Method and apparatus for providing data and telephony services

Abstract

A digital subscriber line modem comprises a first part operable to operate in accordance with a high bandwidth Digital Subscriber Line protocol and a second part operable to operate in accordance with a low bandwidth Digital Subscriber Line protocol, wherein the second part is arranged to operate continuously whilst the first part is arranged to transition into a low power mode, in which less or no data is transmitted or received by the first part, when the demand for bandwidth over the connection falls below a predetermined amount. The modem additionally includes a router which controls the sending of data via the first and second parts as appropriate and controls the aggregation of data received via the two parts. The modem also includes a service splitter for passing signals received from a copper twisted pair forming a communications link via which the modem communicates with another modem to either the first part or the second part as appropriate based on the frequencies of the received signals.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.