DSL Power Management via Step-wise Transition to Minimize Cross-talk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Transitioning from a low power state to a high power state on digital subscriber lines, such as DSL, often disrupts adjacent lines due to cross-talk coupling, leading to bit-errors and loss of synchronization, which degrades Quality of Service for services like IPTV and VoIP, causing network operators to avoid using the low power state and resulting in unnecessary power waste.

Innovation Solution

A method that step-wise increases transmission power by sending consecutive requests and responses between nodes, triggered by monitoring selected traffic events, to minimize disturbance to adjacent lines, allowing more frequent switching between power states and reducing power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If transmission power is increased from low power state to high power state, then data transmission capability is improved, but cross-talk disturbance to adjacent lines increases causing bit-errors and loss of synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission powerVSAvoidcross-talk disturbance
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission power increase is segmented into multiple incremental steps rather than a single large jump. Each step increases power by a controlled amount (e.g., 3 dB), allowing adjacent lines to adapt gradually and reducing cross-talk disturbance while still achieving the necessary power level for adequate data transmission capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Before increasing transmission power, the system performs preliminary actions including notifying adjacent lines of the upcoming power change and waiting for their acknowledgment. This preliminary coordination allows adjacent lines to prepare for the power increase, minimizing the harmful cross-talk effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If one-step transition from low power state to high power state is used, then transitioning speed is improved, but Quality of Service for services like IPTV and VoIP deteriorates due to bit-errors and loss of synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransitioning speedVSAvoidQuality of Service
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single-step transition is segmented into multiple smaller power increase steps with intermediate stabilization points. Each step includes error checking and synchronization verification, ensuring QoS is maintained while still achieving relatively fast overall transition through efficient multi-step progression

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where each power increase step is followed by monitoring of transmission quality and synchronization status. If bit-errors or loss of synchronization are detected, the system can adjust subsequent steps or pause to allow re-synchronization, thereby maintaining QoS while progressing through the transition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of energy

If low power state is used to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but transmission capability becomes insufficient for high bandwidth data sending

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata transmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts transmission power based on real-time bandwidth requirements and traffic conditions. When high bandwidth is needed, power is increased through the multi-step process; when bandwidth requirements are low, the system remains in low power state, optimizing the balance between power consumption and transmission capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the transmission power parameter in response to detected traffic events such as buffer threshold crossings or call control messages. This allows the system to adapt power consumption to actual service needs, maintaining sufficient transmission capability when required while minimizing power consumption during low-activity periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3301853B1Method and arrangement for the power management of a digital communication line
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3301853B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3301853B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3301853B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for the power management of a digital communication line such as a digital subscriber line DSL (2201). A problem addressed by the invention is that the transitioning of the digital subscriber line (2201) from a low transmission power state to a high transmission power state can cause disturbance to adjacent lines. This problem is solved by the current invention by an access node AN (2100) that is arranged to step-wise increase the power state until the high transmission power state has been reached. The invention also comprises embodiments of monitoring and detecting traffic events that serve as triggers of the transitioning.