Systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing a dsl system

Abstract

An apparatus comprises at least one vectoring engine and a cross-connect coupled to the vectoring engine. The cross-connect is to couple with each of a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE) devices via a respective DSL loop. An interface is to receive instructions for the cross-connect to couple the vectoring engine to a nonoverlapping subset of the CPE devices via the respective DSL loops. The interface is further to receive instructions for the vectoring engine to apply vectoring to the DSL loop via which to couple one of the CPE devices to the cross-connect.

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         11 . A DSL optimizer coupled in communication with a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system, wherein the DSL optimizer comprises:
 a collection module to collect operational data from the DSL system;   an analysis module to perform analysis regarding further operation of the DSL system based on the collected operational data;   wherein the DSL optimizer is configured to identify cross-talk between lines in the DSL system based on the analysis; and   a signal generator configured to generate and send instruction signals to modems and/or other components of the DSL system, wherein the signal generator is configured to send instructions to place the lines into groups based on the cross-talk identified between the lines.   
     
     
         12 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 11 , wherein the signal generator to send instructions to place the lines into groups based on the cross-talk identified between the lines comprises the signal generator to send instructions to place the lines that have low cross-talk on at least one other line into different groups. 
     
     
         13 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 11 , wherein the signal generator to send instructions to place the lines into groups based on the cross-talk identified between the lines comprises the signal generator to send instructions to place the lines that have at least one high cross-talker on at least one other line, or have highly correlated noise signals relative to at least one other line, into a same group. 
     
     
         14 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 11 , wherein the DSL optimizer is configured to operate on and/or in connection with a Vectored Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer, DSLAM, within the DSL system, wherein the Vectored DSLAM is separate from the DSL optimizer, and wherein the Vectored DSLAM is on the premises of a telecommunication company. 
     
     
         15 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a profile selector to select and implement profiles such as data and/or control parameters and/or values, wherein the profiles and any other instructions are selected under the control of the DSL optimizer, and wherein profiles selected by the profile selector are implemented in the Vectored DSLAM and/or any other appropriate DSL system component equipment.   
     
     
         16 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 11 , wherein the signal generator is configured to send instructions to place the lines into groups based on the cross-talk identified between the lines by sending the instructions to a Vectored Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) within the DSL system, separate from the DSL optimizer, wherein the Vectored DSLAM is configured to perform vectoring on a plurality of Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) devices coupled with the Vectored DSLAM via a corresponding plurality of DSL loops. 
     
     
         17 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 16 , wherein the signal generator is configured to send the instructions to the Vectored DSLAM within the DSL system by sending transmitter vectoring operations for downstream operation to an interface of the Vectored DSLAM and/or sending receiver vectoring operations for upstream operation to the interface of the Vectored DSLAM. 
     
     
         18 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 16 , wherein the signal generator is configured to send the instructions to the Vectored DSLAM within the DSL system by sending control parameters computed by a controller of the DSL optimizer responsive to the collected operational data, wherein the collected operational data comprises at least one of the following:
 Quality of Service data, wherein the Quality of Service data may optionally comprise at least one of customer data rates, customer delay data, customer priorities data and customer class of service data;   error counters;   current rate data;   current margin data;   status data;   test parameter data;   diagnostics data;   performance data;   maximum attainable data rate data;   Xlog data; and   noise correlation data.   
     
     
         19 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 11 , wherein the signal generator further communicates with a plurality of Customer Premises Equipment devices, CPE devices, operating within the DSL system via interface at each of the respective CPE devices. 
     
     
         20 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 11 :
 wherein a timestamp is appended to operational parameters associating the timestamp with relevant data in the collected operational data; and   wherein the timestamp that is appended to the operational parameters is then used in operating the DSL system.   
     
     
         21 . The DSL optimizer of  claim 20 , wherein the timestamp that is appended to the operational parameters is one of:
 a phase identification and/or a time reference, wherein the phase identification can identify the operating mode the vectored DSL system was in when the data parameter was last updated;   a temporal description regarding a phase of operation, wherein operating modes include diagnostics, normal initialization, and showtime;   a point in time defined by absolute time;   a point relative to one or more phase transitions;   a point in time defined relative to one or more phase-defined events;   a time reference defined in terms of DMT superframes or DMT sync symbols;   information regarding whether an update in the operational parameters will force initialization;   information regarding when the update will be enforced and/or implemented; or   information regarding any delay between a known time reference and the enforcement and/or implementation of the update.   
     
     
         22 . A method in a DSL optimizer coupled in communication with a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) system, wherein the method comprises:
 obtaining, via a collecting module, operational data relating to a plurality of DSL loops within the DSL system;   providing the operational data to an analysis module for analysis regarding further operation of the DSL system based on the collected operational data;   identifying cross-talk between two or more of the plurality of DSL loops within the DSL system based on the analysis; and   sending instructions to a vectoring engine to place the plurality of DSL loops into groups based on the cross-talk identified between the plurality of DSL loops and to apply vectoring to one or more of the DSL loops.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein sending instructions to a vectoring engine to place the plurality of DSL loops into groups comprises:
 sending instructions to place the lines that have low cross-talk on at least one other line and have nearly uncorrelated noise signals relative to at least one other line, into different groups.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein sending instructions to a vectoring engine to place the plurality of DSL loops into groups comprises:
 sending instructions to place the lines that have high cross-talk on at least one other line, or have highly correlated noise signals relative to at least one other line, into a same group, wherein the instructions instruct the vectoring engine to apply vectoring to the DSL loops having the strongest crosstalk coupling or strongest noise correlation therebetween.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 selecting and implementing profiles specifying data and/or control parameters and/or values, wherein the profiles and any other instructions are selected under the control of the DSL optimizer, and wherein the profiles are implemented in the Vectored DSLAM and/or any other appropriate DSL system component equipment separate from the DSL optimizer.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 providing output to an administrator sufficient to properly route one or more of the plurality of DSL loops to a particular vectoring engine within the DSL system.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the instructions comprise one or more of:
 an ordering instruction for receiver vectoring operations;   an ordering instruction for transmitter vectoring operations;   instructions to enable Far-end Crosstalk (FEXT) cancellation in the downstream direction for the vectoring engine.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 sending instruction signals and control parameters to the vectoring engines to perform vectoring operations on a subset of the lines of the vectored system, or on a subset of the tones of the vectored system.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein sending instructions to apply vectoring to one or more of the DSL loops includes instructions regarding acceptable data rates, transmit power levels, and/or coding and latency requirements. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising modifying at least one of the following parameters for at least one of the respective DSL loops: data rate; margin; spectrum; carrier mask; delay; training sequence; and impulse noise protection. 
     
     
         31 . Non-transitory computer readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor of a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) optimizer coupled in communication with a DSL system, the instructions cause the DSL optimizer to perform operations including:
 obtaining, via a collecting module, operational data relating to a plurality of DSL loops within the DSL system;   providing the operational data to an analysis module for analysis regarding further operation of the DSL system based on the collected operational data;   identifying cross-talk between two or more of the plurality of DSL loops within the DSL system based on the analysis; and   sending instructions to a vectoring engine to place the plurality of DSL loops into groups based on the cross-talk identified between the plurality of DSL loops and to apply vectoring to one or more of the DSL loops.   
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 31 , wherein sending instructions to a vectoring engine to place the plurality of DSL loops into groups comprises:
 sending instructions to place the lines that have low cross-talk on at least one other line and have nearly uncorrelated noise signals relative to at least one other line, into different groups.   
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer readable media of  claim 31 , wherein sending instructions to a vectoring engine to place the plurality of DSL loops into groups comprises:
 sending instructions to place the lines that have high cross-talk on at least one other line, or have highly correlated noise signals relative to at least one other line, into a same group, wherein the instructions instruct the vectoring engine to apply vectoring to the DSL loops having the strongest crosstalk coupling or strongest noise correlation therebetween.