COMMUNICATION SERVER APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20010043568A1
• Filed: 01/08/1998
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: SISK, JAMES R., MCHALE, JOHN F., LOCKLEAR, ROBERT H. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,385,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2889 Multiservice, e.g. MSAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4612 LAN interconnection over narrowband networks, e.g. N-ISDN, PSTN, X.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5692 Selection among different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0008 arrangements for allowing a transmitter or receiver to use more than one type of modulation negotiating modulation type for two-way transmission paths H04L5/1453
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/06 Simultaneous speech and data transmission, e.g. telegraphic transmission over the same conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/062 using different frequency bands for speech and other data
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1302 Relay switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13036 Serial/parallel conversion, parallel bit transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13039 Asymmetrical two-way transmission, e.g. ADSL, HDSL
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1304 Coordinate switches, crossbar, 4/2 with relays, coupling field
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1319 Amplifier, attenuation circuit, echo suppressor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13199 : Modem, modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13203 : Exchange termination [ET]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 : Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1329 : Asynchronous transfer mode, ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13299 : Bus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13302 : Magnetic elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1332 : Logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13322 : Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1334 : Configuration within the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 : Network management
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A communication server maintains profile information on twisted pair lines in a profile table. This profile information may be generated in a training session and then retrieved to train a modem or transceiver unit to communicate data over the associated twisted pair line using XDSL communication techniques.

Claims

1. A communication server coupled to a plurality of twisted pair lines, the communication server comprising:

a plurality of XDSL transceiver units;

a line profile table having profile information for a plurality of twisted pair lines; and

a system controller operable to retrieve profile information for a twisted pair line from the line profile table, the system controller further operable to provide the retrieved profile information to an XDSL transceiver unit coupled to the twisted pair line.

2. The communication server of

claim 1

, further comprising a plurality of line interface modules coupled to the twisted pair lines and the XDSL transceiver units, wherein the system controller directs a line interface module to couple the twisted pair line to the XDSL transceiver unit.

3. The communication server of

claim 1

, further comprising a network interface coupled to the XDSL transceiver unit.

4. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein the system controller communicates with the XDSL transceiver units using a serial management bus.

5. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein each XDSL transceiver unit includes at least one digital signal processor having a plurality of registers, wherein the system controller loads profile information into the registers of the digital signal processor of the XDSL transceiver unit.

6. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein the line profile table stores profile information in non-volatile memory.

7. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein the line profile table resides on the system controller.

8. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein profile information comprises a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line.

9. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line; and

an associated data rate for the twisted pair line.

10. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line;

an associated data rate for the twisted pair line; and

a margin for the twisted pair line representing the difference between a current or expected signal strength and a minimum signal strength to maintain communication.

11. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of upstream filter coefficients for the twisted pair line; and

a plurality of downstream filter coefficients for the twisted pair line.

12. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein the line profile table comprises profile information indexed by subscriber information for each twisted pair line.

13. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein each twisted pair line forms a local loop to a subscriber.

14. The communication server of

claim 1

, wherein the XDSL transceiver unit uses profile information to perform carrier-less amplitude phase modulation to communicate information.

15. An XDSL transceiver unit, comprising:

an XDSL chipset operable to couple to a twisted pair line;

a plurality of registers associated with the XDSL chipset; and

a microcontroller coupled to the XDSL chipset and the registers, the microcontroller operable to receive profile information for the twisted pair line from an external device, the microcontroller further operable to store the profile information in the registers in preparation for XDSL communication using the twisted pair line.

16. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein the microcontroller is further operable to direct the XDSL chipset to perform a test on the twisted pair line after storing the profile information in the registers.

17. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein the external device comprises non-volatile memory.

18. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein the external device comprises a system controller.

19. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein the microcontroller communicates with the external device using a serial management bus.

20. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein the registers are associated with at least one digital signal processor in the XDSL chipset.

21. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein profile information comprises a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line.

22. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line; and

an associated data rate for the twisted pair line.

23. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line;

an associated data rate for the twisted pair line; and

a margin for the twisted pair line representing the difference between a current or expected signal strength and a minimum signal strength to maintain communication.

24. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of upstream filter coefficients for the twisted pair line; and

a plurality of downstream filter coefficients for the twisted pair line.

25. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein the twisted pair line forms a local loop to a subscriber.

26. The XDSL transceiver unit of

claim 15

, wherein the XDSL chipset uses profile information to perform carrier-less amplitude phase modulation to communicate information.

27. A method for communicating using a plurality of XDSL transceiver units and a plurality of twisted pair lines, the method comprising:

storing profile information for a plurality of twisted pair lines;

coupling an XDSL transceiver unit to a twisted pair line;

retrieving profile information for the twisted pair line; and

providing the retrieved profile information to the XDSL transceiver unit coupled to the twisted pair line in preparation for XDSL communication.

28. The method of

claim 27

, further comprising:

receiving a request for service on the twisted pair line; and

directing a line interface module to couple the twisted pair line to the XDSL transceiver unit.

29. The method of

claim 27

, wherein providing the retrieved profile information comprises communicating the retrieved profile information from a system controller to the XDSL transceiver unit using a serial management bus.

30. The method of

claim 27

, wherein providing the retrieved profile information comprises loading the retrieved profile information into a plurality of registers associated with at least one digital signal processor in the XDSL transceiver unit.

31. The method of

claim 27

, wherein storing profile information comprises storing profile information in non-volatile memory.

32. The method of

claim 27

, wherein storing profile information comprises storing profile information at a system controller.

33. The method of

claim 27

, wherein profile information comprises a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line.

34. The method of

claim 27

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line; and

an associated data rate for the twisted pair line.

35. The method of

claim 27

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line;

an associated data rate for the twisted pair line; and

a margin for the twisted pair line representing the difference between a current or expected signal strength and a minimum signal strength to maintain communication.

36. The method of

claim 27

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of upstream filter coefficients for the twisted pair line; and

a plurality of downstream filter coefficients for the twisted pair line.

37. The method of

claim 27

, wherein each twisted pair line forms a local loop to a subscriber.

38. The method of

claim 27

, further comprising the step of performing carrier-less amplitude phase modulation using the retrieved profile information.

39. A method for communicating performed on an XDSL transceiver unit, comprising:

coupling an XDSL transceiver unit to a twisted pair line;

receiving profile information for the twisted pair line from an external device; and

storing the received profile information in the XDSL transceiver unit in preparation for XDSL communication using the twisted pair line.

40. The method of

claim 39

, wherein coupling the XDSL transceiver unit to the twisted pair line comprises coupling the XDSL transceiver unit to the twisted pair line using a line interface module.

41. The method of

claim 39

, further comprising the step of performing a test on the twisted pair line after storing the received profile information in the XDSL transceiver unit.

42. The method of

claim 39

, wherein the external device comprises a system controller.

43. The method of

claim 39

, wherein receiving profile information comprises receiving profile information from the external device using a serial management bus.

44. The method of

claim 39

, wherein storing the received profile information in the XDSL transceiver unit comprises storing the received profile information in a plurality of registers associated with at least one digital signal processor in the XDSL transceiver unit.

45. The method of

claim 39

, wherein profile information comprises a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line.

46. The method of

claim 39

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line; and

an associated data rate for the twisted pair line.

47. The method of

claim 39

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of filter coefficients that reflect physical parameters of the twisted pair line;

an associated data rate for the twisted pair line; and

a margin for the twisted pair line representing the difference between a current or expected signal strength and a minimum signal strength to maintain communication.

48. The method of

claim 39

, wherein profile information comprises:

a plurality of upstream filter coefficients for the twisted pair line; and

a plurality of downstream filter coefficients for the twisted pair line.

49. The method of

claim 39

, wherein the twisted pair line forms a local loop to a subscriber.

50. The method of

claim 39

, further comprising the step of performing carrier-less amplitude phase modulation using the retrieved profile information.