Reconfigurable transceiver method and apparatus

Abstract

A transceiver includes an interface operable to receive a reconfiguration request signal, a configurable receiver circuit coupled to the interface and an evaluation circuit. The evaluation circuit is operable to evaluate the reconfiguration request signal, reconfigure the configurable receiver circuit based on the reconfiguration request signal and output a reconfiguration response signal.

1 . A transceiver, comprising:
 an interface operable to receive a reconfiguration request signal;   a configurable receiver circuit coupled to the interface; and   an evaluation circuit operable to evaluate the reconfiguration request signal, reconfigure the configurable receiver circuit based on the reconfiguration request signal and output a reconfiguration response signal.   
     
     
         2 . The transceiver of  claim 1 , wherein the reconfiguration request signal comprises information on bounds on new configuration parameters based on which new data signals are to be communicated to the transceiver. 
     
     
         3 . The transceiver of  claim 2 , wherein the evaluation circuit is operable to determine one or more new configuration parameters based on the reconfiguration request signal. 
     
     
         4 . The transceiver of  claim 3 , further comprising a register operable to store information on at least one transmission condition parameter for signals received at the interface, and wherein the evaluation circuit is operable to determine the one or more new configuration parameters based on the information stored by the register. 
     
     
         5 . The transceiver of  claim 4 , wherein the evaluation circuit is operable to estimate values for the one or more new configuration parameters based on the information stored by the register. 
     
     
         6 . The transceiver of  claim 5 , wherein the values estimated by the evaluation circuit include new bit allocation values and new gain values for different tones of a discrete multi-tone spectrum supported by the transceiver. 
     
     
         7 . The transceiver of  claim 2 , wherein the evaluation circuit is operable to determine whether the transceiver can accommodate the bounds for the one or more new configuration parameters. 
     
     
         8 . The transceiver of  claim 2 , wherein one of the new configuration parameters is a new power spectral density parameter derived based on transmission conditions monitored at the transceiver during an operational phase in which the transceiver is operable to transmit and receive payload data. 
     
     
         9 . The transceiver of  claim 2 , wherein one of the new configuration parameters is a new signal to noise margin parameter derived based on transmission conditions monitored at the transceiver during an operational phase in which the transceiver is operable to transmit and receive payload data. 
     
     
         10 . The transceiver of  claim 1 , wherein the evaluation circuit is operable to reconfigure the configurable receiver circuit based on the reconfiguration request signal during an operational phase in which the transceiver is operable to transmit and receive payload data. 
     
     
         11 . The transceiver of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring circuit operable to monitor transmission conditions for data transmissions directed to the transceiver, and wherein the reconfiguration request signal is based at least in part on the monitored transmission conditions. 
     
     
         12 . The transceiver of  claim 1 , wherein the reconfiguration response signal indicates whether the configurable receiver circuit is reconfigurable based on the reconfiguration request signal. 
     
     
         13 . The transceiver of  claim 1 , wherein the reconfiguration request signal includes new scaling factors for each tone of a discrete multi-tone spectrum supported by the transceiver, and wherein the evaluation circuit is operable to estimate new signal to noise ratios for each tone of the discrete multi-tone spectrum based on the new scaling factors. 
     
     
         14 . The transceiver of  claim 13 , wherein the evaluation circuit is operable to generate new bit allocation and gain values based on the new signal to noise ratios and determine whether the configurable receiver circuit is reconfigurable in accordance with the new bit allocation and gain values. 
     
     
         15 . The transceiver of  claim 1 , further comprising a control circuit operable to retrain the configurable receiver circuit by switching the configurable receiver circuit between a current configuration and a new configuration associated with the reconfiguration request signal, based on the type of signal received at the transceiver. 
     
     
         16 . The transceiver of  claim 15 , wherein the control circuit is operable to switch the configurable receiver circuit from the current configuration to the new configuration responsive to predetermined data known to the transceiver being received at the transceiver. 
     
     
         17 . A method of reconfiguring a transceiver, comprising:
 receiving a reconfiguration request signal at the transceiver;   evaluating the reconfiguration request signal at the transceiver;   reconfiguring a configurable receiver circuit of the transceiver based on the reconfiguration request signal; and   outputting a reconfiguration response signal from the transceiver.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reconfiguration request signal comprises information on bounds on new configuration parameters based on which new data signals are to be communicated to the transceiver. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining one or more new configuration parameters based on the reconfiguration request signal. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 storing information on at least one transmission condition parameter for signals received at the transceiver; and   determining the one or more new configuration parameters based on the stored information.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising estimating values for the one or more new configuration parameters based on the stored information. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the values estimated by the evaluation circuit include new bit allocation values and new gain values for different tones of a discrete multi-tone spectrum supported by the transceiver. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising determining whether the transceiver can accommodate the bounds for the one or more new configuration parameters. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein one of the new configuration parameters is a new power spectral density parameter derived based on transmission conditions monitored at the transceiver during an operational phase in which the transceiver is operable to transmit and receive payload data. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein one of the new configuration parameters is a new signal to noise margin parameter derived based on transmission conditions monitored at the transceiver during an operational phase in which the transceiver is operable to transmit and receive payload data. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the configurable receiver circuit is reconfigured based on the reconfiguration request signal during an operational phase in which the transceiver is operable to transmit and receive payload data. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising monitoring transmission conditions for data transmissions directed to the transceiver, and wherein the reconfiguration request signal is based at least in part on the monitored transmission conditions. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reconfiguration response signal indicates whether the configurable receiver circuit is reconfigurable based on the reconfiguration request signal. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the reconfiguration request signal includes new scaling factors for each tone of a discrete multi-tone spectrum supported by the transceiver, the method further comprising estimating new signal to noise ratios for each tone of the discrete multi-tone spectrum based on the new scaling factors. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 generating new bit allocation and gain values based on the new signal to noise ratios and;   determining whether the configurable receiver circuit is reconfigurable in accordance with the new bit allocation and gain values.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising retraining the configurable receiver circuit by switching the configurable receiver circuit between a current configuration and a new configuration associated with the reconfiguration request signal, based on the type of signal received at the transceiver. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 receiving predetermined data known to the transceiver; and   switching from the current configuration to the new configuration responsive to the predetermined data being received at the transceiver.