receiving the lower priority burst.

8. demodulator according to claim 5, wherein, described priority parameters is associated with some communication channels, and described electric power controller is used for triggering the switching of a far-end tuner between described each communication channel according to described priority parameters.

9. according to each described demodulator in the claim 1 to 8, wherein, described electric power controller (24) is used for after beginning to receive a pending burst, a definite time cycle (house dog) to greatest extent in keep described parts and be in active state.

10. according to each described demodulator in the claim 1 to 9, wherein, described electric power controller is used for keeping described parts at least in a definite time cycle (time-out) and being in active state after receiving a pending burst.

11. according to each described demodulator in the claim 1 to 10, wherein, described electric power controller (24) be used between active state and idle condition driving described demodulator parts (14,16) and with described demodulator separated components (8).

12. according to each described demodulator in the claim 1 to 11, wherein, the described device that is used for reception burst sign (PID) comprises the separate part (20) that a burst sign (PID) that is used for receiving in same message is separated with temporal information with the described device that is used for receiving time information.

13. the receiver by the signal of packet burst transfer comprises: primary processor (6) and the demodulator that separates (10) is characterized in that described demodulator is according to each described demodulator in the claim 1 to 12.

14. the method for managing power supply by the demodulator of the signal of packet burst transfer may further comprise the steps:

-receive (30) sign by demodulator from the pending burst (B0...B9) of a separation processor (6);

-receive the temporal information that (30) are associated from the described sign of the pending burst of described separation processor (6) by demodulator;

-by described demodulator (10) according to described temporal information, between idle condition and active state, drive at least some parts (14,16) of (44,46,48) described demodulator.

15. method according to claim 14 is characterized in that, also comprises step:

-receiving the priority parameters that is associated with burst sign (PID) from described separation processor, the step of the described parts of described driving is carried out by considering described priority parameters.

16. according to claim 14 or 15 described methods, it is characterized in that, also comprise step:

One of-reception comprises the message of a temporal information that happens suddenly sign (PID) and be associated with it;

This method also comprises step: described burst sign is separated (32,34) with described temporal information.

17. according to each described method in the claim 14 to 16, it is characterized in that, also comprise step:

-when not comprising the message of corresponding temporal information when receiving the described burst sign (PID) that comprises a burst, the sign of the described burst of deletion from the sign of each pending burst.

18. a computer program that is used for by the demodulator of the signal of packet burst transfer, described computer program have the instruction that is used to carry out following processing when being carried out by a processor of described demodulator:

-receive (30) sign (PID) from the pending burst (B0...B9) of the processor (6) that is separated with described demodulator;

-receive the temporal information that (30) are associated with described pending burst;

-according to described temporal information, control at least some parts (14,16) of described demodulator, between active state and idle condition, it is driven.