Method for frequency and loop length grouping for cross-talk reduction in a plurality of DSL channels

Claim 1

A method of communication between a plurality of subscriber sites and a central office via multipair subscriber loop cables that carry signals between the central office and the sites, the method comprising: separating a plurality of subscriber loop pairs into a plurality of frequency groups, each frequency group spanning a distance along the cable that requires no more than a predetermined range of power attenuation to be applied to the signals from the sites within the group to equalize signal power from each site within the group; assigning frequency bands to the frequency groups such that groups farther from the central office have lower frequency bands than groups closer to the central office; assigning an analog electronic lowpass filter at the central office for each frequency group, except the frequency group closest to the central office, each filter having a passband that provides any needed attenuation to the signals of the frequency group and a stopband that substantially attenuates frequencies from the other frequency groups; transmitting a signal from a site within a frequency group, the signal having a power attenuation based on its position within the group, and a frequency within the frequency band assigned to the group; and receiving the signal from the site within the frequency group by applying the filter assigned at the central office to the signal, unless the signal is in the frequency group closest to the central office.

Claim 2

A method of communication between a plurality of subscriber sites and a central office via multipair subscriber loop cables that carry signals between the central office and the sites, the method comprising: separating a plurality of subscriber loop pairs into a plurality of frequency groups, each frequency group spanning a distance along the cable that requires no more than a predetermined range of power attenuation to be applied to the signals from the sites within the group to equalize signal power from each site within the group; assigning frequency bands to the frequency groups such that groups farther from the central office have lower frequency bands than groups closer to the central office; assigning an analog electronic lowpass filter at the central office for each frequency group, except the frequency group closest to the central office, each filter having a passband that provides any needed attenuation to the signals of the frequency group and a stopband that substantially attenuates frequencies from the other frequency groups; transmitting a signal from a site within a frequency group, the signal having a power attenuation based on its position within the group, and a frequency within the frequency band assigned to the group; and receiving the signal from the site within the frequency group by applying the filter assigned at the central office to the signal, unless the signal is in the frequency group closest to the central office.

Claim 5

A system for providing communication between a plurality of subscriber sites and a central office, the system comprising: a multipair subscriber loop cable for carrying signals between the central office and the plurality of subscriber sites, the plurality of subscriber sites being separated into a plurality of frequency groups, the frequency groups nearer to the central office having a higher frequency band than frequency groups farther from the central office, and each frequency group spanning a distance along the cable that requires no more than a predetermined range of power attenuation to be applied to the signals from the sites within the group to equalize signal power from each site within the group; a plurality of filters for use in the central office, each of the plurality of frequency groups, except the frequency group closest to the central office, having a filter with a stopband that substantially attenuates frequencies from the other frequency groups and a passband that passes frequencies of the group, the passband of the filter providing any needed attenuation to the signals of the frequency group so that signals from any frequency group have approximately equal signal power at the central office; and a transmitter at each site, the transmitter including an attenuator for attenuating transmit power depending on the position of the site within a frequency group such that the transmit power from each site within the group is approximately equal.

Claim 6

A system for providing communication between a plurality of subscriber sites and a central office, the system comprising: a multipair subscriber loop cable for carrying signals between the central office and the plurality of subscriber sites, the plurality of subscriber sites being separated into a plurality of frequency groups, the frequency groups nearer to the central office having a higher frequency band than frequency groups farther from the central office, and each frequency group spanning a distance along the cable that requires no more than a predetermined range of power attenuation to be applied to the signals from the sites within the group to equalize signal power from each site within the group; a plurality of filters for use in the central office, each of the plurality of frequency groups, except the frequency group closest to the central office, having a filter with a stopband that substantially attenuates frequencies from the other frequency groups and a passband that passes frequencies of the group, the passband of the filter providing any needed attenuation to the signals of the frequency group so that signals from any frequency group have approximately equal signal power at the central office; and a transmitter at each site, the transmitter including an attenuator for attenuating transmit power depending on the position of the site within a frequency group such that the transmit power from each site within the group is approximately equal.