Modulation switching for DSL signal transmission

A digital subscriber line (DSL) communication system that utilizes the high frequency band of a standard telephone line does not require the use of a plain old telephone service (POTS) splitter in the resident's home, which provided isolation between the POTS frequency band (0 to 4 kHz) and the DSL frequency band. A digital subscriber line modem utilizes either constant envelope modulation or quadrature amplitude modulation for outputting DSL signals upstream to a central office. When a telephone in the resident's home is detected as being off-hook, then the constant envelope modulation is used by the DSL modem in order to lessen the intermodulation product distortion that results in audible noise heard by a user of the telephone. When the telephone is on-hook, then another type of modulation, such as QAM, is used to maximize the upstream data rate capability in the DSL frequency band, since any noise generated by the QAM is not a problem due to the non-use of the POTS frequency band.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to modulation switching techniques for a 
communication system. In particular, the present invention relates to a 
communication system that performs modulation switching in response to 
telephone status. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
Explosive growth of the internet and the worldwide web is driving a need 
for increased communication data rates. In the corporate world, the need 
for high-speed access or data rates is met by dedicated high-speed links 
(such as, T1/E1 frame relays or OC1 ATM systems) from the company to an 
internet access provider. Users in the company typically utilize a local 
area network (LAN) to gain access to an internet access router that is 
coupled to the high-speed link. Unfortunately, home users of the internet 
do not often have access to a high-speed link and must rely on a standard 
analog or plain old telephone service (POTS) subscriber line. 
The need for high-speed access to the home is ever increasing due to the 
increased popularity of telecommuting and the availability of information, 
data, programs, entertainment, and other computer applications on the 
worldwide web and the internet. For example, designers of web technology 
are constantly developing new ways to provide sensory experiences, 
including audio and video, to users of the web (web surfers). Higher-speed 
modems are required so the home user can fully interact with incoming web 
and communication technologies. 
Although designers of modems are continuously attempting to increase data 
rates, analog or POTS line modems are presently only able to reach data 
rates of up to 56 kilobits per second (Kbps). These conventional analog 
modems transmit and receive information on POTS subscriber lines through 
the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The internet access provider 
is also coupled to the PSTN and transmits and receives information through 
the PSTN to the subscriber line. 
Some home users have utilized ISDN equipment and subscriptions to obtain up 
to 128 Kbps access or data rates by the use of two data channels (B 
channels) and one control channel (D channel). ISDN equipment and 
subscriptions can be expensive and require a dedicated subscriber line. 
Neither ISDN modems nor conventional analog modems are capable of 
providing 256 Kbps or higher access between the home and the internet. 
A variety of communication technologies are competing to provide high-speed 
access to the home. For example, asymmetric digital subscriber lines 
(ADSL), cable modems, satellite broadcast, wireless LANs, and direct fiber 
connections to the home have all been suggested. Of these technologies, 
the asymmetric digital subscriber line can utilize the POTS subscriber 
line (the wire currently being utilized for POTS) between the home user 
(the residence) and the telephone company (the central office). 
ADSL networks and protocols were developed in the early 1990's to allow 
telephone companies to provide video-on-demand service over the same wires 
which were being used to provide POTS. DSL technologies include discrete 
multitone (DMT), carrierless amplitude and phase modulation (CAP), 
high-speed DSL (VDSL), and other technologies. Although the 
video-on-demand market has been less than originally expected, telephone 
companies have recognized the potential application of ADSL technology for 
internet access and have begun limited offerings. 
DSL technology allows telephone companies to offer high-speed internet 
access and also allows telephone companies to remove internet traffic from 
the telephone switch network. Telephone companies cannot significantly 
profit from internet traffic within the telephone switch network due to 
regulatory considerations. In contrast, the telephone company can charge a 
separate access fee for DSL services. The separate fee is not as 
restricted by regulatory considerations. 
With reference to FIG. 1, a conventional asymmetric DSL (ADSL) system 10 
includes a copper twisted pair analog telephone or subscriber line 12, an 
ADSL modem 14, an ADSL modem 16, a band splitter 18, and a band splitter 
20. Line 12 is a POTS local loop or wire connecting a central office 32 of 
the telephone company and a user's residence 22. 
ADSL modem 14 is located in user's residence 22 and provides data to and 
from subscriber line 12. The data can be provided from line 12 through 
modem 14 to various equipment (not shown) coupled to modem 14. Equipment, 
such as, computers, network devices, servers, or other devices, can be 
attached to modem 14. Modem 14 communicates across line 12 with a data 
network (not shown) which is coupled to modem 16. ADSL modem 16 receives 
signals from line 12 and transmits signals to the data network. The data 
network can be coupled to other networks (not shown), including the 
internet. 
At least one analog telephone 26, located in residence 22, can be coupled 
to subscriber line 12 through splitter 20 for communications across line 
12 with telephone switch network 28. Telephone 26 and telephone switch 
network 28 are conventional systems well-known in the art. Alternatively, 
other analog equipment, such as, facsimile machines, POTS modems, 
answering machines, and other telephonic equipment, can be coupled to line 
12 through splitter 20. 
System 10 requires that band splitter 18 and band splitter 20 be utilized 
to separate higher frequency ADSL signals and lower frequency POTS 
signals. For example, when the user makes a call from residence 22 on 
telephone 26, lower frequency signals (under 4 kilohertz (kHz)) are 
provided through band splitter 20 to subscriber line 12 and through band 
splitter 18 to telephone switch network 28. Band splitter 18 prevents the 
lower frequency POTS signals from reaching DSL modem 16. Similarly, band 
splitter 20 prevents any of the POTS signals from reaching modem 14. 
FIG. 2 shows the separate frequency bands for POTS signals and ADSL 
signals. The POTS signals (signals transmitted between telephone 26 and 
telephone switch network 28) utilize a first frequency band 210, uplink 
ADSL signals (signals transmitted from modem 14 to modem 16) utilize a 
second frequency band 220 that is higher in frequency than the first 
frequency band 210, and downlink ADSL signals (signals transmitted from 
modem 16 to modem 14) utilize a third frequency band 230 that is higher in 
frequency than the second frequency band 220. 
Referring back to FIG. 1, DSL modem 16 and DSL modem 14 communicate higher 
frequency ADSL signals across subscriber line 12. The higher frequency 
ADSL signals are prevented from reaching telephone 26 and telephone switch 
network 28 by band splitters 20 and 18, respectively. Splitters 18 and 20 
can be passive analog filters or other devices which separate lower 
frequency POTS signals (below 4 kHz) from higher frequency ADSL signals 
(above 30 kHz). 
The separation of the POTS signals and ADSL signals by splitters 18 and 20 
is necessary to preserve POTS voice and data traffic and DSL data traffic. 
More particularly, splitters 18 and 20 can eliminate various effects 
associated with POTS equipment which may affect the transmission of ADSL 
signals on subscriber line 12. For example, the impedance of subscriber 
line 12 can vary greatly as at least one telephone 26 is placed on-hook or 
off-hook. Additionally, the changes in impedance of subscriber line 12 can 
change the ADSL channel characteristics associated with subscriber line 
12. These changes in characteristics can be particularly destructive at 
the higher frequencies associated with ADSL signals (e.g., from 30 kHz to 
1 megahertz (MHz) or more). 
Additionally, splitters 18 and 20 isolate subscriber line or telephone 
wiring within residence 22. The impedance of such wiring is difficult to 
predict. Further still, the POTS equipment, such as, telephone 26, 
provides a source of noise and nonlinear distortion. Noise can be caused 
by POTS voice traffic (e.g., shouting, loud laughter, etc.) and by POTS 
protocol, such as, the ringing signal. The nonlinear distortion is due to 
the nonlinear devices included in conventional telephones. For example, 
transistor and diode circuits in telephone 26 can add nonlinear distortion 
and cause hard clipping of ADSL signals. Telephone 26 can further generate 
harmonics which can reach the frequency ranges associated with the ADSL 
signals. The nonlinear components can also demodulate ADSL signals to 
cause a hiss in the audio range which affects the POTS. 
Conventional DSL technology has several significant drawbacks. First, the 
costs associated with ADSL services can be quite large. Telephone 
companies incur costs related to central office equipment (ADSL modems and 
ADSL network equipment) and installation costs associated with the DSL 
modems and network equipment. Residential users incur subscriber equipment 
costs (ADSL modems) and installation costs. 
Installation costs are particularly expensive for the residential user 
because trained service personnel must travel to residence 22 to install 
band splitter 20 (FIG. 1). Although band splitter 18 must be installed at 
the central office 32, this cost is somewhat less because service 
personnel can install band splitter 18 within central office 32. Also, at 
office 32, splitter 18 can be included in DSL modem 16. However, in 
residence 22, splitter 20 must be provided at the end of subscriber line 
12. 
Additionally, ADSL equipment for residence 12, such as, modem 14, is 
expensive because the most complex component of system 10 (e.g., the 
high-speed receiver) is located at residence 22. High-speed transmissions 
are generally received within residence 22, and lower-speed transmissions 
are received by central office 32. In most internet applications, larger 
amounts of data are requested by the residential user rather than by the 
internet source. Receivers are typically much more complex than 
transmitters. These high-speed receivers often receive data at rates of 
over 6 Mbps. 
ADSL equipment can be subject to cross-talk noise from other subscriber 
lines situated adjacent to subscriber line 12. For example, subscriber 
lines are often provided in a closely contained bundle. The close 
containment can cause cross-talk from other subscriber lines to be placed 
on subscriber line 12. Modem 14 must compensate for cross-talk noise. 
Thus, there is a need for a digital subscriber line (DSL) communication 
system which does not require the use of a splitter in the residence. 
Further, there is a need for a communication system which allows a DSL 
modem to be connected directly to the subscriber line similar to the use 
of a conventional analog modem. Further still, there is a need for a 
system which provides the fastest possible data transmission using the DSL 
modem, but with a minimal amount of interference to telephones using the 
POTS band. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a digital subscriber line communication 
system adapted to be coupled directly to a subscriber line. The system is 
capable of allowing simultaneous access to the subscriber line by a 
telephone equipment operating in a first frequency band below a 
predetermined frequency value, and by a DSL modem operating in a second 
frequency band higher than the first frequency band. The system includes 
an on-hook/off-hook detector configured to detect whether the telephone 
equipment is in an on-hook state or an off-hook state and to output an 
off-hook/on-hook signal indicative thereof. The system also includes a 
modulator disposed in said modem and configured to receive the 
on-hook/off-hook signal and to provide, based on the on-hook/off-hook 
signal, one of a plurality of modulations to DSL signals that are 
transmitted over the subscriber line within the second frequency band. 
The present invention also relates to a method of providing communications 
over a subscriber line connecting a central office to a remote location. 
The remote location includes a first equipment operating in a first 
frequency band of the subscriber line, and second equipment operating in a 
second frequency band of the subscriber line, the second frequency band 
being higher than and not overlapping with the first frequency band. The 
method includes a step of detecting whether the first equipment is in an 
in-use state or a not-in-use state. The method also includes a step of, 
based on the detection made, providing one of a first modulation and a 
second modulation to signals transmitted in the second frequency band by 
the second equipment. 
According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, a DSL modem 
monitors the subscriber line to determine if any telephones are off-hook. 
If any telephones are off-hook, the DSL modem utilizes constant envelope 
modulation to reduce interference with the operation of the telephone. If 
none of the telephones are off-hook, the DSL modem utilizes other 
modulations, such as QAM, which allows data to be transmitted more quickly 
.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/943,484, entitled "Splitterless Digital 
Subscriber Communication System", Foley & Lardner, filed Oct. 3, 1997 by 
Henderson et al., and assigned to Rockwell International Corporation, and 
incorporated in its entirety herein by reference, discloses a splitterless 
digital subscriber line communication system that allows for both DSL 
signals and for standard telephone signals (e.g., sent over the POTS) to 
coexist without much interference between these two signals. In 
conventional communication systems that provide for DSL and POTS 
transmission of voice and/or data, a POTS splitter provides hardware 
isolation between the POTS frequency band (e.g., 0 to 4 kHz) and the DSL 
frequency band (e.g., 30 kHz to 1 MHz). 
With the POTS splitter 20 in a conventional system, as seen in FIG. 1, the 
telephone 26 in residence 22 does not receive the DSL signals that are on 
subscriber line 12. The DSL signals are prevented from appearing on the 
ring and tip lines of the telephone circuit 36 in residence 22. Also, the 
POTS splitter 20 provides isolation for a DSL modem 14, so that the POTS 
signals that are on subscriber line 12 are prevented from being received 
by the DSL modem 14. 
Splitter 20 is three-port device including port 22A coupled to telephone 
loop or line 12, a port 22B coupled to telephone wiring 36 inside 
residence 22, and a port 22C coupled to DSL modem 14. Splitter 20 
communicates signals at port 22A at the full bandwidth of subscriber line 
12 (e.g., the full bandwidth capability of line 12). Splitter 22 low pass 
filters any signals communicated through port 22B to or from wiring 36. 
Thus, splitter 20 only allows POTS signals to pass through to devices, 
such as telephone 26. Splitter generally filters the signals provided 
through port 22B with a low pass filter tuned to a 0 to 4 kHz frequency 
range. Splitter 20 acts as a high pass filter for any signals communicated 
through port 22C. 
As stated above, however, having a POTS splitter like splitter 20 at the 
house or residence 22 requires a telephone company or the like to install 
such a device for the house, which is a time consuming and costly effort, 
due in part to the wiring operation necessary to install splitter 20 and 
the person-hours required to travel to each house desiring such a splitter 
20. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, splitterless communication system 50 allows for 
both POTS transmissions and for DSL transmissions to coexist on the same 
twisted pair copper wires. A DSL modem 54 has the capability to change its 
data rate in accordance with POTS-related impairments that affect a DSL 
band to allow for successful data transmission over the DSL band. DSL 
modem 54 includes a digital signal processor that can provide for 
adjusting of automatic gain control, converging of equalizers, error 
processing, and/or line characterization. Based on the amount of 
POTS-impairments on the DSL band of the subscriber line 52, DSL modem 54 
provides the highest data rate available, by constantly adjusting the data 
rate to reach the maximum data rate potential on the subscriber line. DSL 
modem 54 operates at a data rate lower than the theoretical data rate of 
conventional DSL modems, but provides a faster data rate than current 
modems, even faster than conventional modems using 56FLEX.TM. or X2.TM. 
technology. 
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/943,484, Foley & Lardner, filed Oct. 3, 
1997 by Henderson et al. and entitled, "Splitterless Digital Subscriber 
Communication System", discloses the use of Quadrature Amplitude 
Modulation (QAM) for the DSL signal transmission. Preferably, the QAM 
constellation size is a power-of-two value within the range from 4 to 256 
constellation points. Additionally, Reed-Solomon encoding may also be 
utilized for the DSL transmission. 
Other techniques are known for data transmission using DSL modems, such as 
Discrete Multitone (DMT). DMT allows for the splitting of the available 
ADSL bandwidth into a number of subchannels. The subchannels are allocated 
a number of bits (0-8) per hertz in each 4 kHz subchannel band, depending 
upon the signal-to-noise ratio experienced in the subchannel. DMT allows 
for the allocation of data so that the throughput of every subchannel is 
maximized. This data transmission technique is designed to maximize the 
transmission capability of the DSL band. 
However, in a splitterless communication system that allows for both POTS 
transmission and DSL transmission over a subscriber line, the particular 
modulation scheme utilized for the ADSL transmission may have an adverse 
impact on transmissions over the POTS band. In particular, since there is 
no hardware device (splitter 20 in FIG. 1) providing isolation between 
POTS signals and DSL signals, audible distortion due to intermodulation of 
DSL signals may appear at a telephone earpiece of a telephone at the 
house. Thus, conventional DSL modulation techniques, such as QAM and DMT, 
may be undesirable with regards to audible noise that is perceptible at 
the telephone earpiece. 
For example, a ADSL signal can have first frequency component at 80 kHz and 
a second frequency component at 82 kHz. The DSL signal, when applied to a 
non-linearity in the communication system, produces a difference component 
at a frequency of 82 kHz-80 kHz=2 kHz, which is in the middle of the POTS 
frequency band. Of course, a typical ADSL signal has a continuum of 
frequencies, which would result in difference components at a continuum of 
frequencies when the DSL signal interacts with a non-linearity in the 
system. 
A non-linearity may appear in communication system 50 due to 
non-linearities in interface circuitry (not shown) of a telephone, such 
as, telephone 80. These nonlinearities may be due, for example, to 
transistors and diode circuits in the telephone. When a DSL signal appears 
at the interface circuitry, the non-linearities can cause intermodulation 
distortion products, such as the 2 kHz difference component described in 
the above example, to be picked up by a receiver microphone in the 
telephone. This "audible noise" is undesirable to a user of the telephone, 
and results in a hiss or background noise that may interfere with voice 
signals on the POTS frequency band of the subscriber line. Additionally, 
the audible noise may adversely interfere the transmission and reception 
of data signals within the POTS band. In particular, the nonlinearities in 
the telephone act to demodulate the DSL signals so that they appear in the 
POTS frequency band, producing an undesirable result. 
In the system and method according to the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 
08/982,400, entitled "Constant Envelope Modulation For Splitterless DSL 
Transmission", Foley & Lardner, filed Nov. 26, 1997 by Ko et al. 
(hereinafter "related application"), the intermodulation product 
distortion is lessened to a great extent in the POTS frequency band by 
utilizing a modulation scheme that provides a lesser amount of 
intermodulation product distortion than conventional modulation schemes 
used for DSL transmission. As stated above, the intermodulation product 
distortion is not a major problem for a conventional system having a 
hardware (POTS) splitter. However, for a communication system that does 
not utilize a POTS splitter at a source/destination site (i.e., a house), 
the problem of intermodulation product distortion has been recognized by 
the inventors, and is dealt with in a manner that provides for 
substantially noise-free simultaneous data and/or voice communications 
over both the POTS band and the DSL band. By using a constant envelope 
modulation, intermodulation products appearing at or near the baseband 
frequency range are lessened to a great extent than by not using constant 
envelope modulation. Since the baseband frequency range is a part of the 
POTS band, this is a useful feature for simultaneous use of POTS 
transmission and DSL transmission over the same lines. 
In the system and method as described in the related application, a 
constant envelope modulation technique for upstream signal transmission 
over the DSL band is utilized. Constant envelope modulation corresponds to 
a non-amplitude modulation technique, such as frequency modulation or 
phase modulation. Phase modulation, such as phase shift keying (PSK), does 
modulate the envelope somewhat (at each phase transition in the modulated 
signal), but provides a sufficient enough "constant" envelope to be useful 
for a splitterless system for DSL and POTS traffic. Other types of phase 
modulation, such as continuous phase modulation, may be utilized to 
provide a substantially constant envelope with increased data rate 
transmission capability. System and application parameters can affect the 
meaning of the term constant envelope as used in the present application. 
For example, the constant envelope is preferably consistent enough so that 
intermodulation product distortion in the voice band does not annoy the 
user of the telephone. 
Given that there are non-linearities that exist in the communications 
system and that cannot be entirely eliminated, a modulation technique for 
signals in the DSL band is used so only a small amount of interference 
affects standard voice and/or data transmissions over the POTS band. In 
the example given above with respect to a DSL signal having two frequency 
components at 80 kHz and 82 kHz, if amplitude modulation was used for the 
DSL signal, then a strong difference component would be generated by the 
non-linearities of the interface circuitry of a telephone on the POTS 
side. However, if constant envelope modulation was used instead, a 
lesser-sized difference component would be generated by the 
non-linearities of the interface circuitry of the telephone on the POTS 
side. 
Such a use of constant envelope modulation has been provided for wireless 
communications, such as voice and/or data transmissions using satellites, 
where more than one signal passes through a transponder that may operate 
in a non-linear region under certain situations (e.g., fully-loaded 
transponder) operating at or near saturation. In such wireless systems, 
the use of constant envelope modulation provides for lesser suppression of 
the weaker signals as compared to stronger signals that are input to the 
transponder. In the present invention, however, the use of constant 
envelope modulation provides for the lessening of intermodulation 
distortion products at a telephone on a POTS side of a wired system that 
does not have a splitter, where the telephone has non-linearities that 
cause intermodulation distortion to occur. 
Another useful type of constant envelope modulation technique that can be 
utilized in the DSL modem as described in the related application is 
Minimum Shift Keying (MSK) modulation. MSK modulation is a 
continuous-phase frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation with a minimum 
modulation index (0.5) that will produce orthogonal signaling. The details 
of MSK are presented in "Digital and Analog Communication Systems", by 
Leon W. Couch II, and are well known in the art. 
A block diagram of one possible MSK modulation circuit for upstream DSL 
traffic that can be utilized in the system and method according to the 
related application is shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, an MSK modulator 500 
receives data from an I channel 505 and from a Q channel 510, with both 
channels receiving data in binary form (i.e., each bit is either "1" or 
"0"). I channel data is provided to a Binary-to-Pulse Amplitude Modulator 
(PAM) circuit 520, and Q channel data is provided to a Binary-to-PAM 
circuit 530. Circuits 520, 530 each convert the binary data to 
corresponding PAM data, where a binary "1" is output as a "1", and where a 
binary "0" is output as a "-1". 
MSK modulator 500 also includes a Full-Wave Rectifier circuit 540, which 
converts an input sinusoid of the form sin(.omega.T/2) into a 
full-wave-rectified signal. The full-wave-rectifier circuit 540 
essentially performs an Absolute Value function for any signal input to 
it. MSK modulator 500 encodes the I and Q channels into half-wave 
sinusoids, at a rate of T/2, where T=symbol rate. 
MSK modulator 500 further includes a first multiplier 550 and a second 
multiplier 560. The first multiplier 550 multiplies the PAM data of the 
binary-to-PAM circuit 520 with the output of the full-wave-rectifier 
circuit 540, and the first multiplier 550 outputs a first multiplied 
signal. The second multiplier 560 multiplies the PAM data of binary-to-PAM 
circuit 530 with the output of full-wave-rectifier circuit 540, and the 
second multiplier 560 outputs a second multiplied signal. The first and 
second multiplied signals are signals that have a carrier frequency 
corresponding to the output of the full-wave-rectifier circuit 540. 
The second multiplied signal is delayed by a delay circuit 570, where the 
delay corresponds to one-half the symbol rate (in digital terms, 
Z.sup.-T/2). Delay circuit 570 delays the signal in the Q channel so that 
it will be at a peak when the signal in the I channel is at a zero value. 
An adder 580 adds the output of the delay circuit 570 to the output of the 
first multiplier 550, where that output corresponds to a constant envelope 
MSK signal 590. 
The constant envelope feature of MSK is shown in FIG. 5, where each zero 
value of either the I or Q channel is matched in time by a peak value in 
the other channel. Values in between the peak and minimum values in each 
channel are matched in time with each other (due to a delay element 
provided in the Q channel) to maintain a constant envelope modulated 
signal (the sum of the I and Q channels) at all times. 
The sin(.omega.T/2) signal can be generated in a number of ways. One way is 
to use a sample counter as an index to a sine/cosine table. For example, 
in the preferred embodiment, the combined symbol rate upstream is 34000 
Hz, and the sample rate is 272,000 Hz, thus there are 8 samples per 
symbol. The sample counter counts from 0 to 7 for each input symbol, and 
is used as an index to a sine/cosine lookup table. FIG. 6A shows eight 
sample points for one pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) symbol corresponding 
to a "1" value, with each sample point corresponding to a particular 
sinusoidal value. If the PAM symbol corresponds to a "-1" value, then the 
eight sample points would have corresponding sinusoidal values as shown in 
FIG. 6B. 
In a first configuration of a lookup table described in the related 
application, a sine/cosine lookup table has 2048 pairs of entries, where 
each entry has a corresponding sine value associated with it. The carrier 
delta .DELTA. is used to access the appropriate entry in the lookup table. 
In a second configuration described in the related application, a sample 
counter is used as an index to a lookup table that only contains a number 
of entries corresponding to twice the number of samples per symbol. Thus, 
in the example described above, a lookup table having only sixteen pairs 
of entries would be used in the second configuration. 
In the first configuration, each entry in the first column of the lookup 
table corresponds to a particular sample position of one positive cycle of 
a sinusoid, with entry 0 corresponding to a 0 degree position in the 
positive cycle of a sinusoid, and with entry 1023 corresponding to an 180 
degree or .pi. position in that one cycle. Entries 1024 to 2047 correspond 
to sample positions of one negative cycle of the sinusoid, and correspond 
to positions between 180 degrees and 360 degrees of the sinusoid. The 
carrier delta .DELTA. is used as an index into a lookup table. 
The carrier delta .DELTA. is computed according to the following equation: 
EQU .DELTA.=2048*(fc/fs)=2048*(fc/272,000), 
wherein fc is the symbol rate for each channel, and fs is the sample rate. 
The symbol rate is 17000 Hz for each channel, and so the total bit rate 
output by the MSK modulator is 34000 bits/second, since there are two bits 
per symbol (i.e., and I bit and a Q bit for each symbol that is MSK 
modulated). Thus: 
EQU .DELTA.=2048*(17000/272000)=128. 
From this calculation, a half-wave sine/cosine table having the values as 
shown in FIG. 7A is obtained, with the first column corresponding to an 
address location for each value in the lookup table, and with the second 
column corresponding to the corresponding sine value (with the integer 
value 32767 corresponding to a sine value of just below "1"). Using the 
carrier .DELTA. that increments by 128 for each sample of a symbol, the 
sine value corresponding to the zeroth location in the lookup table is 
retrieved for the zeroth sample of a "+1" PAM symbol, the 128th location 
in the lookup table is retrieved for the first sample of the "+1" PAM 
symbol, . . . , the 896th location in the lookup table is retrieved for 
the seventh sample of the "+1" PAM symbol. Either the zeroth location or 
the 1024th location in the lookup table is retrieved for the eighth 
sample, which corresponds to the zeroth sample of a next symbol. The 
zeroth location is retrieved if the next symbol is a "+1" PAM symbol, and 
the 1024th location is retrieved if the next symbol is a "-1" PAM symbol. 
Thus, the zeroth sample for a "+1" PAM symbol in the I channel would map to 
the sine value of 0, the first sample for the "+1" PAM symbol in the I 
channel would map to the sine value of 12539, . . . , the fourth sample 
for the "+1" PAM symbol in the I channel would map to the sine value of 
32767 (which equals 2.sup.16 -1, which corresponds to the largest number 
in a 16-bit integer range, which is a typical maximum integer value for a 
16-bit computer), . . . , and the seventh sample for the "+1" PAM symbol 
in the I channel would map to the sine value of 12539. The next sample in 
the I channel would correspond to the zeroth sample for the next symbol in 
the I channel. Note that, due to the T/2 delay element in the path of the 
Q-channel, data corresponding to the fourth sample of the symbol in the I 
channel, which is at a peak output value, is added to a T/2-delayed value 
from the Q-channel, which would correspond to a zeroth sample for a symbol 
in the Q channel. This zeroth sample for the symbol in the Q-channel is 
obtained from a similar table to that shown in FIG. 7A, where the 
corresponding sine value would be "0". Thus, the adder 590 would add a 
peak value from the I channel to a minimum value from the Q channel, which 
maintains the constant envelope feature of this modulation scheme. 
Entries 1024 to 2047 of the sine table correspond to the corresponding sine 
values for a "-1" PAM output, and entries 0 to 1023 of the sine table 
correspond to the corresponding sine values for a "+1" PAM output. Thus, 
for a "+1" PAM value, the 0th entry in the table is accessed for the first 
sample of that symbol, and every 128th entry is successively accessed for 
the next seven samples of that same symbol. For a "-1" PAM value, the 
1024th entry in the table is accessed for the first sample of that symbol, 
and every 128th entry is successively accessed for the next seven samples 
of that same symbol. 
In the second lookup table configuration described in the related 
application, instead of having 2048 entries in the sine/cosine lookup 
table and then jumping by 128 addresses in the table for each sample, a 
smaller sine/cosine lookup table having only sixteen entries is used, as 
shown in FIG. 7B. In FIG. 7B, the sample counter is used to access the 
appropriate address location in the sine/cosine table, with the zeroth 
sample of a "+1" PAM symbol corresponding to a sample count=0, which is 
used to retrieve the value 0 in the address=0 location of the sine/cosine 
table. The first sample of the "+1" PAM symbol corresponds to a sample 
count=1, which is used to retrieve the value "12539" in the address=1 
location of the sine/cosine table. After the sample count gets to 7, which 
corresponds to the eighth or last sample of the "+1" PAM symbol, the 
sample count resets to zero for a next symbol to be sampled. If the input 
signal was a "-1" PAM symbol, then the eighth through sixteenth entries of 
the sine table are respectively accessed for the first through seventh 
samples of that symbol. 
FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of a DSL modem 54A according to the related 
application, and many components of the DSL modem 54A are not shown in 
order to simplify the explanation. Referring now to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and 
FIG. 8, a modulator 500 performs constant envelope modulation on data 
received from a computer 84. The constant-envelope-modulated data passes 
through band-pass filter 810, which has a response in accordance with the 
upstream DSL band. Band-pass filter 810 keeps signals in all other bands 
from passing therethrough. Bandpass-pass filter 810 outputs a filtered 
signal on subscriber line 52. 
Downstream signals are received on subscriber line 52, and pass through 
band-pass filter 820, which has a response in accordance with the 
downstream DSL band. Note that band-pass filter 810 blocks these 
downstream DSL signals from being sent to the modulator 500. Band-pass 
filter 820 outputs a filtered signal to demodulator 830. Demodulator 830 
performs a demodulation on the downstream signals, and is preferably 
implemented as a quadrature amplitude demodulator (when the downstream 
signals are QAM signals). 
FIG. 9 shows a different configuration of a DSL modem 54B according to an 
alternative configuration, in which an echo canceler 910 and other 
components are used. 
The above description of the utilization of a constant envelope modulation 
for upstream DSL signal transmission is pertinent to a situation where at 
least one telephone in a same location as the DSL modem is off-hook. In 
that situation, since the telephone is off-hook, the problem of audible 
noise being received and heard by a user of the telephone is addressed by 
the use of constant envelope modulation for upstream DSL signal 
transmission, so as to reduce the intermodulation product distortion and 
therefore audible noise at the telephone. 
However, if no telephone at the same location as the DSL modem is off-hook, 
then a constant envelope modulation for DSL signals does not have to be 
utilized. Therefore, in that instance, a modulation technique that will 
provide the fastest and most efficient data transmission over the DSL band 
can be utilized, irrespective as to the amount of intermodulation product 
distortion that it may create at the on-hook telephones. 
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the invention, in 
which an on-hook/off-hook detector 1005 detects whether any of the 
telephones 26 are off-hook. The on-hook/off-hook detector 1005 may detect 
an off-hook condition of a telephone in any of a number of ways, such as, 
for example, 1) detecting a change in line current over the telephone line 
due to a telephone changing from an off-hook state to an on-hook state, or 
vice versa, 2) detecting a change in a channel transmission characteristic 
of the telephone line, which again is indicative of a changed state of a 
telephone, or 3) checking a load impedance presented by the telephone 
line, or by any of other techniques known to those of ordinary skill in 
the art. By prior testing or based on the characteristics of the telephone 
line with no devices connected thereto, it would be known what the state 
of the telephone line should be (i.e., line current, impedance, etc.) when 
all of the telephones are on-hook. If the current state of the telephone 
line, as determined by the on-hook/off-hook detector 1005 changes from 
that known "all telephones are on-hook" state, then it is determined that 
at least one telephone is off-hook. 
If any of the telephones are off-hook, then the off-hook detector 1005 
outputs an off-hook signal on line 1010. The off-hook signal or status 
signal is received by a modulation unit 1020 of a DSL modem. The DSL 
modulation unit 1020 provides a constant envelope modulation, such as 
m-ary FSK, m-ary PSK, MSK, or MSK with pulse shaping, if one or more of 
the telephones are off-hook. If none of the telephones 26 are off-hook, 
then the modulation unit 1020 provides a different modulation technique, 
such as m-ary QAM. QAM causes more intermodulation product distortion in 
the POTS band, but allows for a higher data rate transmission. The 
increased intermodulation product distortion is not a problem in this 
instance, since the audible noise created as a result of the m-ary QAM 
technique for transmission of upstream DSL signals is not heard by any 
user or users of the telephones 26, since the telephones 26 are not in use 
at the time the QAM technique is in use. In this state, the DSL modem is 
free to transmit upstream using a modulation technique that allows for a 
highest data rate that can be supported by the channel, irrespective as to 
the amount of intermodulation product distortion that the modulation 
technique may cause to other frequency bands. For example, a QAM technique 
with a 256-element signal constellation may be utilized when any of the 
telephones are on-hook. 
If a user happens to pick up one of the telephones 26 at a time when the 
QAM technique for DSL signals is in use, then the on-hook/off-hook 
detector 1005 will output the off-hook signal to the modulation unit 1020. 
The modulation unit 1020 will then switch to a modulation technique, such 
as MSK, which will provide less intermodulation product distortion and 
thus less audible noise to a user of the on-hook telephone, but which will 
not allow for the maximum possible DSL data rate transmission upstream. As 
shown in FIG. 11, the modulation unit 1020 includes a switch 1105, an MSK 
modulation unit (or other type of constant envelope modulation unit) 1110 
and a QAM unit 1120. The switch 1105 controls operation of one of the two 
units 1110, 1120, based on the state of the off-hook signal. The 
modulation unit 1020 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 11, 
replaces the modulator 500 of FIGS. 8 and 9, so as to provide a DSL modem 
according to the present invention that is operable with an 
on-hook/off-hook detector (see FIG. 10). 
In the present invention, rapid retrain techniques may also be incorporated 
in the DSL modem according to the present invention to limit interruption 
of data and to prevent disturbance to the telephone user. Such rapid 
retrain techniques are disclosed, for example, in U.S. patent application 
entitled "Splitterless Digital Subscriber Communication System", discussed 
hereinabove. By the use of the rapid retrain techniques, a change in a 
characteristic of the telephone line can be quickly detected, causing a 
quick change in DSL modulation technique and/or the data rate, if 
necessary. 
If a first telephone is on-hook, thereby causing the DSL modem to use a 
constant envelope modulation, and then a second telephone goes on-hook at 
the same location as the first telephone, this will not cause a change in 
the modulation technique utilized for the DSL modem, since it will 
maintain the constant envelope modulation until both the first and second 
telephones (and any other telephones at the same location) go off-hook. 
It is understood that, while the detailed drawings and specific examples 
given describe preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention, 
they are for the purpose of illustration only. The apparatus and method of 
the invention is not limited to the precise details and conditions 
disclosed. For example, although a DSL transmission scheme is shown with a 
POTS transmission scheme, other types of schemes may be utilized according 
to the teachings of the present invention for a splitterless or 
non-splitterless telephone communication system. One such system would 
provide for simultaneous communication on telephone wires using both ADSL 
traffic and POTS traffic, where the upstream ADSL traffic uses constant 
envelope modulation when no telephones are on-hook so as to lessen the 
amount of interference to the POTS traffic. 
Also, other types of equipment that utilize the POTS band may be monitored 
to see whether they are in an in-use state or a non-in-use state, such as 
a facsimile machine, an answering machine, an analog modem, etc. The 
monitoring is used to determine which type of modulation is to be utilized 
by a DSL modem coupled to the same subscriber line as the other equipment 
that use the POTS band.