Splitter-less digital subscriber loop modems with improved throughput and voice and data separation

• US 6,324,268 B1
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Balachandran, Kumar, Rydbeck, Nils, Koilpillai, R. David
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US09/259,964
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.08, 379/93.09, 379/93.28, 379/93.31, 379/93.33, 375/222
• US Class Current: 379/93.08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data

Abstract

A digital subscriber loop (DSL) modem and methods for controlling a DSL modem are provided which support simultaneous voice and data communications, wherein the voice communication is provided in a first frequency range and the data communication is provided in a second, non-overlapping frequency range. A voice communication is detected in the first frequency range and the output power associated with the data communication in the second frequency range is reduced when a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected. Furthermore, the coding level associated with the data communication in the second frequency range may be increased when a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected. Also, the start frequency associated with data communication in the second frequency range may be increased when a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected.

Claims

1. A splitter-less digital subscriber loop (DSL) modem, which provides simultaneous voice and data communication, wherein the voice communication is provided in a first frequency range and the data communication is provided in a second, non-overlapping, frequency range, the modem comprising:

a voice communication detector which detects the presence of a voice communication in the first frequency range;

a data communication controller responsive to the voice communication detector and which controls at least one of a coding rate of data and a level of interleaving of data in the data communication and wherein the data communication controller increases the at least one of a coding rate and a level of interleaving when a voice communication is detected.

2. A DSL modem according to claim 1, wherein the data communication controller further controls a number of tones utilized in the data communication and wherein the data communication controller decreases the number of tones when a voice communication is detected.

3. A DSL modem according to claim 1, wherein the DSL modem comprises an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop modem.

4. A DSL modem according to claim 1, wherein the voice communication detector comprises an off-hook detector which detects an off-hook condition of a voice communication device associated with the modem.

5. A DSL modem according to claim 4, wherein the off-hook detector detects the presence of at least one of a line current and a line voltage on a connection associated with the voice communication device.

6. A DSL modem according to claim 4, wherein the off-hook detector detects a dial tone on a connection associated with the voice communication device.

7. A DSL modem according to claim 4, wherein the voice communication detector further comprises a ring detector for detecting a ringing tone in the first frequency range.

8. A DSL modem according to claim 1, wherein the voice communication detector comprises a ring detector for detecting a ringing tone in the first frequency range.

9. A DSL modem according to claim 1, wherein the data communication controller further controls the output power of the data communication so as to increase the output power of the data communication in the second frequency range when a voice communication is not detected.

10. A DSL modem according to claim 9, wherein the data communication controller further controls training of the DSL modem for communication of data in the second frequency band and wherein the data communication controller retrains the DSL modem utilizing the increased output power when a voice communication is not detected.

11. A method of controlling a digital subscriber loop (DSL) modem which provides simultaneous voice and data communications, wherein the voice communication is provided in a first frequency range and the data communication is provided in a second, non-overlapping, frequency range, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a voice communication in the first frequency range; and

increasing at least one of a coding rate and an interleaving level associated with the data communication in the second frequency range when a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of increasing a start frequency associated with data communication in the second frequency range when a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of decreasing a number of tones utilized in data communication in the second frequency range when a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected.

14. A method according to claim 11, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of detecting a ringing tone in the first frequency range.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein the detecting step comprises the step of detecting an off-hook condition of a voice communications device associated with the modem.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said step of detecting the presence of an off-hook condition comprises the step of detecting at least one of a line current and a line voltage in a connection associated with the voice communications device.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein said step of detecting an off-hook condition comprises the step of detecting the presence of a dial tone.

18. A method according to claim 11, wherein the detecting step further comprises the step of detecting the termination of an active voice communication in the first frequency range.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the step of detecting the termination of an active voice communication in the first frequency range comprises at least one of detecting an absence of a signal in the first frequency range and detecting an absence of a line voltage in a connection associated with a voice communications device associated with the modem.

20. A method according to claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

increasing an output power associated with data communication in the second frequency range when a the termination of a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected; and

retraining utilizing the increased output power.

21. A system for controlling a digital subscriber loop (DSL) modem which provides simultaneous voice and data communications, wherein the voice communication is provided in a first frequency range and the data communication is provided in a second, non-overlapping, frequency range, the system comprising:

means for detecting a voice communication in the first frequency range; and

means for increasing at least one of a coding rate and an interleaving level associated with the data communication in the second frequency range when a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected.

22. A system according to claim 21, further comprising means for increasing a start frequency associated with data communication in the second frequency range when a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected.

23. A system according to claim 21, further comprising means for decreasing a number of tones utilized in data communication in the second frequency range when a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected.

24. A system according to claim 21, wherein the means for detecting comprises means for detecting a ringing tone in the first frequency range.

25. A system according to claim 21, wherein the means for detecting comprises means for detecting an off-hook condition of a voice communications device associated with the modem.

26. A system according to claim 21, wherein said means for detecting the presence of an off-hook condition comprises means for detecting at least one of a line current and a line voltage in a connection associated with the voice communications device.

27. A system according to claim 21, wherein said means for detecting an off-hook condition comprises means for detecting the presence of a dial tone.

28. A system according to claim 21, wherein the means for detecting further comprises means for detecting the termination of an active voice communication in the first frequency range.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the means for detecting the termination of an active voice communication in the first frequency range comprises at least one of means for detecting an absence of a signal in the first frequency range and means for detecting an absence of a line voltage in a connection associated with a voice communications device associated with the modem.

30. A system according to claim 28, further comprising:

means for increasing an output power associated with data communication in the second frequency range when a the termination of a voice communication in the first frequency range is detected; and

means for retraining utilizing the increased output power.