INDUCED SLEEP INTERVALS FOR DEVICES RECEIVING BURSTY NON-REAL TIME BROADCAST FLOWS

Embodiments enable multimedia broadcast systems to temporarily suspend broadcast of data in an active content flow when insufficient data is available for efficient use of the broadcast bandwidth, while signaling receiver devices so they may deactivate receiver circuits to conserve power while data broadcasts are suspended. Flow content received in the broadcaster during the temporary suspension of data broadcasts may be stored in flow buffers for broadcast at the end of the temporary suspension. An indication of the duration of suspended data broadcasts may be included in the overhead information symbols (OIS) within the broadcast signal. Receiver devices receiving the indication of suspended data broadcasts may deactivate their receiver circuits for the indicated duration. The broadcast suspensions may be coordinated across multiple content flows so that receiver devices can periodically wake up at induced sleep intervals to monitor any data flow of the broadcast system.