Abstract: A switch for switchably coupling a signal source to a high impedance load. The switch includes a first bipolar transistor and a floating switch driver. The first bipolar transistor is configured to switchably couple the signal source to the high impedance load responsive to a driver signal applied to a base thereof. The floating switch driver has a control input and an output terminal coupled to the base of the first bi-polar transistor to supply the driver signal thereto. The driver signal comprises a limited forward current during the “On” state of the floating switch driver and a voltage “Voff” not less than the reverse breakdown voltage nor greater than the forward voltage drop across a base-emitter connection of the first bipolar transistor during the “Off” state of the floating switch driver.

Abstract: There is provided a method of shaping PSD (Power Spectrum Density) of an FTTN (Fiber-To-The-Node) downstream signal from a disturber source to achieve spectral compatibility at an FTTN downstream victim with a downstream PSD from a reference source. The method includes receiving the downstream PSD from the reference source. The method further includes receiving an unshaped downstream PSD from the disturber source. The method further includes shaping the PSD of the FTTN downstream signal to have a substantially equivalent FEXT (Far-End Cross-Talk) into the FTTN downstream victim as the downstream PSD from the reference source.

Abstract: A system and method for a bit-loading algorithm based on an equal error rate principle for each sub-channel (bin) used in a discrete multi-tone modulation (DMT) system. The system and method of the present invention provides a bit-loading algorithm that provides long reach, high data rate and good error performance at a given condition. The bit-loading method and system depends on the Shannon channel capacity formula to allocate bits to different sub-channels. For DMT, the system and method tabulates different SNR GAP for different sub-channels (bins), and constructs a look-up table for the SNR GAP with different bits to achieve a better performance for the DMT system.

Abstract: A technique for improving multiple-channel multi-tone transmissions is disclosed. According to one particular embodiment, a method for transmitting data over at least two bonded channels is provided, wherein each of the at least two bonded channels comprises a plurality of tones. The method may comprise: transmitting a first symbol stream over a first tone in a first bonded channel and over a second tone in a second bonded channel, wherein the first tone is bonded to the second tone, and the transmissions over the first tone and the second tone are substantially in parallel; transmitting a second symbol stream over a third tone in the first bonded channel; and transmitting a third symbol stream over a fourth tone in the second bonded channel, wherein the third tone is bonded to the fourth tone, and the transmissions of the second symbol stream and the third symbol stream are substantially in parallel.

Abstract: A multi-tone modem with shared and discrete components forming a transmit path and a receive path configured to couple to a wired communication medium to communicate at least one multi-tone modulated communication channel thereon. The modem includes a multi-tone modulator component and a configurable frequency up converter component. The multi-tone modulator component is configured for multi-tone modulation and demodulation of a transmitted and received communication channel at a base band frequency range. The configurable frequency up converter component is coupled to the multi-tone modulator to selectably up convert the frequency range of the transmitted base band signal from the multi-tone modulator to that of a selected communication band and down convert received signals from the selected communication band to the base band for demodulation by the multi-tone modulator.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a power spectral density (PSD) mask for spectral shaping of a dual bit map (DBM) mode downstream transmission is provided. The PSD mask is represented by the equation: PSD DBMsOL = K ADSL_OL × C f 0 × [ sin ? ( ? ? f f 0 ) ] 2 ( ? ? f f 0 ) 2 × 1 1 + ( f f LP3dB ) 12 × 1 1 + ( f HP3dB f ) 6 , 0 ? f ? ? where PSDDBMsOL represents the PSD mask, KADSL—OL represents a constant value, C represents a constant value, f represents a frequency of the downstream transmission, f0 represents a constant value, fLP3dB represents a 3 decibel (dB) low pass frequency and ffHP3dB represents a 3 dB high pass frequency. KADSL—OL preferably has a value between 0.0900 watts and 0.1200 watts and more preferably has a value of 0.1104 watts. The constant f0 preferably has a value between 2.100 megahertz and 2.300 megahertz and more preferably has a value of 2.208 megahertz.

Abstract: Double-ended line probing (DELP) techniques are described herein that enable a loop configuration to be identified based on mathematically simple error functions, which are both time-efficient and less sensitive to measurement errors. A DELP algorithm uses readily available data about the channel that is generated prior to the modem operation (e.g., theoretical loop models) and other available data (e.g., that provided by loop diagnostic modules) to estimate the loop configuration including the line length and gauge, as well as the number of bridge taps and their gauges, lengths, and locations.

Abstract: A system and method for encoding information is disclosed. In one embodiment, information is encoded using a high protection code for the least significant bit and a low protection code for the next three most significant bits. The remaining bits are uncoded. The high protection code may be a turbo code and the low protection code may be a trellis coded modulation code. In this embodiment, the collection of bits is then mapped according to a diagonally shifted QAM constellation technique.

Abstract: A modem configured to couple to a communication medium for establishing a communication channel thereon. The modem includes an interleaver component configurable as to interleaver parameters ‘I, D’ corresponding to block length and depth respectively. An interleaver memory buffers the communication channel. An interleaver controller controls writing to and reading from the memory of successive data elements of the communication channel with a quantity ‘I’ pairs of write and read pointers. Each pair or write and read pointers identifies memory locations corresponding with an input and output respectively of an associated one of ‘I’ virtual first-in-first-out (‘v-FIFO’) buffers in the memory. Control of the pointers required to read out the stored data elements in interleaved fashion is limited to shifting all pointers uniformly by one address block in each interleaver block cycle, which simplifies pointer management.

Abstract: A DSL line interface includes an impedance synthesizer that provides negative feedback to the differential amplifier in the DSL line interface so that the return loss standards for the return signal are met. The DSL line interface unit comprises a differential line driver including a first amplifier and a second amplifier for amplifying the DSL transmit signal, first and second complex termination modules coupled to the outputs of the first and second amplifiers, a transformer including a primary winding coupled to the transmission line and a secondary winding coupled to the first and second complex termination modules, and an impedance synthesizer module coupled between the secondary winding of the transformer and the first and second amplifiers to provide negative feedback to the first and second amplifiers.

Abstract: To reduce the ISDN crosstalk in an incoming DSL signal, a crosstalk canceller observes at least a portion of the crosstalk signal and reproduces an estimate of the crosstalk signal for at least a portion of that signal within the DSL band. The crosstalk canceller applies a canceling signal based on the estimated crosstalk signal to reduce the crosstalk in the received DSL signal.

Abstract: A transceiver having shared and discrete components forming a transmit path and a receive path configured to couple to a subscriber line for establishing a communication channel with a remote transceiver. The transceiver comprises a pseudo link manager coupled between the transmit and receive path components to manage pseudo links on the subscriber line prior to entry into a session with the remote transceiver. The pseudo link manager includes: a line monitor and a disruptor. The line monitor monitors the subscriber line, prior to initiating a session, for a received communication signal indicative of a pre-existing session on the remote transceiver. The disruptor transmits a disruptor signal over the subscriber line to the remote transceiver responsive to the detection by the monitor of the received communication signal; thereby disrupting the remote transmitter's pre-existing session and allowing a new session to be established with the remote transceiver.

Abstract: A multi-tone modem supporting multi-tone modulation protocols over multiple bundled transmission lines. The multi-tone modem is configured to transmit and receive communication channels each associated with a corresponding one of a plurality of transmission lines. The modem comprises at least one in-channel forward error correction component and a cross-channel forward error correction component. The at least one in-channel forward error correction component discretely encodes and decodes data from each communication channels transmitted and received over the plurality of transmission lines. The cross-channel forward error correction component encodes data from all communication channels and buffers the corresponding cross-channel redundancy symbols of each cross-channel codeword.

Abstract: A transceiver with a plurality of components coupled to one another to form a transmit path and a receive path for multi-tone modulation of user data across a communication medium. The transceiver includes a framer and a deframer. The framer is configured to momentarily suspend framing of user data before processing bits associated with tones targeted for reference data transport and injects the pre-agreed reference pattern therein, after which framing of user data resumes. The deframer is configured to momentarily suspend deframing of received user data bits before processing bits associated with tones targeted for transport of pre-agreed reference data and extracts the received reference bits thereof for comparison with the corresponding pre-agreed reference bits to determine errors therein, after which deframing of user data resumes.

Abstract: Efficient implementation techniques of a low power mode, (i.e. L2 mode for ADSL2) for DSL transceivers are described. The techniques save memory space and reduce implementation complexity. A constellation mapper in a DSL transmitter determines the number of bits to be retrieved for an ith sub-carrier in the low power mode based on the number of bits allocated for this same sub-carrier in a normal transmission mode, (e.g. L0 mode in ADSL2) and a bit allocation threshold T. A constellation demapper in a DSL receiver determines the number of bits used for an ith sub-carrier in the low power mode based on the bit tables for the L0 mode and the bit threshold T.

Abstract: A line card including: a co-channel estimator and a code selector. The line card is configured to couple to digital subscriber lines to support multi-tone modulation of communications channels thereon. The co-channel estimator is configured to estimate co-channel crosstalk coupling coefficients among selected pairs of the subscriber lines at levels for which the total crosstalk into a selected victim line among the plurality of digital subscriber lines substantially corresponds to the sum of the products of the corresponding crosstalk coupling coefficient for each remaining disturber one of the plurality of subscriber lines and a corresponding substantially unique vector transmitted thereon. The code selector couples to the co-channel estimator. The code selector is configured to select a cross-talk estimation code type and to generate substantially unique code vectors derived there from for injection into selected ones of the of subscriber lines.

Abstract: An inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) processor processing a lower frequency image of a selected transmit band along with base images of remaining transmit bands called for in a corresponding X-DSL standard. A hybrid upconverter processing the IDFT output by generating a higher frequency replication of the imaged transmit band falling in the standards based frequency range along with the base band images of remaining transmit bands and selectively passing onto the communication medium only images or replications called for by the standards. A hybrid downconverter processing at least one of the received bands at sampling rates below Nyquist thereby creating a lower frequency image within the range of a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) processor. The hybrid downconverter clears the frequency band in which the image processed at sub-Nyquist rates will fold. The DFT then transforms only the images or replications falling within its frequency range.

Abstract: A high efficiency line driver is disclosed. The line driver may be applied with equal advantage in wired and wireless communication media to amplify data signals with a minimum of power consumption. In an embodiment of the invention a line driver is disclosed which includes: at least one amplifier, a delay element, a control signal generator and a generator. The at least one amplifier includes at least one bias supply, a signal input and a signal output. The delay element accepts as an input the data signal and delays delivery of the data signal to the at least one line amplifier for amplification. The generator is responsive to a control signal to generate varying voltage levels corresponding thereto on the at least one bias supply of the at least one amplifier. The control signal generator is responsive to the input data signal to detect peaks therein and to generate the control signal corresponding thereto in advance of delivery of the data signal to the amplifier.

Abstract: Modem selection of codeword interleaver parameters given standard based, operator based and channel based communication channel performance constraints. A processor implements processes for characterizing the forward error correction codeword and interleaver solution space in terms of expressions from which targeted portions of the solution space may be identified prior to evaluation of the magnitude of the coefficients of the corresponding nodes thereof for compliance with the communication channel performance constraints.

Abstract: A bundler, un-bundler and sequencer for use in controlling and driving opposing sets of logical or physical modems to drive multiple-subscriber lines with multiple communication channels. The sequencer determines subscriber requirements such as maximum and minimum bandwidth and quality of service. The sequencer also determines bandwidth availability and status of multiple subscriber lines from which a bundle may be formed. The bundler couple to the sequencer and implement header or headerless insertion of multiple channels in round robin sequence into the X-DSL frames at data rates which correspond with subscriber requirements. The un-bundler reverses the process of the bundler and passes the appropriate packet data onto the corresponding network.