Clock-based time slicing

Abstract

A system that allows mobile terminals to periodically remove power from at least some components is disclosed. The mobile terminal receives bursts of content. Some of the bursts of content include relative time information identifying the transmission time of a subsequent burst of content. The mobile terminal may remove power from a receiving module during times when the mobile terminal is not scheduled to receive content bursts.

1 - 29 . (canceled)  
     
     
         30 . A transmitter unit located at a head-end location for communicating data to a mobile terminal, the transmitter unit comprising: 
 a transmission module for communicating data over a network, wherein said transmission module transmits data comprising a value of a relative time period between bursts of data transmissions;    a component for formatting the data into bursts having a predetermined bandwidth and interval, and communicating the data to said transmission module;    
     
     
         31 . The transmitter unit of  claim 30 , wherein said component performs time division multiplexing on the data.  
     
     
         32 . The transmitter unit of  claim 30 , wherein said component formats the data into bursts having a predetermined bandwidth that is less than or equal to a maximum bandwidth.  
     
     
         33 . The transmitter unit of  claim 30 , further including a buffer that stores the bursts of data.  
     
     
         34 . The transmitter unit of  claim 30 , wherein said data communicated is a conventional information signal.  
     
     
         35 . An encapsulater unit for formatting content at a head-end location, the encapsulater unit comprising: 
 an encapsulater capable of encapsulating the content with a value equal to a relative time period between bursts of data transmissions;    a processor programmed with computer-executable instructions for receiving the content from said encapsulator and formatting the data into bursts; and    an interval module for calculating said value equal to the relative time period between bursts of data transmissions and communicating said value to said encapsulater;    
     
     
         36 . The encapsulater unit of  claim 35 , wherein said encapsulater uses a multiprotocol encapsulater.  
     
     
         37 . The encapsulater unit of  claim 35 , wherein said encapsulater encodes into Internet protocol packets.  
     
     
         38 . A power unit located at a mobile terminal for providing power to at least part of the mobile terminal, said battery unit comprising: 
 a power source for providing power to at least a receiving module located at the mobile terminal;    a power management module for selectively applying power from said power source to at least said receiving module; and    an extraction module for extracting relative timing information communicated from a head-end location and communicating the relative timing information to said power management module;    
     
     
         39 . The power unit of  claim 38 , wherein said power source is a battery.  
     
     
         40 . The power unit of  claim 38 , wherein said power source is a stationary power source.  
     
     
         41 . The power unit of  claim 38 , wherein power from said power source to at least a receiving module is removed for a time period less than a first relative time period extracted from said relative timing information communicated from a head-end location.  
     
     
         42 . The power unit of  claim 38 , wherein said power management module removes power from at least the receiving module for power off time periods that correspond to the relative time periods.  
     
     
         43 . The power unit of  claim 38 , wherein said extraction module extracts the relative timing information from digital video broadcast modulation data.  
     
     
         44 . The power unit of  claim 38 , wherein said power management module operates in a constant on state for a period of time when an error condition occurs at the receiving module.  
     
     
         45 . The power unit of  claim 44 , wherein said error condition is caused by a burst of data being lost while being transmitted from a transmitter module to said receiving module.