Abstract: Various methods and apparatus are described that use a filter. A receiver may be configured to receive multi-tone signals. The receiver has a Time Domain Equalizer filter employing an algorithm to shorten a length of an incoming impulse response to equal to or less than a guard period by calculating a minimum mean square error solution in combination with measuring an inter-symbol interference of a channel.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating via a packet telephony distribution system is defined that includes a dual-use/analog phone or phone adapter. Any communication device incorporating the adapter can dynamically receive incoming calls and transmit outgoing calls over analog phone lines and over derived phone lines such as VoIP (Voice Over IP). When receiving or transmitting calls, the adapter and an associated gateway perform operations that enable simultaneous communication over the analog phone lines or derived phone lines from any combination of communication devices. In cooperation with the communication devices, the gateway further dynamically controls the incoming and outgoing calls over the analog phone lines and derived phone lines.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network for improving the transmission of DSL signals over a local loop is disclosed. The DSL network includes a loop extender with communications, control, and diagnostic functionality, and a central office including a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) and a central office controller coupled to the loop extender via the local loop for controlling the loop extender.

Abstract: A Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) network for improving the transmission of DSL signals includes a plurality of local loops for transmission of upstream and downstream DSL signals, control signals, and Direct Current (DC) power, a plurality of loop extenders with communications, control, and diagnostic functionality for amplifying the DSL signals, a loop extender communications/power supply for receiving the DC power and control signals, providing DC power to the plurality of loop extenders, and broadcasting the received control signals to the plurality of loop extenders, and a central office controller/power supply for controlling access to the plurality of local loops and controlling the plurality of loop extenders.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for a multi-carrier communication system that detects and reduces an echo from a non-linear element present on the transmission medium. In an embodiment, a training period is established between a first transmitter-receiver device and a second transmitter-receiver device in the discrete multiple tone system that separates communication signals into two or more separate frequency bands. Noise caused by an echo generated by a non-linear element present on the transmission medium is detected during the training period. The significance of the non-linear echo contribution to the overall ambient noise level present in the system may be determined.

Abstract: A system and method to permit efficient communication between multiple devices having different network protocols and to permit a private network device to conduct a direct PPPoE session without restricting other devices on the private network from using another IP address. In particular, a gateway device is provided that translates and routes data packets between devices of different network protocols by referring to a table of device addresses and physical port information. Advantageously, the gateway device may maintain the table dynamically. An entry is created for a device the first time it sends a packet over the network, and an entry is deleted if a device has not sent a packet for a predetermined time interval. If no entry exists corresponding to a packet's destination, the packet is sent to all devices on the network. Finally, the gateway device also identifies the ethertype of data packets and routes them accordingly.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically configuring customer premises equipment, the system including a search module configured to select a set of configuration values and to create a discover packet including the set of configuration values. The discover packet is transmitted to attempt a connection with a network access device. If no response packet is received from the network access device, the search module selects another set of configuration values and creates another discover packet. If a response packet is received from the network access device, the search module stores the correct configuration values from the header of the response packet into a configuration register. A memory stores a subset of all possible configuration values including commonly used values.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically selecting and assigning private IP addresses to locally networked devices are provided whereby a mechanism exists to prevent an overlap in private IP addresses assigned to a gateway device and to the various locally networked devices. An IP module of the gateway device determines if a default private IP address space allotted to the networked devices overlaps with the private IP address assigned to the gateway device by an ISP. Should an overlap occur, the IP module iterates through available private IP address spaces and selects a largest non-overlapping block from which private IP addresses may be parceled out to the networked devices.

Abstract: A robust packet arrival time detector using a power estimate to validate a packet arrival time measurement. A packet arrival time measurement is considered valid when the value of the power estimate signal indicates that a packet is being received. A power estimator comprises a bandpass filter, a Hilbert transform, two squaring devices, an adder, and a lowpass filter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for improving DSL performance, including ADSL and VDSL performance, over a local loop between a telephone company central office and a customer premises. In particular, a DSL repeater is coupled to the local loop and amplifies downstream and upstream DSL signals to at least partially compensate for DSL signal attenuation that occurs as DSL signals pass over the local loop. Pursuant to one embodiment, the DSL repeater includes a POTS load coil to improve the POTS, or voice band, transmission over the local loop. According to this embodiment, the DSL repeater provides both improved POTS band signal transmission and DSL service. One embodiment of the load coil includes a coupled inductor having compensating capacitors coupled thereto for counter-balancing the inter-winding capacitance of the coupled inductor. In another embodiment, the load coil includes a high intra-winding capacitance for counter-balancing the inter-winding capacitance of a coupled inductor.

Abstract: An extended bandwidth HomePNA system uses a transmit spectrum having a greater bandwidth than the bandwidth specified by a HomePNA 2.0 communication standard. The extended bandwidth system of the invention provides for additional copies of a spectrum of a 2 Mbaud training signal for better accuracy in decoding transmitted data by a receiver. In one embodiment, the extended bandwidth is a 12 MHz band centered at 10 MHz, from 4 MHz to 16 MHz. This extended bandwidth allows for three copies of a 4 Mbaud training sequence or six copies of a 2 Mbaud training sequence. The extended bandwidth of the invention is compatible with a HomePNA 2.0 system by providing a training sequence that enables a HomePNA 2.0 receiver in 2 Mbaud mode to train on the transmitted signal and determine that the transmitted signal is not intended for the HomePNA 2.0 receiver in 2 Mbaud mode.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed to implement fault detection in DSL loop extenders. The system of the invention includes a plurality of loop extenders coupled to a local loop, a loop extender (LE) test box coupled to the local loop, and fault detection circuitry coupled to each of the plurality of loop extenders. The LE test box sends a tone pair associated with a loop extender over the local loop, the loop extender associated with the tone pair processes the tone pair to generate a response tone and sends the response tone to the LE test box via the local loop. Then, the LE test box determines functionality of the loop extender based upon the received response tone.

Abstract: A dual-line DSL system comprises a central office and a customer premises coupled by at least two communication paths that together provide a single high-bandwidth channel. An ADSL transceiver unit-remote (ATU-R) at the customer premises is configured to reduce the effects of far end cross talk and near end cross talk on signals received by the ATU-R.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for improving DSL performance, including ADSL and VDSL performance, over a local loop between a telephone company central office and a customer premises. In particular, a loop extender is coupled to the local loop and differentially amplifies downstream and upstream DSL signals to at least partially compensate for DSL signal attenuation that occurs as DSL signals pass over the local loop. Pursuant to one embodiment, the loop extender includes an upstream filter/amplifying equalizer, a downstream filter/amplifying equalizer, a differential amplifier pair, an inverting amplifier, and a pair of electromagnetic hybrids, which couple the loop extender to the loop and provide upstream and downstream signal amplification. In another embodiment, the loop extender includes POTS loading coils to improve the POTS or voice band transmission over the local loop. According to this embodiment, the loop extender provides both improved POTS band signal transmission and DSL service.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently correcting block errors in packet-based digital communications are provided whereby the ratio of redundant symbols/message symbols over the length of a data packet decreases in order to more efficiently use available bandwidth. The reduction of this ratio, and subsequently the change in a corresponding framing schedule, may be determined through negotiations between the transmitting device and the receiving devices. Each receiving device calculates a redundancy requirement based on signal-to-noise ratio samples. This requirement is returned to the transmitting device in the form of a schedule request. The transmitting device determines if a new framing schedule is needed based on the schedule request, and communicates this new framing schedule to the receiving device. Once the receiving device acknowledges receipt of the new schedule, the transmitting device switches to the new framing schedule for future data packet transmissions.

Abstract: A load coil is disposed along a local loop for conditioning POTS signals while permitting passage of higher frequency DSL signals with low attenuation. In one embodiment, the load coil includes a coupled inductor having multiple capacitive elements coupled thereto, the capacitive elements facilitating passage of the DSL signals across the load coil.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for adaptively accommodating a high amplitude downstream signal in a DSL modem. High amplitude downstream signals are common with local loop lengths of less than about 6,000 feet and can saturate DSL modem components and impair DSL service if not effectively accommodated. In general, a DSL system detects a high amplitude downstream DSL signal and adjusts a DSL modem analog front end in response to the detected high amplitude downstream DSL signal so that analog front end components of a DSL modem are not saturated by the high amplitude downstream DSL signal. Pursuant to one embodiment, a digital signal processor detects the high amplitude DSL signal and, in response, decreases a gain of a first stage receiver to accommodate the high amplitude downstream DSL signal. Another embodiment introduces additional attenuation of the downstream DSL signal to attenuate high amplitude downstream DSL signals before they enter first stage receiver amplifier circuits.

Abstract: A detector for detecting packet arrival time for packets received by a Home Phoneline Network Alliance (HPNA) receiver. The detector correlates received preamble symbols with stored preamble symbols and generates an estimation of the packet arrival time when the entire transmitted preamble has arrived at the receiver. The estimation of the packet arrival time is defined on a symbol period boundary. The detector includes a complex correlator with a simplified structure based on characteristic of the received HPNA signal.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically discovering accessible services on a computer network and providing automatic access thereto. In particular, a gateway server is provided which periodically scans a building network for available network services and publishes links to the available network services over the Internet. Advantageously, a scanning engine of the gateway server periodically attempts to open a connection, or socket, with the port associated with each service to determine the availability of that service. The scanning engine initiates a second exchange with the port to validate the availability of the particular network service if the attempt to establish a connection with the port was successful. The scanning engine then creates a list of the identified accessible services. The list of accessible services may be configured as dynamic links on a gateway server web page to allow access to the identified network services from an outside network, via the dynamic links.

Abstract: A system for matching impedance in the circuitry of an xDSL communication device to improve noise cancellation resulting from signal leakage between transmit and receive signals. The system for matching impedance includes a transformer configured to couple an impedance, which is substantially equal to a line impedance, to a line coupling transformer, and is applicable to all known hybrid topologies. The transformer is ideally as closely matched to the line coupling transformer as possible. This technique allows greatly improved impedance matching in the hybrid, which directly benefits the performance of xDSL communication devices.