Method and system for optimizing power consumption in a home network via a broadband gateway

1. A method for networking, the method comprising:

in a broadband gateway that enables communication with a plurality of devices, wherein said broadband gateway is operable to handle at least one physical layer connection to at least one network access service provider:

identifying a device power profile for one or more of said plurality of devices and a network power profile associated with content provided by said at least one network access service provider;

selecting a content delivery mechanism for delivery of said content from said broadband gateway to said one or more of said plurality of devices based on power savings incentive information and said identifying; and

communicating said content to said one or more of said plurality of devices based on said content delivery mechanism.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein identifying said device power profile comprises calculating a power consumption level associated with a feature of said one or more of said plurality of devices.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

said device power profile comprises at least one of device type, physical connection, or content processing capabilities; and

said network power profile comprises at least one of content type, content bit rate, content encoding format, or physical connection.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising selecting said content delivery mechanism for each of said one or more of said plurality of devices to optimize power consumption.

5. The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

transcoding said content for said one or more of said plurality of devices into transcoded content based on said content delivery mechanism; and

communicating said transcoded content to said one or more of said plurality of devices.

6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising burst downloading said content from said at least one network access service provider.

7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising storing said content in a local storage that is coupled to said broadband gateway.

8. The method according to claim 6 , comprising shutting down, subsequent to said burst downloading, one or more receiving components that are utilized by said broadband gateway to receive said content from said at least one network access service provider.

9. A system for networking, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a broadband gateway that enables communication with a plurality of devices and at least one network access service provider via at least one physical layer connection, said one or more circuits being operable to:

identify a device power profile for one or more of said plurality of devices and a network power profile associated with content provided by said at least one network access service provider;

select a content delivery mechanism for delivery of said content from said broadband gateway to said one or more of said plurality of devices based on power savings incentive information and at least one of said device power profile or said network power profile; and

communicate said content to said one or more of said plurality of devices based on said content delivery mechanism.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to calculate a power consumption level associated with a feature of said one or more of said plurality of devices.

11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein:

said device power profile comprises at least one of device type, physical connection, or content processing capabilities; and

said network power profile comprises at least one of content type, content bit rate, content encoding format, or physical connection.

12. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to select said content delivery mechanism for each of said one or more of said plurality of devices to optimize power consumption.

13. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:

transcode said content for said one or more of said plurality of devices into transcoded content based on said content delivery mechanism; and

communicate said transcoded content to said one or more of said plurality of devices.

14. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to burst download said content from said at least one network access service provider.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to store said content in a local storage that is coupled to said broadband gateway.

16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to shut down, subsequent to said burst download, one or more receiving components that are utilized by said broadband gateway to receive said content from said at least one network access service provider.

17. A method for networking, comprising:

identifying a network power profile associated with content provided from at least one network access service provider and requested by a device in a network;

identifying a device profile of said device in said network;

selecting, by a processing circuit of a broadband gateway, a content delivery mechanism for delivering said content from said broadband gateway to said device based on power savings incentive information and at least one of said network power profile and said device profile; and

communicating said content to said device according to said content delivery mechanism.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising displaying, by said broadband gateway, energy related consumption trends or costs associated with said device in said network.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

identifying a certified efficiency device on said network; and

obtaining a credit for use of the certified efficiency device.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising transcoding said content based on said content delivery mechanism.