Patent ID: 7031394

Claim:
A method for transmitting voice and data signals simultaneously over a telephone subscriber wire pair, the method comprises: converting at least one voice signal into a corresponding sequence of n-bit digital words in synchronization with a discrete multi-tone (DMT) line signal, where n is an integer; assigning for voice transmission a portion of a plurality of carriers, each carrier in said portion being characterized by the ability to transmit a number of bits equal to or larger than n per Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) symbol, assigning other carriers of the DMT line signal for data transmission; converting said sequence of n-bit digital words into at least one sequence of n-bit QAM symbols where each QAM symbol has a real component constituted of odd bits of said n-bit digital words and an imaginary component constituted of even bits of said n-bit digital words; and sending said at least one sequence of QAM symbols in synchronization with said sequence of n-bit digital words on respective carriers assigned for voice transmission.