Method and apparatus for reducing transmission errors caused by periodic transients in digital subscriber line (DSL) communication systems

Abstract

A transient pre-emptor includes a processor configured to detect transients in a communications system. After the processor detects a transient in the communications system, it causes a data communications equipment to suspend or reduce data transmission during the occurrence of a subsequent transient.

1 . A method for reducing transmission errors in a data communications equipment, the method comprising the steps of: 
 collecting data describing a transient;    determining a rate adjustment time based on the collected data; and    adjusting, at the rate adjustment time, a transmission rate associated with the data communications equipment.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining, based on the collected data, an expected occurrence time of a subsequent transient start; and    reducing, at the expected occurrence time of the subsequent transient start, the transmission rate from a first value.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining, based on the collected data, an expected occurrence time of a subsequent transient end; and    restoring, at the expected occurrence time of the subsequent transient end, the transmission rate to the first value.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of detecting the transient, and wherein the collecting step is responsive to the detecting step.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of: 
 responsive to the detecting, reducing the transmission rate from a first value.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the reducing step reduces the transmission rate to zero.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of: 
 restoring the transmission rate to the first value.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the collecting data step occurs over a predetermined length of time.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the collected data comprises at least one of transient duration, transient magnitude, and transient cadence.  
   
   
       10 . A computer-readable medium having a program for reducing transmission errors in a data communications equipment having a current transmission rate, the program comprising the steps of: 
 collecting data describing a transient;    determining a rate adjustment time based on the collected data; and    adjusting, at the rate adjustment time, a transmission rate associated with the data communications equipment.    
   
   
       11 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , the program further comprising the steps of: 
 determining, based on the collected data, an expected occurrence time of a subsequent transient start; and    reducing, at the expected occurrence time of the subsequent transient start, the transmission rate from a first value.    
   
   
       12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , the program further comprising the steps of: 
 determining, based on the collected data, an expected occurrence time of a subsequent transient end; and    restoring, at the expected occurrence time of the subsequent transient end, the transmission rate to the first value.    
   
   
       13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , the program further comprising the steps of: 
 detecting the transient; and    responsive to the detecting, reducing the transmission rate of the data communications equipment from a first value.    
   
   
       14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , the program further comprising the step of: 
 restoring the transmission rate to the first value.    
   
   
       15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 10 , wherein the collected data comprises at least one of transient duration, transient magnitude, and transient cadence.  
   
   
       16 . A system for reducing transmission errors in a data communications equipment having a current transmission rate, the system comprising the steps of: 
 means for collecting data describing a transient;    means for determining, based on the collected data, a rate adjustment time; and    means for adjusting, at the rate adjustment time, a transmission rate associated with the data communications equipment.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for determining, based on the collected data, an expected occurrence time of a subsequent transient start; and    means for reducing, at the expected occurrence time of the subsequent transient start, the transmission rate from a first value.    
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 means for determining, based on the collected data, an expected occurrence time of a subsequent transient end; and    means for restoring, at the expected occurrence time of the subsequent transient end, the transmission rate to the first value.    
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 means for detecting the transient; and    means for reducing the transmission rate from a first value,    wherein the means for reducing is responsive to the means detecting.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising 
 means for restoring the current transmission rate to the first transmission rate.