Method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the transmit power of data communication equipment operating in a multipoint environment

A modem for use in a multipoint environment, the modem comprising:

• means for receiving signals transmitted to the modem over a transmission medium, the receiving means comprising a means for generating a tap signature;
• means for transmitting signals over the transmission medium;
• means for storing tap signatures and transmit power levels, each transmit power level being associated with a particular tap signature;
• and
• means for controlling the modem, the means for controlling the modem being in communication with the receiving means, the transmitting means and the storing means, wherein when a telephone connected to the transmission medium goes off-hook, the receiving means notifies the controlling means that the telephone has gone off-hook, and wherein the receiving means delivers a tap signature associated with the off-hook condition to the controlling means, the controlling means comparing the tap signature associated with the off-hook condition with at least one tap signature stored in the storing means in order to find a tap signature stored in the storing means which matches the tap signature delivered to the controlling means, wherein when the controlling means determines that a match has occurred, the controlling means reads the transmit power level associated with the matching tap signature out of the storing means and sets the transmit power level of the transmitter to the transmit power level read out of the storing means.

A method for automatically adjusting the transmit power level of a modem operating in a multipoint environment, the modem being connected to a transmission medium, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving signals transmitted to the modem over the transmission medium, the signals being received in a receiver of the modem, the receiver comprising an equalizer;
• generating a tap signature in the equalizer, the tap signature corresponding to telephone that has been placed in an off-hook condition;
• comparing the generated tap signature with a tap signature stored in a memory device to identify a tap signature stored in the memory device which matches the generated tap signature, each tap signature stored in the memory device being associated with a particular transmit power level stored in the memory device;
• and
• when a matching tap signature contained in the memory device has been identified, reading the transmit power level associated with the matching tap signature out of the memory device and setting the transmit power level of a transmitter comprised in the modem to the transmit power level read out of the memory device.

A modem for use in a multipoint environment, the modem being coupled to a transmission medium, the modem comprising:

• a receiver which receives signals transmitted to the modem over the transmission medium, the receiver comprising an equalizer which generates tap signatures based on an off-hook condition of a telephone, the telephone being coupled to the transmission medium;
• a transmitter which transmits signals over the transmission medium;
• a memory device which stores tap signatures and a frequency spectrum shift amount, each frequency spectrum shift amount being associated with a particular tap signature;
• and
• a processor in communication with the receiver, the transmitter and the memory device, wherein when a telephone connected to the transmission medium goes off-hook, the receiver notifies the processor that the telephone has gone off-hook, and wherein the receiver delivers a tap signature associated with the off-hook condition to the processor, and wherein the processor compares the tap signature associated with the off-hook condition with at least one tap signature stored in the memory device in order to find a tap signature stored in the memory device which matches the tap signature delivered to the processor from the receiver, wherein when the processor determines that a match has occurred, the processor reads the frequency spectrum shift amount associated with the matching tap signature out of the memory device and sets the frequency spectrum shift amount of the transmitter to the frequency spectrum shift amount read out of the memory device.

A modem for use in a multipoint environment the modem being coupled to a transmission medium, the modem comprising:

• a receiver which receives signals transmitted to the modem over the transmission medium, the receiver comprising an equalizer which generates tap signatures based on an off-hook condition of a telephone, the telephone being coupled to the transmission medium;
• a transmitter which transmits signals over the transmission medium;
• a memory device which stores tap signatures and frequency spectrum shapes, each frequency spectrum shape being associated with a particular tap signature;
• and
• a processor in communication with the receiver, the transmitter and the memory device, wherein when a telephone connected to the transmission medium goes off-hook, the receiver notifies the processor that the telephone has gone off-hook, and wherein the receiver delivers a tap signature associated with the off-hook condition to the processor, and wherein the processor compares the tap signature associated with the off-hook condition with at least one tap signature stored in the memory device in order to find a tap signature stored in the memory device which matches the tap signature delivered to the processor from the receiver, wherein when the processor determines that a match has occurred, the processor reads the frequency spectrum shape associated with the matching tap signature out of the memory device and sets the frequency spectrum shape of the signal being transmitted by transmitter to the frequency spectrum shape read out of the memory device.