Virtual Noise Level Determination for DSL Bandwidth Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in digital subscriber line (DSL) environments is to determine an efficient Virtual Noise level that balances high bandwidth availability with the avoidance of service interruptions caused by varying crosstalk noise levels, which traditional methods fail to address effectively.

Innovation Solution

A method for determining the Virtual Noise level based on measurement information from network elements such as customer premises equipment (CPE) and digital subscriber line access multiplexers, which store and utilize data from offline and online states to calculate an optimized noise level, avoiding the limitations of fixed noise margins and ensuring efficient bandwidth utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large target noise margin is introduced during modem initialization to protect against increasing noise levels, then system stability is improved, but data rate is dramatically reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoiddata rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the noise margin adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the noise margin based on the actual measured noise level and the difference between measured and expected noise. This allows the noise margin to be small when noise is stable and large when noise increases, resolving the contradiction between stability and data rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of noise margin from a static large value to a dynamic value that varies based on noise conditions. By introducing the noise difference parameter (difference between measured and expected noise) and using it to adjust the target noise margin, the system optimizes the balance between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a high flat noise margin is applied throughout the whole spectrum, then the system is stabilized against increased noise, but the data rate is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoiddata rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the noise margin frequency-dependent rather than uniformly applied across the whole spectrum. Different frequency sub-channels can have different noise margins based on their specific noise conditions, allowing the system to maintain stability where needed while preserving data rate in cleaner frequency regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If Virtual Noise is set to the maximum expected noise level, then the modem is protected against noise increases, but the data rate is reduced due to the conservative noise level assumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against noise increasesVSAvoiddata rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the actual noise level and comparing it with the expected noise level. The noise difference is fed back to adjust the target noise margin dynamically, allowing the system to protect against noise increases while avoiding the conservative data rate reduction that would result from always assuming maximum expected noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2526681B1Method and device for data processing in a digital subscriber line environment
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 ADTRAN GMBH
  • EP2526681B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2526681B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2526681B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and a device for data processing in a digital subscriber line environment, wherein a Virtual Noise level for a digital subscriber line is determined based on measurement information of at least one network element connected to the digital subscriber line.