Device and method for determining characteristics of a digital subscriber line
First Claim
1. A method for determining the suitability of a copper line, used for transmitting voice band signals and having one or more user devices coupled thereto for transmitting signals on the copper line, for use in transmitting data signals out-of-band with the voice band signals, the method comprising:
- applying a test signal at one point in the copper line, the test signal having a known relationship to a particular out-of-band data transmission scheme;
monitoring a response of the copper line to the test signal, as influenced by the one or more user devices, wherein the monitoring takes place at about the point where the test signal was applied; and
determining the suitability of the copper line for data transmission using the particular out-of-band data transmission scheme based on the monitored response of the copper line.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for determining the suitability of a copper line, used for transmitting voice band signals and having one or more user devices coupled thereto for transmitting signals on the copper line, for use in transmitting data signals out-of-band with the voice band signals is provided. The method includes applying a test signal at one point in the copper line. The test signal has a known relationship to a particular out-of-band data transmission scheme. A response of the copper line to the test signal is monitored, as influenced by the one or more user devices. The monitoring takes place at about the point where the test signal was applied. The suitability of the copper line for data transmission using the particular out-of-band data transmission scheme is determined based on the monitored response of the copper line. A method for determining the suitability of a communication line for transmitting data using an out-of-band data transmission protocol is provided. The communication line has a plurality of user devices attached thereto, and the method includes providing a test signal on the communication line having a known relationship to the out-of-band data transmission protocol; monitoring a response of the communication line to the test signal as influenced by the user devices; determining the suitability of the communication line for use in transmitting data signals using the particular out-of-band data transmission protocol based on the response; disconnecting at least one of the user devices from the communication line; and repeating the providing, monitoring, and determining steps to determine if the at least one user device disconnected from the communication line is an interfering device.
85 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method for determining the suitability of a copper line, used for transmitting voice band signals and having one or more user devices coupled thereto for transmitting signals on the copper line, for use in transmitting data signals out-of-band with the voice band signals, the method comprising:
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applying a test signal at one point in the copper line, the test signal having a known relationship to a particular out-of-band data transmission scheme; monitoring a response of the copper line to the test signal, as influenced by the one or more user devices, wherein the monitoring takes place at about the point where the test signal was applied; and determining the suitability of the copper line for data transmission using the particular out-of-band data transmission scheme based on the monitored response of the copper line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A device for determining the suitability of a copper line, used for transmitting voice band signals and having one or more user devices coupled thereto for transmitting signals on the copper line, for use in transmitting data signals out-of-band with the voice band signals, the device comprising:
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a signal generator for coupling to the copper line at one point, the signal generator providing a test signal to the copper line, the test signal having a known relationship to a particular out-of-band data transmission scheme; a monitoring circuit coupled to the copper line proximate the one point to monitor a response of the copper line to the test signal at about said one point, as influenced by the one or more user devices; and a processing unit coupled to the monitoring circuit to receive the monitored response of the copper line to the test signal and to output an indication of the suitability of the copper line for use in transmitting data signals using the particular out-of-band data transmission scheme. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for determining the suitability of a copper line, used for transmitting voice band signals and having one or more user devices coupled thereto for transmitting signals on the copper line, for use in transmitting data signals out-of-band with the voice band signals, the method comprising:
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applying a test signal to the copper line at one point within a subscriber'"'"'s premises, the test signal having a known relationship to a particular out-of-band data transmission scheme; monitoring within the subscriber'"'"'s premises at the one point the test signal was applied a response of the copper line to the test signal, as influenced by the one or more user devices; and determining the suitability of the copper line for data transmission using the particular out-of-band data transmission scheme based on the monitored response of the copper line.
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21. A test unit for determining the suitability of a copper line, used for transmitting voice band signals and having one or more user devices coupled thereto for transmitting signals on the copper line, for use in transmitting data signals out-of-band with the voice band signals, a device comprising:
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a signal generator for coupling to the copper line at one point, the signal generator providing a test signal to the copper line, the test signal having a known relationship to a particular out-of-band data transmission scheme; a monitoring circuit coupled to the copper line proximate the same point as the signal generator to monitor a response of the copper line to the test signal, as influenced by the one or more user devices; and a processing unit coupled to the monitoring circuit to receive the monitored response of the copper line to the test signal and to output an indication of the suitability of the copper line for use in transmitting data signals using the particular out-of-band data transmission scheme.
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22. A communications system, comprising:
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a communication line; a plurality of user devices coupled to the communication line; and a computer system coupled to the communication line and being adapted to contact a vendor for supplying service using the out-of-band data transmission protocol over the modem, provide the vendor with physical location information associated with the communication line, and receive service availability data based on the physical location information, the computer system comprising; a modem adapted to communicate over the communication line using an out-of-band data transmission protocol; and a test unit adapted to determine the suitability of the communication line for use in transmitting data signals using the out-of-band data transmission protocol, the test unit being adapted to provide a test signal having a known relationship to the out-of-band data transmission protocol at a point on the communication line, monitor a response at about said point of the communication line to the test signal as influenced by the user devices, and output an indication of the suitability of the communication line for use in transmitting data signals using the out-of-band data transmission protocol based on the response.
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23. A communications system, comprising:
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a communication line; a plurality of user devices coupled to the communication line; and a computer system coupled to the communication line, the computer system comprising; a modem adapted to communicate over the commnunication line using an out-of-band data transmission protocol; and a test unit adapted to determine the suitability of the communication line for use in transmitting data signals using the out-of-band data transmission protocol, the test unit being adapted to provide a test signal having a known relationship to the out-of-band data transmission protocol on the communication line, monitor a response of the communication line to the test signal as influenced by the user devices, and output an indication of the suitability of the communication line for use in transmitting data signals using the out-of-band data transmission protocol based on the response, wherein, the computer system is adapted to instruct a user to disconnect certain ones of the user devices from the communication line, the test unit is adapted to iterate its functions of providing the test signal, monitoring the response, and outputting the indication of the suitability of the communication line for each disconnection, and the computer system is adapted to identify an interfering device from among the user devices based on the iterative responses generated by the test unit, and recommend installation of a local filtering device between the interfering device and the communication line based on the monitored response of the communication line. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for determining the suitability of a communication line for transmitting data using an out-of-band data transmission protocol, the communication line having a plurality of user devices attached thereto, and the method comprising:
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providing a test signal on the communication line having a known relationship to the out-of-band data transmission protocol; monitoring a response of the communication line to the test signal as influenced by the user devices; determining the suitability of the communication line for use in transmitting data signals using the particular out-of-band data transmission protocol based on the response; disconnecting at least one of the user devices from the communication line; repeating the providing, monitoring, and determining steps to determine if the at least one user device disconnected from the communication line is an interfering device; contacting a vendor for supplying service using the out-of-band data transmission protocol; providing the vendor with physical location information associated with the communication line; and receiving service availability data based on the physical location information.
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28. A method for determining the suitability of a communication line for transmitting data using an out-of-band data transmission protocol, the communication line having a plurality of user devices attached thereto, and the method comprising:
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providing a test signal on the communication line having a known relationship to the out-of-band data transmission protocol; monitoring a response of the communication line to the test signal as influenced by the user devices; determining the suitability of the communication line for use in transmitting data signals using the particular out-of-band data transmission protocol based on the response; disconnecting at least one of the user devices from the communication line; repeating the providing, monitoring, and determining steps to determine if the at least one user device disconnected from the communication line is an interfering device; iteratively disconnecting each of the user devices and repeating the providing, monitoring, and determining steps to determine if any of the user devices disconnected from the communication line are interfering devices; and determining a need for a local filtering device at a location of at least one of the user devices to separate voice band signals and out-of-band data signals transmitted on the communication line based on the response. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for determining the suitability of a communication line for transmitting data using an out-of-band data transmission protocol, the communication line having a plurality of user devices attached thereto, and the method comprising:
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monitoring a response of the communication line to a test signal as influenced by the user devices; disconnecting at least one of the user devices from the communication line; repeating the monitoring to determine if the at least one user device disconnected from the communication line is an interfering device; and determining a need for a local filtering device at a location of at least one of the user devices based on the monitored responses. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification