Apparatus and method for selecting a supported signal path for a transceiver

A method for selecting a supported signal path for a transceiver in a communication system, comprising, in combination:

• connecting to a common signal path at least one signal path selected from a plurality of switchable signal paths to determine whether the at least one signal path is a supported signal path, wherein the plurality of switchable signal paths includes at least a first signal path and a second signal path;
• determining whether the at least one signal path is the supported signal path, wherein the first signal path is the supported signal path when a specified signal type is present on the first signal path, and wherein the second signal path is the supported signal path when the specified signal type is present on the second signal path;
• selecting the first signal path when the first signal path is the supported signal path;
• and
• selecting the second signal path when the second signal path is the supported signal path.

A digital subscriber line transceiver having supported signal path sensing capabilities, comprising, in combination:

• a POTS line interface for connecting the transceiver to a POTS line, the POTS line connected to a digital subscriber line service provider;
• a relay coupled to the POTS line interface, operable to select at least one test signal path from a plurality of pairs of the POTS line, wherein the plurality of pairs of the POTS line includes at least a first pair and a second pair;
• a digital subscriber line signal detector coupled to the relay for determining whether the at least one test signal path is a supported signal path, wherein the first pair is the supported signal path when a digital subscriber line signal type is present on the first pair, and wherein the second pair is the supported signal path when the digital subscriber line signal type is present on the second pair;
• a relay controller operable to cause the relay to select at least one test signal path from the plurality of pairs of the POTS line, wherein the relay controller is operable to select the second pair when the signal detector determines that the digital subscriber line signal type is not present on the first pair;
• signal conversion means for converting digital subscriber line signals received across the supported signal path into terminal equipment data and for converting terminal equipment data into digital subscriber line signals for transmission across the supported signal path;
• and
• a terminal equipment interface coupled to the signal conversion means providing a connection to terminal equipment, wherein the terminal equipment is operable to transmit and receive terminal equipment data.