Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Jozef Pieter Van Gassel

Johannes Henricus Maria Korst

Steven Broeils Luitjens

Ozcan Mesut

Declan Patrick Kelly

Artur Tadeusz Burchard

Gilein De Nijs

Rudi Jozef Marie Wijnands

Siarhei Yermalayeu

Jian Zhang

Gang Wang

Yuechen Qian

Wilhelmus Franciscus Johannes Fontijn

Hua Jiang

Hendrikus Bernardus Van Den Brink

Fangzhong Shen

Alexander Sinitsyn

Jiawen Tu

Henrikus Bernardus Van Den Brink

File comparing device includes a comparator for comparing a first and second content identifiers, of respective files, with each other. Each file having at least two content identifiers and each content identifier is defined by at least one parameter. In addition a selector is included for selecting, using the parameters of the content identifiers, sub-groups of content identifiers, to increase flexibilities. Calculators calculate functions of the values of the parameters and further comparators compare the functions with thresholds. Content identifiers may be defined by cost and accuracy parameters. Then, calculators calculate first functions of the values of the cost parameters and calculate second functions of the values of the accuracy parameters and further comparators compare the first functions with first thresholds and compare the second functions with second thresholds.

Arrangement for comparing content identifiers of files

There is described a method of synchronization in a personal information entertainment product () for periodically updating data content stored in memory () of the product (). Moreover, apparatus (), for example advanced personal information entertainment products, capable of operating according to the method are elucidated. A system and software operable to implement the method are also disclosed. The method relates to data synchronization in a personal information-entertainment device () operable to present data content to a user () of the device (), the method including steps of: (a) arranging for the device () to determine one or more contexts () in which it is to be used; and (b) updating data content stored in the device () in response to the one or more contexts ().

Method of data synchronization

The present invention relates to a method of changing between a plurality N of distinct services, e.g. television channels, receivable on a receiving unit, such as a mobile phone/cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld television unit, or similar devices. The receiving unit is adapted to receive the plurality of services in a time slicing mode with services being arranged in a certain time slice sequence. The receiving unit is capable of receiving a first service (S). When 'zapping' from the first service to a second service, the second service (S) being chosen is the currently next service in time within the time slice sequence so as to minimize the time (t) between service changes. Thereby, a fast method of changing between services is provided in a simplified manner, the speed of change reaching the theoretical maximum when using time slicing.

Method and receiving unit for fast change of services

A device and a method for managing power consumption of a plurality of data processing units. A scheduler () schedules a first process step for a first data processing unit () consuming a high power within a first deadline and a second process step for a second data processing unit () also consuming a high power within a second deadline. The scheduler further schedules the first process step and the second process step such that the two process steps do not occur concurrently thereby reducing the peak power draw from a power supply while preserving deadlines. This is particularly beneficial in battery-operated equipment, such as portable electronic multimedia devices, since peak power drain has been found to be an important factor in determining the battery capacity.

Device and a method for managing power consumption of a plurality of data processing units

The present application provides a storage apparatus for storing data. The storage apparatus comprises storage means for storing data, committing means for committing the availability of a certain storage space to a source device, detecting means for detecting the availability of the certain storage space to produce a detection result, and communication means for informing the source device the detection result, whereby the source device takes corresponding action(s) according to the detection result. In this way, each storage device of a group is bound by its commitment, if it violates its commitment, it risks the loss of its file(s) stored on other members' storage space.

Apparatus and method for storing data

A service that provides playback of media content, that may include advertising content, to a user. The system comprises device, that may be a portable wireless device, where the wireless device has a media drive and an application that reads content from a medium inserted in the media drive. The system further comprises a service that communicates with the wireless device via a wireless network. The service provides control commands to the application program for controlling playback of content from the medium when inserted in the media drive. The service may also provide advertising content to the user based on a user profile. A fee may be paid for the delivery of the content and/or the advertising to the user.

Mobile device that uses removable medium for playback of content

A playback device for playback of a media stream stored on a storage medium, the device includes a controller for controlling the reading, buffering and playback of the media stream. During playback, a buffer is filled by a reader and emptied by a playback unit. At each buffer, filling a buffer refilling time, i.e., the moment when the buffer will be empty and thus has to be refilled, is calculated. After each buffer filling, the storage medium can change to standby mode till buffer refilling is to occur. Thus, power consumption by the storage medium is minimized. The buffer refilling time depends on the total consumption time and the buffer filling period. The total consumption time is determined depending on playback mode control information. The buffer filling period is calculated depending on information about the retrieval of the media stream or an estimation of the buffer filling period is made.

Determining buffer refilling time when playing back variable bit rate media streams

The present invention relates to a method, a content status information providing unit (), a portable electronic device (), a computer program product () and a computer program element for providing status information related to at least one data content file, within a portable electronic device (), to a user, the method comprising the steps of obtaining a battery capacity value (step), obtaining content related information for at least one data content file (steps), determining a content status of the' at least one data content file, in dependence of the obtained battery capacity related to the at least one data content file (steps), and providing information on the determined content status to the user (step), such that the user of the portable electronic device () can be made aware of the status of the at least one data content file.

Content status provision related to volatile memories

The present invention relates to reduction of power consumption of electronic mass storage devices, and more particularly to such a reduction of power consumption in mobile infotainment products. These devices are equipped with a subsystem comprising a mass storage device () and a buffer memory (). The size of the buffer memory () is adapted in such a way that optimally low power consumption is achieved. This accomplishment by activating or deactivating memory banks () comprised in the buffer memory chips. The amount of memory banks () activated is determined by operating characteristics of the subsystem, e.g. a desired bit-rate to be achieved for transmissions to/from the mass storage device ().

Power saving method and system

A method () of controlling memory usage in a portable streaming device (), a portable streaming device () and a computer readable medium (). The portable streaming device () comprises at least one memory (), at least one processing unit (), and at least one storage device () being operatively connected with said memory () under control of said processing unit (). The size of a disk scheduler buffer memory within said memory in said portable streaming device is adaptively maximised by said method () at all times. Free memory available within the portable streaming device is continuously allocated () and at least a portion of said allocated free memory is designated as disk scheduler buffer memory (). Thus results improved solid state memory utilisation of the portable streaming device, and due to larger available disk buffer memory size, less start-stop-cycles of the storage device are initiated, which leads to a longer life-cycle of said portable streaming device.

Power saving method for portable streaming devices

A device for scanning a record carrier has a head for scanning a track for reading and/or writing information. A disc scheduler controls receiving requests for accessing the record carrier, the requests including streaming requests regarding real time information and auxiliary requests () regarding auxiliary information. The disc scheduler reduces power consumption of the device by switching the scanning means to a stand-by mode when no requests are pending and switching the scanning means to an operational mode when a request has to be executed. The auxiliary requests are executed in a processing interval () in combination with a selected one of the streaming requests. Hence the number of spin-ups of the record carrier is reduced.

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Eindhoven, Netherlands

Jozef Pieter Van Gassel