Variable rate and variable mode transmission system

A transmission system for variably transmitting information data in a plurality of different modes over a network, said transmission system comprising:

• a first transceiver for selectively operating in one of said plurality of different modes, said first transceiver transmitting or receiving signals, at a first transmission rate, on a first channel, and transmitting or receiving signals, at a second transmission rate, on a second channel, in each of said plurality of different modes;
• a second transceiver, connected to said first transceiver by said network, for selectively operating in one of said plurality of different modes, said second transceiver transmitting or receiving said first channel signals at said first transmission rate on said first channel and transmitting or receiving said second channel signals at said second transmission rate on said second channel;
• and
• a controller connected to said first transceiver for selecting the mode in which said first transceiver operates or for controlling said first and second transmission rates;
• wherein said plurality of different modes includes a reversible ADSL mode.

A public switched telephone network for providing information data to and from any one of a plurality of subscriber premises, comprising:

• a central office including an interoffice network and a signalling and control network for routing data signals to and from said plurality of subscribers through said interoffice network in accordance with routing information;
• a plurality of variable rate transceivers, each transceiver for transmitting or receiving data signals to or from any one of said plurality of said subscriber premises at a first selectively variable transmission rate on a first unidirectional channel and transmitting or receiving data signals at a second selectively variable transmission rate on a second unidirectional channel, said second unidirectional channel displaced in frequency from said first unidirectional channel and the flow of data signals on said second unidirectional channel being in an opposite direction to the flow of data signals on said first unidirectional channel;
• a digital cross connect system for sending said data signals received at said first and second variable transmission rates (fractional T1s) across the interoffice network;
• at least one interface unit comprising a T1 interface on one side and a variable rate interface on an opposite side, said variable rate interface being connected to one of said plurality of variable rate transceivers and said T1 interface being connected to said interoffice network;
• and
• a network controller, connected to said plurality of variable rate transceivers, said at least one interface unit, said signalling and control network and said digital cross connect system, for aggregating and grooming said data signals transmitted and received at said variable transmission rates and transmitting said data signals across said interoffice network as full T1 signals.

An ADSL/AVR transmission system for variably transmitting information data over a plurality of channels, comprising:

• a first ADSL/AVR transceiver for transmitting or receiving signals at a first transmission rate on a first channel, and transmitting or receiving signals at a second transmission rate on a second channel;
• a second ADSL/AVR transceiver for transmitting or receiving signals at said first transmission rate on said first channel and transmitting or receiving said second channel signals at said second transmission rate on said second channel;
• and
• a subscriber loop for connecting said first and second ADSL/AVR transceivers together;
• wherein
• each of said first and second ADSL/AVR transceivers includes a controller for selectively changing the transmission rates on said first and second channels.

In a transmission system for variably transmitting information data over a plurality of channels, comprising:

• a first transceiver for transmitting or receiving signals at a first transmission rate on a first channel having a first bandwidth and transmitting or receiving signals at a second transmission rate on a second channel having a second bandwidth, said second channel being displaced in frequency from said first channel, a second transceiver for transmitting or receiving signals at said first transmission rate on said first channel and transmitting or receiving said second channel signals at said second transmission rate on said second channel, and a subscriber loop for connecting said first and second transceivers together, a method comprising the steps of:
• assigning a first bandwidth to the first channel;
• assigning a second bandwidth to the second channel;
• and
• selectively changing the first bandwidth of the first channel and the second bandwidth of the second channel to vary the information data transmission rates over said first and second channels.