IP Library Granted Patent US 11,330,224
Granted Patent B2
US 11,330,224 · App. 17/027,264 · Granted May 10, 2022

Method and system for controlling a low power mode for external devices

Inventors: Sean S. Lee (Potomac, MD); Brian D. Jupin (Germantown, MD); Jorge H. Guzman (Gaithersburg, MD); Scott D. Casavant (Germantown, MD)
Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC
H04N5/63G06F1/26G06F1/32G06F1/325G06F1/3209H04N5/455H04N7/015H04N21/4263H04N21/4436H04N21/6143Y02D30/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,330,224
App. No.
17/027,264
Granted
May 10, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method of entering a low power mode includes an external tuner module having a first external tuner and a receiving device having a first receiving tuner. The receiving device has a controller determining an unused tuner from one of the first external tuner or first receiving tuner and controls entering a low power mode at the unused tuner.

Claims (37)

1. A method comprising:

commanding, by a receiving device including a processor, a front-end group including an external tuner to enter a high-power mode, wherein the external tuner includes a first tuner and a second tuner;

determining, by the receiving device, the front-end group is inactive while not in a standby mode;

responsive to determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode,

determining, by the receiving device, the front-end group has been inactive while not in the standby mode for a time exceeding a threshold; and

responsive to the determining the front-end group has been inactive while not in the standby mode for the time exceeding the threshold, commanding, by the receiving device, the front-end group to enter a low power mode.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode further comprises determining, by the receiving device, one of the first tuner or the second tuner are not streaming data to the receiving device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the commanding the front-end group to enter the low power mode further comprises commanding, by the receiving device, one of the first tuner or the second tuner to enter the low power mode.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode further comprises determining, by the receiving device, the first tuner and the second tuner are not streaming data to the receiving device.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the commanding the front-end group to enter the low power mode further comprises commanding, by the receiving device, the first tuner and the second tuner to enter the low power mode.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the external tuner includes a high definition tuner.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving device comprises a satellite television receiver.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode further comprises generating, by the receiving device, an unused tuner signal, and wherein the front-end group enters the low power mode in response the generating the unused tuner signal.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving device comprises a set top box.

10. A receiving device, comprising

a processing system including a processor; and

a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing

system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

commanding a front-end group including an external tuner to enter a high-power mode;

determining the front-end group is inactive while not in a standby mode;

responsive to determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode,

determining the front-end group has been inactive while not in the standby mode for a time exceeding a threshold; and

responsive to the determining the front-end group has been inactive while not in the standby mode for the time exceeding a threshold, commanding the front-end group to enter a low power mode.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the external tuner includes a first tuner and a second tuner.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode further comprises determining one of the first tuner or the second tuner are not streaming data to the receiving device.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the commanding the front-end group to enter the low power mode comprises commanding one of the first tuner or the second tuner to enter the low power mode.

14. The device of claim 11 , wherein the determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode comprises determining the first tuner and the second tuner are not streaming data to the receiving device.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the commanding the front-end group to enter the low power mode comprises commanding the first tuner and the second tuner to enter the low power mode.

16. The device of claim 11 , wherein the external tuner includes a high definition tuner and the receiving device comprises a satellite television receiver.

17. The device of claim 11 , wherein the determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode further comprises generating an unused tuner signal, and wherein the front-end group enters the low power mode in response the generating the unused tuner signal.

18. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:

commanding a front-end group including an external tuner to enter a high-power mode,

wherein the external tuner includes a first tuner and a second tuner;

determining the front-end group has been inactive while not in a standby mode for a time exceeding a threshold; and

responsive to the determining the front-end group has been inactive while not in the standby mode for the time exceeding a threshold, commanding the front-end group to enter a low power mode.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode further comprises determining one of the first tuner or the second tuner are not streaming data, and wherein the commanding the front-end group to enter the low power mode comprises commanding one of the first tuner or the second tuner to enter the low power mode.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the determining the front-end group is inactive while not in the standby mode further comprises generating an unused tuner signal, and wherein the front-end group enters the low power mode in response to the generating the unused tuner signal.

Assignments (6)
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY IN PATENT SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Oct 3, 2025
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH (AS SUCCESSOR TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 072994/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066371/0690 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 5, 2021
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 058220/0531 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 3, 2021
From: DIRECTV, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057695/0084 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 29, 2021
From: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
To: DIRECTV, LLC
Reel/Frame 057022/0200 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2020
From: LEE, SEAN S.; JUPIN, BRIAN D.; GUZMAN, JORGE H.; CASAVANT, SCOTT D.
To: THE DIRECTV GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 054304/0323 →