Digital subscriber line diagnostic system
AssigneeParadyne Corporation
InventorsAlistair Malcolm MacDonald, Joseph Q. Chapman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A communication device transmits very low frequency signals in order to help diagnose the cause of a communication problem in a DS L communication system. The communication problem may be, for example, the inability of a remote data transceiver unit (DTU-R) to successfully train-up with a central data transceiver unit (DTU-C). The very low frequency signals may be used to communicate the status or settings of the remote transceiver unit to the DTU-C, to download settings parameters or executable code to the DTU-R, or to coordinate the transmission of testing signals.
Claims22
A system for enabling a diagnosis of a cause of a problem in a system that uses a digital subscriber line technology (xDSL), the system comprising:
- a voice-band modem;
- and
- a first xDSL modem that is communicatively coupled to the voice-band modem and that is configured to communicate with a remotely located device via the voice-band modem.
A digital subscriber line technology (xDSL) modem comprising:
- a first digital signal processor that is programmed to enable transmitting and receiving xDSL signals;
- and
- a second digital signal processor that is programmed to enable transmitting and receiving voice-band signals.
A system for enabling a diagnosis of a cause of a problem in a system that uses a digital subscriber line technology (xDSL), the system comprising:
- a voice-band modem;
- an xDSL modem;
- and
- a processor that is communicatively coupled to the voice-band modem and to the xDSL modem, and that is programmed to cause data transmission via the voice-band modem responsive to the xDSL modem experiencing a communication problem.
12- A method for enabling a diagnosis of a cause for a problem in a system that uses a digital subscriber line technology (xDSL), the method comprising steps of:
- determining that an attempt to communicate with an xDSL modem using at least one xDSL signal has failed;
- and
- responsive to determining that the attempt to communicate with the xDSL modem using at least one xDSL signal has failed, transmitting a request for diagnostic data to the xDSL modem, the request being transmitted using a non-xDSL signal.
13- The method of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic data provides information about a cause for the failed attempt to communicate with the xDSL modem.
14- The method of claim 12, wherein the diagnostic data provides information about a configuration of the xDSL modem.
15- The method of claim 12, wherein the non-xDSL signal is a voice-band signal.
16- A method for enabling a diagnosis of a cause for a problem in a system that uses a digital subscriber line technology (xDSL), the method comprising steps of:
- determining that an attempt to train-up an xDSL modem has failed;
- and
- responsive to determining that the attempt to train-up the xDSL modem has failed, transmitting a request for diagnostic data to the xDSL modem, the request being transmitted using a non-xDSL signal.
17- The method of claim 16, wherein the diagnostic data provides information about a cause for the failed attempt to train-up the xDSL modem.
18- The method of claim 16, wherein the non-xDSL signal is a voice-band signal.
19- A method for enabling a diagnosis of a cause for a problem in a system that uses a digital subscriber line technology (xDSL), the method comprising steps of:
- determining that an attempt to train-up an xDSL modem has failed;
- and
- responsive to determining that the attempt to train-up the xDSL modem has failed, transmitting diagnostic data related to the xDSL modem using a non-xDSL signal.
20- The method of claim 19, wherein the non-xDSL signal is a voice-band signal.
A digital subscriber line technology (xDSL) modem comprising:
- a first firmware module that is configured to enable the xDSL modem to communicate via xDSL signals;
- a second firmware module that is configured to enable the xDSL modem to communicate via voice-band signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.