Multicarrier transmission system with low power sleep mode and rapid-on capability

1. A multicarrier transceiver having a sleep mode capability, comprising

A. means responsive to a sleep mode command for:

(1) storing selected state parameters characteristic of the communications channel over which the transceiver is operating; and

(2) reducing power to selected portions of transceiver circuitry;

and

B. means responsive to a wake-up command for:

(1) restoring power to said transceiver;

(2) restoring the state of said transceiver from said sleep mode by means of said stored parameters; and

C. means for maintaining a common, synchronized data frame count between said transceiver and a remote transceiver with which it communicates, to thereby facilitate restoration of communication without reinitialization of said transceiver, wherein the state parameters include one or more parameters selected from the group comprising frequency-domain equalizer coefficients, time-domain equalizer coefficients, echo canceller coefficients, bit allocations, coding parameters, fine gains, and subchannel gains.

2. A multicarrier transceiver according to claim 1 in which the means for maintaining said frame count comprises a signal defining a timing reference during at least the time when said first transceiver is in sleep mode.

3. A multicarrier transceiver according to claim 2 in which said signal comprises a pilot tone transmitted from one transceiver to another with which it is in communication.

4. A multicarrier transceiver according to claim 3 in which said pilot tone is transmitted between said transceivers during both normal operation and reduced power operation.

5. A multicarrier transceiver according to claim 1 in which maintaining synchronization includes maintaining synchronization of frame counters between said transceivers.

6. A multi carrier transceiver according to claim 5 in which maintaining synchronization further includes maintaining synchronization of the phase of a synchronizing signal transmitted between said transceivers.

7. A multicarrier transceiver according to claim 1 including means to transmit an idle symbol to said remote transceiver when said transceiver is in sleep mode.

8. A multicarrier transceiver according to claim 1 including means to transmit to said remote transceiver a short test signal on awaking from sleep mode in order to determine whether transmission conditions have changed sufficiently during sleep mode to require reinitialization of said transceiver on emerging from sleep mode.

9. A method of providing a sleep mode in a multicarrier transceiver characterized by a plurality of state parameters characteristic of the communications channel over which the transceiver is operating and requiring initialization of said parameters for normal communications, comprising the steps of:

A. storing selected ones of said state parameters in response to a sleep mode command;

B. reducing power to selected portions of the circuitry following said storing;

C. restoring power to said selected portions in response to an awaken signal; and

D. restoring the state of said transceiver from said stored parameters in response to said wakeup signal to thereby obviate reinitialization of said transceiver, wherein the state parameters include one or more parameters selected from the group comprising frequency-domain equalizer coefficients, time-domain equalizer coefficients, echo canceller coefficients, bit allocations, coding parameters, fine gains, and subchannel gains.

10. A method according to claim 9 including the step of maintaining synchronization in said transceiver with a synchronization signal transmitted to said transceiver during the time that said transceiver is in sleep mode.