Abstract: A device and a method for managing power consumption of a plurality of data processing units. A scheduler (280) schedules a first process step for a first data processing unit (200) consuming a high power within a first deadline and a second process step for a second data processing unit (240) 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.

Abstract: Method of processing data of at lease one data stream, data processing module for processing at a of at least one data stream, data processing system comprising such module, computer program product, data storage system and method of use thereof. For a time-based transfer of data to or from a device, data streams may be given a system ID and it is proposed to dynamically distribute available stream IDs. The proposed concept provides for indicating a type of data stream, providing and/or handling a set of stream IDs comprising a number of stream IDs and issuing a stream ID from the set of stream IDs to the data stream depending on the type of data stream. In a preferred embodiment, it is proposed to reserve one stream ID for an audio-video request, characterized by having no error handling time available. A further stream ID may be reserved for best effort requests.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a content status information providing unit (100), a portable electronic device (114), a computer program product (50) and a computer program element for providing status information related to at least one data content file, within a portable electronic device (114), to a user, the method comprising the steps of obtaining a battery capacity value (step 206), obtaining content related information for at least one data content file (steps 214, 216), 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 222, 226, 233, 234), and providing information on the determined content status to the user (step 224), such that the user of the portable electronic device (114) can be made aware of the status of the at least one data content file.

Abstract: 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 (48) and a buffer memory (43, 44). The size of the buffer memory (43, 44) is adapted in such a way that optimally low power consumption is achieved. This accomplishment by activating or deactivating memory banks (45) comprised in the buffer memory chips. The amount of memory banks (45) 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 (48).

Abstract: A device and a method for managing power consumption of a plurality of data processing units. A scheduler (280) schedules a first process step for a first data processing unit (200) consuming a high power within a first deadline and a second process step for a second data processing unit (240) 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 whilst 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, a content status information providing unit (100), a portable electronic device (114), a computer program product (50) and a computer program element for providing status information related to at least one data content file, within a portable electronic device (114), to a user, the method comprising the steps of obtaining a battery capacity value (step 206), obtaining content related information for at least one data content file (steps 214, 216), 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 222, 226, 233, 234), and providing information on the determined content status to the user (step 224), such that the user of the portable electronic device (114) can be made aware of the status of the at least one data content file.

Abstract: Portable devices are usually synchronized with servers like personal computers. Furthermore, most portable devices provide a user with the possibility to generate data objects or to obtain data objects from other sources than the personal computer. This means that of certain data objects a backup exists, as they are stored on the personal computer. Other data objects are unique, as the user does not have a backup at his or her disposal. Energy is a precious commodity in portable devices. A memory, in particular a volatile memory, consumes power. In case energy is required for keeping data objects stored, of which no backup is at the disposal of the user, but this energy might not be available in the future due to battery level, storage of data objects of which a backup exists is sacrificed for the benefit of storage of data objects for which there is no backup.

Abstract: Content is transferred between a first storage device (50) and a second storage device (20) when the devices are selectively connected. An order of priority is determined for content which requires transfer The content is then transferred according to the determined order of priority. This allows content to be transferred in an order which should ensure that the second storage device stores as much useful data as possible after interruption of the transfer The order of priority can be based on importance of the content (e.g. user defined importance settings, historical usage information, context information) or on size of the items. The order can also be based on the preferences of a user of one of the devices, which are either explicitly defined by the user or learned by the device. Individual items of content can be sub-divided and transferred in a different order, e.g. multi-layered audio or video.

Abstract: 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 (48) and a buffer memory (43, 44). The size of the buffer memory (43, 44) is adapted in such a way that optimally low power consumption is achieved. This accomplishment by activating or deactivating memory banks (45) comprised in the buffer memory chips. The amount of memory banks (45) 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 (48).

Abstract: A method (100; 200; 300; 400; 500) for scanning a track of a disc-shaped storage medium (2) comprises the steps of: receiving (101; 201; 301; 401; 501) at least one scanning command; calculating (102, 103; 211, 212; 311, 313; 411; 511) energy consumption estimates at different scanning mode settings (CAV; CLV); determining (110; 213; 312, 314, 320; 412; 512) a scanning mode setting associated with minimal expected energy consumption; executing (121, 122; 221, 222; 321, 322; 421; 521) said at least one scanning command at the thus determined scanning mode setting.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a data storage apparatus having a plurality of spare area arrays may be provided additional to remote spare areas or alone and each of the spare area arrays respectively may be assigned to essentially each of a plurality of format features of the data storage medium and thereby serve as a contiguous free region in the user area. As a format feature on a data storage disc comprised by a disc drive may be understood in particular a zone, a track or a cylinder in case of multitude discs, a block on a track or as well a sector.

Abstract: Real-time audio video applications require guaranteed request service times from a hard disc drive. This requirement is not always fulfilled due to some unexpected delays in service times. Re-allocated sectors are one of the causes of such delays. A scheme for conversion of re-maps into slips in a hard disc drive is suggested. Converting re-allocated sectors into slipped or skipped sectors can prevent such a delay, since slipped sectors cause much less or even negligible performance loss than re-allocated sectors.

Abstract: A stand-alone time-shift device can be connected to a TV-set via a SCART connector. The device offers a “pause-button” functionality to the user watching a live broadcast. Special control of the SCART's pin-8 avoids delay in the response or artifacts on the screen when the user is changing channels. This allows adding the time-shift functionality without interfering with the conventional behavior of a TV set.

Abstract: Memory systems like disk drives are usually sensitive to vibrations. In a consumer electronics environment, with reproduction of audio, this is a problem because audio reproduction means generating vibrations. To prevent performance degradation of the memory system, action is taken to reduce the influence of vibrations on the memory system. This is only done when the performance of the storage system drops below a pre-determined level when it causes such a degradation of performance that it is annoying for a user. Of course, the pre-determined level is—among others—influenced by the application that uses the memory system. Actions to be taken may be reducing the sound level, but also advising a user to reduce the sound level or cancel operations that use the storage system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of writing data to and reading data from a memory (102) by a host. By limiting processing time, time restrictions regarding the data to be processed can be met. However, this is at the expense of data integrity. By setting time limits for a group (300) of multiple processing assignments and dynamic allocation of time, reserved for error recovery and retries, data integrity can be improved, while time limits can still be met. Furthermore, by attaching priorities to the assignments, multiple types of data can be handled in one group of assignments. For example, assignments with real-time requirements can be put in a group with assignments with best effort requirements. In this way, more flexible planning of processing assignments is possible. The invention also relates to a system for writing data to and reading data from a memory.

Abstract: Method of processing data of at lease one data stream, data processing module for processing at a of at least one data stream, data processing system comprising such module, computer program product, data storage system ID and it is proposed to dynamically distribute available stream IDs. The proposed concept provides for indicating a type of data stream, providing and/or handling a set a stream ID from the set of stream IDs to the data stream depending on the type of data stream. In a preferred embodiment, it is proposed to reserve one stream ID for an audio-video request, characterized by having no error handling time available. A further stream ID may be reserved for best effort requests. Still further streams IDs may not be reserved but are freely available for pending error handling procedures, such as time-sliced error handling procedures.

Abstract: Real-time audio video applications require guaranteed request service times from a hard disc drive. This requirement is not always fulfilled due to some unexpected delays in service times. One of the causes of such delay is the replacement of defective or bad sectors. By putting spare sectors on each track and extending the track skew in combination with read-and-write-on-arrival strategies it is possible to prevent extra delays in service times due to replacement of sectors.

Abstract: Real-time audio video applications require guaranteed request service times from a hard disc drive. This requirement is not always fulfilled due to some unexpected delays in service times. Re-allocated sectors are one of the causes of such delays. A scheme for conversion of re-maps into slips in a hard disc drive is suggested. Converting re-allocated sectors into slipped or skipped sectors can prevent such a delay, since slipped sectors cause much less or even negligible performance loss than re-allocated sectors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of writing data to and reading data from a memory (102) by a host. By limiting processing time, time restrictions regarding the data to be processed can be met. However, this is at the expense of data integrity. By setting time limits for a group (300) of multiple processing assignments and dynamic allocation of time, reserved for error recovery and retries, data integrity can be improved, while time limits can still be met. Furthermore, by attaching priorities to the assignments, multiple types of data can be handled in one group of assignments. For example, assignments with real-time requirements can be put in a group with assignments with best effort requirements. In this way, more flexible planning of processing assignments is possible. The invention also relates to a system for writing data to and reading data from a memory.