Patent ID: 7251243
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. A remote unit for receiving broadband services via a communication line, the remote unit comprising: interface circuitry to interface the remote unit to a user device; a receiver connected to the interface circuitry for receiving downstream data from distribution equipment; a transmitter connected to the interface circuitry, the transmitter transmitting upstream data to the distribution equipment upon authorization by the distribution equipment; a transmitter control module that enables and disables the transmitter in response to authorization data received by the remote unit; and wherein the remote unit is configured to exchange VDSL frames with the distribution equipment, the authorization data is placed in four bits reserved for proprietary use in a control word of a VDSL frame header, the remote unit is further configured to extract the authorization data and control operation of the transmitter in response to the value of the bits, two of the four bits of authorization data define identification data and the remote unit identifies from these bits when it is authorized to enable its transmitter, the remaining two of the four bits of authorization data provide up to four status commands and the remote unit is further configured to respond to the status commands by entering at least one state of operation selected from a group including a train state for the distribution equipment to train the remote unit, an acquire synchronization state to acquire synchronization with the distribution equipment, a send data state in which the remote unit sends data to the distribution equipment, and a finish state in which the remote unit terminates transmission of its data.