Patent ID: 8537701

Claim:
A method of operating an access network including a plurality of data connections between end user devices and an aggregation transceiver device where the plurality of data connections are aggregated for onward connection through the access network, the method comprising: storing a plurality of different profiles, each of which specifies a set of values for a plurality of parameters associated with a data connection; and, for each data connection, monitoring the performance of the respective data connection; selecting one of said stored profiles to be applied to the respective data connection in dependence on the results of monitoring the performance of the respective data connection; and applying the selected profile to the respective data connection; wherein monitoring the performance of the respective data connection includes determining or estimating the number of times that the respective data connection resynchronises, within a given period of time, as a result of an automatic or forced resynchronisation rather than as a result of user action and using the determined or estimated number of forced resynchronisations, discounting an estimated number of resynchronisations resulting from user action, when selecting the profile to apply to the respective data connection, wherein estimating the number of resynchronisations resulting from user action comprises detecting that more than a predetermined minimum period of time has elapsed prior to or after a resynchronization without the respective data connection having been established and without the end user device connected to a line associated with the respective data connection automatically attempting, but failing, to re-establish the respective connection.