V.90 over all-digital connections

A method of receiving downstream signals, comprising:

• exchanging control signals between a server modem and a client modem;
• determining by the client and server modems to establish a digital to analog V.90 standard connection, responsive to the exchanged control signals;
• transmitting downstream signals from the server modem to the client modem in accordance with the V.90 standard,
• receiving the transmitted signals by the client modem;
• deciding which symbols are represented by the received signals, immediately upon receiving the signals by the client modem;
• and
• converting the decided symbols into bits.

A V.90 supporting modem, comprising:

• an input from a digital trunk line which receives signals transmitted in accordance with the V.90 standard;
• a negotiation unit adapted to select a protocol for signal reception on a connection;
• and
• a digital interpretation unit which receives samples directly from the input from the digital trunk line, when the negotiation unit determines that a digital to analog V.90 connection is to be established.