Managing crosstalk in DSL system

1. A method comprising:

determining, by a network element and for each vectoring group from a plurality of vectoring groups, a transmission load of the vectoring group based on transmission loads of links within the vectoring group;

identifying, by the network element, a resource allocation interval (RAI) that is shared by the plurality of vectoring groups;

determining, based on the transmission load of each vectoring group and by the network element, a first portion of the RAI that will be a normal operation interval (NOI) and a second portion of the RAI that will be a discontinuous operation interval (DOI);

transmitting, by the network element, data over all of the plurality of vectoring groups during at least a portion of the NOI; and

transmitting, by the network element, data over fewer than all of the vectoring groups during the entire DOI, wherein data from at least two different vectoring groups are separately transmitted during at least two non-overlapping portions of the DOI, and wherein a transmission rate of data transmitted by a particular vectoring group during the DOI is higher than a transmission rate of data transmitted by the particular vectoring group during the NOI.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a first portion of the RAI that will be a NOI and a second portion of the RAI that will be a DOI comprises determining a start time of the NOI and a start time of the DOI.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

determining a first portion of the RAI that will be a NOI and a second portion of the RAI that will be a DOI comprises determining a first number of symbols to be allocated to the NOI and a second number of symbols to be allocated to the DOI.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, for each vectoring group from a plurality of vectoring groups, a transmission load of the vectoring group comprises determining a total number of symbols required to transmit all transmission loads of the plurality of vectoring groups given that a particular number of symbols is allocated to the NOI.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein determining a first portion of the RAI that will be a NOI and a second portion of the RAI that will be a DOI comprises determining a first number of symbols to be allocated to the NOI and a second number of symbols to be allocated to the DOI such that the total number of symbols required to transmit all transmission loads of the plurality of vectoring groups is a minimum.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining, for each vectoring group from a plurality of vectoring groups, a transmission load of the vectoring group comprises:

for a link within the vectoring group:

determining a first data rate of the link during an NOI;

determining a second data rate of the link during a DOI;

determining a number of symbols required to transmit a transmission load of the link based on the first data rate and second data rate, given that a particular number of symbols is allocated to the NOI; and

determining a number of symbols required to transmit the transmission load of the vectoring group based on the number of symbols required to transmit the transmission load of the link, given that a particular number of symbols is allocated to the NOI.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising allocating different transmission intervals to the plurality of vectoring groups within the DOI.

8. A device, comprising:

a memory storing instructions executable by one or more data processing devices; and

one or more data processing devices that interact with the memory and execute instructions that cause the device to be configured to:

determine, for each vectoring group from a plurality of vectoring groups, a transmission load of the vectoring group based on transmission loads of links within the vectoring group;

identify a resource allocation interval (RAI) that is shared by the plurality of vectoring groups;

determine, based on the transmission load of each vectoring group, a first portion of the RAI that will be a normal operation interval (NOI) and a second portion of the RAI that will be a discontinuous operation interval (DOI);

transmit data over all of the plurality of vectoring groups during at least a portion of the NOI; and

transmit data over fewer than all of the vectoring groups during the entire DOI, wherein data from at least two different vectoring groups are separately transmitted during at least two non-overlapping portions of the DOI, and wherein a transmission rate of data transmitted by a particular vectoring group during the DOI is higher than a transmission rate of data transmitted by the particular vectoring group during the NOI.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to determine a start time of the NOI and a start time of the DOI.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to determine a first number of symbols to be allocated to the NOI and a second number of symbols to be allocated to the DOI.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to determine a total number of symbols required to transmit all transmission loads of the plurality of vectoring groups given that a particular number of symbols is allocated to the NOI.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the device is configured to determine a first number of symbols to be allocated to the NOI and a second number of symbols to be allocated to the DOI such that the total number of symbols required to transmit all transmission loads of the plurality of vectoring groups is a minimum.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to:

for a link within the vectoring group:

determine a first data rate of the link during an NOI;

determine a second data rate of the link during a DOI;

determine a number of symbols required to transmit a transmission load of the link based on the first data rate and second data rate, given that a particular number of symbols is allocated to the NOI; and

determine a number of symbols required to transmit the transmission load of the vectoring group based on the number of symbols required to transmit the transmission load of the link, given that a particular number of symbols is allocated to the NOI.

14. The device of claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to allocate different transmission intervals to the plurality of vectoring groups within the DOI.

15. A system, comprising:

a plurality of network elements; and

at least one of the plurality of the network element including one or more data processing devices configured to:

determine, for each vectoring group from a plurality of vectoring groups, a transmission load of the vectoring group based on transmission loads of links within the vectoring group;

identify a resource allocation interval (RAI) that is shared by the plurality of vectoring groups;

determine, based on the transmission load of each vectoring group, a first portion of the RAI that will be a normal operation interval (NOI) and a second portion of the RAI that will be a discontinuous operation interval (DOI);

transmit data over all of the plurality of vectoring groups during at least a portion of the NOI; and

transmit data over fewer than all of the vectoring groups during the entire DOI, wherein data from at least two different vectoring groups are separately transmitted during at least two non-overlapping portions of the DOI, and wherein a transmission rate of data transmitted by a particular vectoring group during the DOI is higher than a transmission rate of data transmitted by the particular vectoring group during the NOI.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine a start time of the NOI and a start time of the DOI.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine a first number of symbols to be allocated to the NOI and a second number of symbols to be allocated to the DOI.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine a total number of symbols required to transmit all transmission loads of the plurality of vectoring groups given that a particular number of symbols is allocated to the NOI.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to determine a first number of symbols to be allocated to the NOI and a second number of symbols to be allocated to the DOI such that the total number of symbols required to transmit all transmission loads of the plurality of vectoring groups is a minimum.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to:

for a link within the vectoring group:

determine a first data rate of the link during an NOI;

determine a second data rate of the link during a DOI;

determine a number of symbols required to transmit a transmission load of the link based on the first data rate and second data rate, given that a particular number of symbols is allocated to the NOI; and

determine a number of symbols required to transmit the transmission load of the vectoring group based on the number of symbols required to transmit the transmission load of the link, given that a particular number of symbols is allocated to the NOI.

21. The system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more data processing devices are configured to allocate different transmission intervals to the plurality of vectoring groups within the DOI.