Method and apparatus for transmitting signals over wire connections

Apparatus for use in a communication system, the communication system comprising a transmitter device and one or more receiver devices, each of the one or more receiver devices being connected to the transmitter device via a respective wire connection, the transmitter device being operable to transmit signals onto the wire connections at one or more different tones, the transmitter device further being operable to transmit signals onto a further wire connection at the one or more different tones, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more processors configured to, for each of the one or more tones, allocate signals transmitted on the further wire connection at that tone as supporting signals for a particular wire connection;
• and
• measurement means configured to, for each of the one or more tones, measure an electromagnetic coupling between the further wire connection and the particular wire connection to which signals transmitted on the further wire connection at that tone have been allocated as supporting signals;
• wherein
• the one or more processors are further configured to:
• for each of the one or more tones, using the electromagnetic coupling measurements, determine a power allocation for transmitting a supporting signal on the further wire connection at that tone;
• and
• operate the communication system to, for one or more of the tones:
• transmit a signal onto the particular wire connection that has been allocated a supporting signal at that tone;
• and
• transmit a supporting signal onto the further wire connection at that tone, thereby to cause crosstalk interference in the particular wire connection transmitting the first signal, wherein a transmission power of the supporting signal is based on the power allocation determined for that supporting signal on the further wire connection at that tone.

An apparatus for use in a communication system, the communication system comprising a transmitter device and one or more receiver devices, each of the one or more receiver devices being connected to the transmitter device via a respective wire connection, the transmitter device being operable to transmit signals onto the wire connections at one or more different tones, the transmitter device further being operable to transmit signals onto a further wire connection at the one or more different tones, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more processors configured at least to:
• for each of the one or more tones, allocate signals transmitted on the further wire connection at that tone as supporting signals for a particular wire connection;
• process electromagnetic coupling measurements between the further wire connection and the particular wire connection to which signals transmitted on the further wire connection at that tone have been allocated as supporting signals;
• for each of the one or more tones, using the electromagnetic coupling measurements, determine a power allocation for transmitting a supporting signal on the further wire connection at that tone;
• and
• operate the communication system to, for one or more of the tones:
• transmit a signal onto the particular wire connection that has been allocated a supporting signal at that tone;
• and
• transmit a supporting signal onto the further wire connection at that tone, thereby to cause crosstalk interference in the particular wire connection transmitting the first signal, wherein a transmission power of the supporting signal is based on the power allocation determined for that supporting signal on the further wire connection at that tone.