Patent ID: 8164502

Claim:
A method for use with a system that includes at least one sub-system that is responsive to a digital signal, the method comprising: (a) buffering portions of the digital signal prior to providing the portions of the digital signal to the at least one sub-system that is responsive to the digital signal; (b) while the portions of the digital signal are being buffered, (b.1) determining, based on a first amount of the buffered portions of the digital signal, when a first portion of the system can be switched from a first state to a second state, where the second state results in less power dissipation than the first state, and (b.2) determining, based on a second amount of the buffered portions of the digital signal, when a second portion of the system can be switched from the first state to the second state, wherein the second amount is different than the first amount; (c) selectively switching the first portion of the system from the first state to the second state based on results of the determining performed at step (b.1), and selectively switching the second portion of the system from the first state to the second state based on results of the determining performed at step (b.2); and (d) providing the portions of the digital signal to the at least one sub-system that is responsive to the digital signal.