Abstract: A rate adaptive digital subscriber line (XDSL) communication system and method are disclosed. An XDSL link for XDSL equipment is trained at a data rate set by a baud rate and a constellation size. Actual operating characteristics of the XDSL equipment are then obtained from parameters for the trained XDSL link. One or more rate adaptive data tables storing empirical data for performance of the XDSL equipment are accessed. Then, it is determined whether the trained data rate will provide a desired bit error rate using the actual operating characteristics and the empirical data from the accessed one or more of the rate adaptive data tables. In one embodiment, if the trained data rate will not provide the desired bit error rate, a new data rate is selected using the empirical data and the actual operating characteristics. Then, the XDSL link is trained using the new data rate, and the process is repeated.

Abstract: A rate adaptive digital subscriber line (XDSL) communication system and method are disclosed. An XDSL link for XDSL equipment is trained at a data rate set by a baud rate and a constellation size. Actual operating characteristics of the XDSL equipment are then obtained from parameters for the trained XDSL link. One or more rate adaptive data tables storing empirical data for performance of the XDSL equipment are accessed. Then, it is determined whether the trained data rate will provide a desired bit error rate using the actual operating characteristics and the empirical data from the accessed one or more of the rate adaptive data tables. In one embodiment, if the trained data rate will not provide the desired bit error rate, a new data rate is selected using the empirical data and the actual operating characteristics. Then, the XDSL link is trained using the new data rate, and the process is repeated.