Communication system and method for minimum burst duration

1. A method for extending the duration of a communicated frame, the method comprising:

receiving configuration input that corresponds to a minimum burst transmission time for crosstalk detection;

setting a specified minimum duration of time based on the configuration input;

generating a frame;

comparing the specified minimum duration of time with a duration of time associated with the generated frame;

adding at least one padding symbol to the generated frame such that a duration of a second frame is increased at least to a duration corresponding to at least the specified minimum duration; and

communicating the second frame.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding a last sequence of symbols, the sequence indicating an end of the second frame.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein adding the padding symbols further comprises varying the number of symbols added to the generated frame.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a duration difference between the duration of the generated frame and the minimum duration.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining the number of padding symbols, wherein the determined number of padding symbols corresponds to the determined duration difference.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising specifying the minimum duration.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising changing the specified minimum duration to a second minimum duration, wherein the number of padding symbols corresponds to the second minimum duration.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the configuration input is received remotely.

9. A system which extends the duration of a frame to be communicated, comprising:

a first interface configured to receive data to be communicated;

a processor configured to receive configuration input that corresponds to a minimum burst transmission time for crosstalk detection, configured to set a specified minimum duration of time based on the configuration input, configured to generate a frame to be communicated, configured to compare the specified minimum duration of time with a duration of time associated with the generated frame, and configured to add at least one padding symbol to the generated frame to generate a second frame, the second frame having a duration at least equal to the minimum duration;

a memory configured to store the specified minimum duration of time;

a second interface configured to communicate the second frame onto a communication channel.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the memory further comprises a specified minimum duration corresponding to the specified regional minimum duration.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the memory further comprises a regional padding symbol value corresponding to the specified regional minimum duration.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the system comprises at least one selected from a group consisting of a computer terminal 116 , a digital telephone device, an Internet television device, an audio device, a multimedia device, a facsimile (fax) device, a graphic device, a high-speed Internet device, a high-speed local access network (LAN) device, an Internet telephone device, a stereo/audio device, a digital television device, a digital video cassette recorder device, a utility meter device, a home management device and a security device.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the specified minimum duration is a ANSI T1.417 minimum transmission time.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the specified minimum duration is configurable.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a number of padding symbols based on the symbol rate, and wherein the processor is configured to add the number of padding symbols to the generated frame to generate a second frame.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the data to be communicated is an ATM cell.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the ATM cell is a header only cell.

18. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one padding symbol includes a barker sequence.

19. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one padding symbol includes a delineation of an end-of-pad.

20. The system of claim 9 , wherein the system is configured to have the configuration input received remotely.

21. A system which extends the duration of a frame to be communicated, comprising:

means for receiving configuration input that corresponds to a minimum burst transmission time for crosstalk detection;

means for setting a specified minimum duration of time based on the configuration input;

means for receiving data to be communicated;

means for generating a frame;

means for comparing the specified minimum burst duration of time with a burst duration of time associated with the generated frame;

means for adding at least one padding symbol to the generated frame such that a burst duration of a second frame is increased at least to a predetermined burst duration corresponding to at least the specified minimum burst duration; and

means for communicating the second frame.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the means for receiving configuration input receives the configuration input remotely.

23. A computer-readable storage medium encoded thereon a computer program for extending the duration of a communicated frame, the program when executed performs the steps of:

receiving configuration input that corresponds to a minimum burst transmission time for crosstalk detection;

setting a specified minimum duration of time based on the configuration input;

receiving a data to be communicated;

generating a frame;

comparing the specified minimum duration with a duration of time associated with the generated frame;

adding at least one padding symbol to the generated frame such that a duration of a second frame is increased at least to a predetermined duration corresponding to at least the specified minimum duration; and

communicating the second frame.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein the configuration input is received remotely.