Patent ID: 6845149
Filing Date: 2005-01-18
Classification: H04B,H04M

Abstract:
1. A method of communication between a plurality of subscriber sites and a central office via multipair subscriber loop cables that carry signals between the central office and the sites, the method comprising: separating a plurality of subscriber loop pairs into a plurality of frequency groups, each frequency group spanning a distance along the cable that requires no more than a predetermined range of power attenuation to be applied to the signals from the sites within the group to equalize signal power from each site within the group; assigning frequency bands to the frequency groups such that groups farther from the central office have lower frequency bands than groups closer to the central office; assigning an analog electronic lowpass filter at the central office for each frequency group, except the frequency group closest to the central office, each filter having a passband that provides any needed attenuation to the signals of the frequency group and a stopband that substantially attenuates frequencies from the other frequency groups; transmitting a signal from a site within a frequency group, the signal having a power attenuation based on its position within the group, and a frequency within the frequency band assigned to the group; and receiving the signal from the site within the frequency group by applying the filter assigned at the central office to the signal, unless the signal is in the frequency group closest to the central office.