Abstract: Channel equalization is performed by selecting an equalizer from a set of equalizers that have a common frequency response with the differences in the equalizers being able to be characterized by different values of a single variable. Selecting from a set of equalizers reduces the problem of training an equalizer to a one-dimensional optimization process. Specifically, the selection of the equalizer from the set is done through an optimization process in which a performance measure such as the signal-noise-ratio is maximized, or, as an alternative embodiment, some error measurements such as the power of the timing error signal is minimized. The set of equalizers may be generated from a root equalizer that has been already trained to compensate for a channel characteristic such that the set of equalizers all have the same frequency response, but have different group delays.

Abstract: A host signal processing (HSP) modem or transceiver includes a transmit buffer and a receive buffer. The transmit buffer stores multiple blocks of information representing a transmit signal, and the receive buffer includes available space for multiple blocks of information representing a receive signal. Each block of information corresponds to its respective signal for an associated period that spans the time between consecutive interrupts for the HSP modem. When the host computer fails to service one or more interrupts, the hardware portion of the HSP modem uses the reserve of information from the transmit buffer to generate the transmit signal and stores one or more blocks of information representing the receive signal in the receive buffer. Accordingly, the HSP mode maintains the connection and data throughput even when the host computer misses interrupts.