US5960036A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for auto-configuring a communication system
Assignee: Apple Inc
•
Filing: 1996-11-04
•
Granted: 1999-09-28
•
Expires: 2016-11-04
Abstract
Abstract A communications system 10 having an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) transceiver (24) is provided which may be configured either as a central office or a remote terminal in a system. The transceiver (24) operates in a listen/report idle state to report line activity to a host processor (22) prior to being configured as a central office or remote terminal. The host processor configures the transceiver (24) as a central office, remote terminal, or as otherwise specified based on the line activity.
Inventors
- 👤 Terence L. Johnson
- 👤 Peter R. Molnar
- 👤 Jeffrey P. Gleason
- 👤 Howard E. Levin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:05
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L5/00; H04L5/02; H04L5/023; H04L5/14; H04L5/143; H04Q; H04Q3/00; H04Q3/42; H04Q3/54; H04Q3/545; H04Q3/54508; H04Q3/54516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for configuring a first transceiver for asymmetric communication over a transmission media, the method comprising the steps of; entering an idle state after startup; receiving a configuration signal while in the idle state, wherein the configuration signal specifies one of a plurality of asymmetric configuration states; and configuring the first transceiver to operate in the one of a plurality of asymmetric configuration states based on the configuration signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for configuring a first transceiver for asymmetric communication over a transmission media, the method comprising the steps of; entering an idle state after startup; receiving a configuration signal while in the idle state, wherein the configuration signal specifies one of a plurality of asymmetric configuration states; and configuring the first transceiver to operate in the one of a plurality of asymmetric configuration states based on the configuration signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the step of receiving comprises receiving a configuration signal, wherein the configuration signal specifies one of the plurality of asymmetric configuration states or a general configuration data; and the step of configuring comprises configuring the first transceiver to operate in the asymmetric configuration state where the configuration signal specifies one of the plurality of asymmetric state, or configuring the transceiver based on the general configuration data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the asymmetric configuration state specifies either a first state or a second state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the first state transmits data at a first transmit rate and the second state transmits data at a second transmit rate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the first transmit rate and the second transmit rate are substantially the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the first transmit rate and the second transmit rate are substantially different.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first transceiver implements a Discrete Multi-Tone technique.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the first transceiver implements an Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) standard.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the asymmetric configuration state specifies one of a first state and a second state.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the first state is a remote terminal state and the second state is central office state.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 future comprising the step of: receiving a transmission media activity; and reporting the transmission media activity to a data processor, wherein the data processor provides the configuration signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the data processor is an integrated portion of the first transceiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the data processor is a portion separate from the first transceiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising the following steps: providing the transmission media activity from a second transceiver, wherein the transmission media activity indicates that the second transceiver is operating in a first state; and wherein, based on the transmission media activity, the data processor specifies the asymmetric configuration state substantially equal to a second state.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the first state is different than the second state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the first state is substantially the same as the second state.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the transmission media activity includes an energy component.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the transmission media activity includes a frequency component.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for configuring a communication system having a first transceiver and a second transceiver coupled by a transmission media, the method comprising the steps of: initializing the first transceiver to an idle state, wherein during the idle state the first transceiver monitors an activity on the transmission media; receiving the activity; and initializing the first transceiver to a first state, when the activity indicates the second transceiver is in a second state; transferring data between the first transceiver and the second transceiver following the step of initializing the first transceiver ot a first state.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for configuring a communication system having a first transceiver and a second transceiver coupled by a transmission media, the method comprising the steps of: initializing the first transceiver to an idle state, wherein during the idle state the first transceiver monitors an activity on the transmission media; receiving the activity; and initializing the first transceiver to a first state, when the activity indicates the second transceiver is in a second state; transferring data between the first transceiver and the second transceiver following the step of initializing the first transceiver ot a first state.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
132 words
A transceiver system for asymmetric communications, the transceiver comprising: a data processor; a listen/report circuitry coupled to the data processor for receiving an activity on the transmission media, and for providing a representation of the activity to the data processor; a first receive state circuitry for receiving data at a first receive rate; a second receive state circuitry for receiving data at a second receive rate; and a configuration means coupled to the data processor for specifying whether the first transceiver is in a listen/report state in a first receive state, or in a second receive state, wherein during the listen/report state the listen/report circuitry is used, during the first receive state the first receive state circuitry is used, and during the second receive state the second receive state circuitry is used.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
132 words
A transceiver system for asymmetric communications, the transceiver comprising: a data processor; a listen/report circuitry coupled to the data processor for receiving an activity on the transmission media, and for providing a representation of the activity to the data processor; a first receive state circuitry for receiving data at a first receive rate; a second receive state circuitry for receiving data at a second receive rate; and a configuration means coupled to the data processor for specifying whether the first transceiver is in a listen/report state in a first receive state, or in a second receive state, wherein during the listen/report state the listen/report circuitry is used, during the first receive state the first receive state circuitry is used, and during the second receive state the second receive state circuitry is used.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The transceiver system of claim 20, wherein the transceiver system is a single-chip integrated circuit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The transceiver system of claim 20, wherein the data processor is separate from the single-chip integrated circuit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
90 words
The transceiver system of claim 20, wherein the first receive state circuitry receives data at a first rate, and the second receive state circuitry transmits data at a second rate, and the transceiver system further comprises: a first transmit state circuitry for transmission of data at the second rate; a second transmit state circuitry for transmission of data at the first rate; and wherein the first receive state includes the first transmit state additionally uses the first transmit circuitry, and the second transmit state additionally uses the second transmit circuitry.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The transceiver system of claim 20, wherein the configuration means comprises a register.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The transceiver system of claim 20, wherein the configuration means comprises software.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the idle state is a different state than the any of the plurality of asymmetric configuration states.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4438511A
Cited
US4679227A
Cited
US4731816A
Cited
US4980897A
Cited
US4890316A
Cited
US5619553A
Cited
US5668802A
Cited
US5408260A
Cited
US5579305A
Cited
US5673290A
Cited
US5719856A
Cited
US5790550A
Cited
US5757803A
Cited
US5742527A
Cited
US5737337A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-09-27 | 2003-03-29 | 2003-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-09-27 | 2007-03-29 | 2007-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-09-27 | 2011-03-29 | 2011-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |