Abstract: In an FTTDP optical fibre network, Distribution point units are reverse powered by customer premises equipment and therefore liable to power failure. When the distribution point unit loses power it is unavailable to respond to requests for performance or metric data. A persistent manager agent functions as a proxy for the distribution point unit, gathering metric and performance data from the distribution point unit using at least one EOC channel and handling requests for performance and metric data issued from other network devices. The persistent manager can also schedule downloads of firmware and configuration data to the distribution point unit.

Abstract: A method and Dynamic Line Management, DLM, system for controlling Digital Line Subscriber, DSL, connections, comprising applying a first line profile to a DSL connection, the first line profile specifying a first virtual noise template for the DSL connection, wherein the first virtual noise template specifies a first set of frequency dependent virtual noise levels for the DSL connection; configuring a connection parameter (such as the data rate) of the DSL connection based on the first set of frequency dependent virtual noise levels; applying a second line profile to the DSL transceiver unit, the second line profile specifying a second virtual noise template for the DSL connection, wherein the second virtual noise template specifies a second set of frequency dependent virtual noise levels for the DSL connection; and reconfiguring the connection parameter for the DSL connection based on the second set of frequency dependent virtual noise levels.

Abstract: A method and Dynamic Line Management, DLM, system for controlling Digital Line Subscriber, DSL, connections, comprising applying a first line profile to a DSL connection, the first line profile specifying a first virtual noise template for the DSL connection, wherein the first virtual noise template specifies a first set of frequency dependent virtual noise levels for the DSL connection; configuring a connection parameter (such as the data rate) of the DSL connection based on the first set of frequency dependent virtual noise levels; applying a second line profile to the DSL transceiver unit, the second line profile specifying a second virtual noise template for the DSL connection, wherein the second virtual noise template specifies a second set of frequency dependent virtual noise levels for the DSL connection; and reconfiguring the connection parameter for the DSL connection based on the second set of frequency dependent virtual noise levels.

Abstract: In an FTTDP optical fibre network, Distribution point units are reverse powered by customer premises equipment and therefore liable to power failure. When the distribution point unit loses power it is unavailable to respond to requests for performance or metric data. A persistent manager agent functions as a proxy for the distribution point unit, gathering metric and performance data from the distribution point unit using at least one EOC channel and handling requests for performance and metric data issued from other network devices. The persistent manager can also schedule downloads of firmware and configuration data to the distribution point unit.

Abstract: Following a transmission comprising a plurality of symbols, an error measurement is generated for each symbol, so that one may distinguish between symbols having a relatively low error and symbols having a relatively high error. A bit rate to be used for subsequent transmission is determined as a function of error measurements of those symbols that have relatively low error and as a function also of the proportion of symbols having a relatively high error, such that the bit rate reduces as the proportion increases. Measurement of the error rate and/or the durations of high and low error conditions may also be used to set other transmission parameters such as error-correcting code and interleaver settings.

Abstract: Following a transmission comprising a plurality of symbols, an error measurement is generated for each symbol, so that one may distinguish between symbols having a relatively low error and symbols having a relatively high error. A bit rate to be used for subsequent transmission is determined as a function of error measurements of those symbols that have relatively low error and as a function also of the proportion of symbols having a relatively high error, such that the bit rate reduces as the proportion increases. Measurement of the error rate and/or the durations of high and low error conditions may also be used to set other transmission parameters such as error-correcting code and interleaver settings.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for a lighting fixture for providing a lighting source of a first wattage range and a lighting source of a second wattage range, wherein the lighting sources may be activated simultaneously or independently, depending on the desired illumination level.

Abstract: Voice over Digital Subscriber Line (VoDSL) is an emerging technology, and as such requires subscriber acceptance and take-up both for the future development of this technology and to repay access network operator investment in VoDSL equipment. The present invention provides an improved equipment architecture and improved methods of separating VoDSL equipment to enhance performance and/or enable the provision of improved services.

Abstract: A reduction in a peak-to-mean envelope power ratio of a multicarrier signal, represented as a time domain signal, is achieved by applying (76) an offset, indicative of a difference (74) between a mean signal level and a midpoint level of the time domain signal, to the time domain signal. Alternatively, constellation values of positive and negative frequency components are modified by differing functions to produce a modified data set. Preferably, the negative frequency components are set to a predetermined value (namely zero (124)) to provide an alternate coding scheme Once the multicarrier signal has been converted into a time domain representation, real and imaginary parts (126-128) of the modified data set that consequently only contain positive frequency components and zeros are compared with one another to identify (130) which of the real and imaginary parts has a lower peak-to-average signal ratio (134) for the time domain representation.