Patent ID: 6873684

Claim:
A method for estimating a data carrying capacity of a local loop associated with a subscriber, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a test apparatus in a central office to measure a transmission characteristic of the local loop in a voice frequency; (b) measuring the transmission characteristic of the local loop while the local loop is in an on-hook condition; (c) determining a plurality of modeled transmission characteristics by modeling one or more cables; (d) measuring the data carrying capacity corresponding to the plurality of determined transmission characteristics by operating a digital subscriber line system connected to an emulator that emulates the cables having the transmission characteristics; (e) generating a data table with a plurality of entries each entry associating the transmission characteristic with the data carrying capacity measured when emulating the cable having the transmission characteristic; and (f) determining a data carrying capacity of the local loop by applying the measured transmission characteristic of the local loop to the data table having the plurality of entries corresponding to the modeled transmission characteristics and associated data carrying capacities for converting the measured transmission characteristic of the local loop to a data carrying capacity.