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Implementing Low Power Mode in Set Top Boxes. STB International Stakeholder Meeting San Francisco, California Suzanne Foster Ecos Consulting 970.259.6801 x 302 sfoster@ecosconsulting.com. Possible Design Changes to Make Low Power Mode Possible.
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Implementing Low Power Mode in Set Top Boxes STB International Stakeholder Meeting San Francisco, California Suzanne Foster Ecos Consulting 970.259.6801 x 302 sfoster@ecosconsulting.com
Possible Design Changes to Make Low Power Mode Possible • Hardware enabling shut down of non critical systems • Hardware build so that circuits not in use can be powered down and then “wake” easily and quickly when needed for service • Analogous to “sleep” technology developed by Intel and others in PC world, sold in virtually all PCs on shelves today • Memory solutions already found in desktops could store program guide, etc. when in low power mode • Hardware reducing power use, regardless of mode • “Power partitioning” chips • Power supply
Power Partitioning Chips Save Energy in Desktops Base system: 1024 MB DDRI, nVIDIA GeFORCE 4 MX 440 video card, 80 GB HD, DVD/CD-RW, stock power supply
Power Supply Possible Near Term Solution Efficiencies between 68% and 82% measured, 85% efficiency achievable today
Possible Design Changes to Make Low Power Mode Possible (cont.) • Software changes to accommodate low power mode • “Energy Saver” DVR options that allow hard drives to spin down if customer chooses not to record material • Communication protocols • enable proper security and downloads of content to customer from head end • communication among multiple STBs in one home
Goal: Energy Savings in Customer’s Homes • Possible for low power mode to be technically achievable and measurable in the lab, but not implemented in the field • Reasons for this could include: • Needs of the service provider not fully taken into account when designing system, so low power mode is disabled in field • Customer dissatisfaction with solution • Lack of transparency to user • Customer misunderstands important environmental impact and associated energy bill savings • Poor communication protocols between head end and box and among boxes
Test Method Implications • IEC 62087 currently measures static power values for defined modes • Alternate approach: measurement of STB energy over 24 hour period with standard duty cycle, allowing box to fall into low power as it would in the home • Other considerations: • Easy to conduct • Reproducible • Robust • Representative