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

Abstract

A muticarrier transceiver is provided with a sleep mode in which it idles with reduced power consumption when it is not needed to transmit or receive data. The full transmission and reception capabilities of the transceiver are quickly restored when needed, without requiring the full (and time-consuming) initialization commonly needed to restore such transceivers to operation after inactivity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         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; 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 communications without reinitialization of said transceiver.    
     
     
         2 . A multicarrier transceiver comprising: 
 a sleep mode controller responsive to a sleep mode command and adapted to: 
 store selected state parameters characteristic of the communications channel over which the transceiver is operating; and  
 reduce power to selected portions of the transceiver; and  
   a wake-up controller responsive to a wake-up command and adapted to: 
 restore power to the transceiver; and  
 restore the state of the transceiver from the sleep mode; and  
   a frame controller that maintains a common, synchronized data frame count between the transceiver and a remote transceiver with which it communicates, to thereby facilitate restoration of communications without reinitialization of the transceiver.