Adaptive Rate Subscriber Loop Data Transmission using Ethernet Interfaces

The increasing demand for Internet and World Wide Web access from the home has stimulated research into finding methods of providing access at rates greater than the 33.6 kb/s offered by current computer modems. Most copper telephone pairs have bandwidth capacities much greater than the 3.4 kHz voice-band. Using this excess bandwidth it is possible to substantially exceed current modem rates. This paper describes an inexpensive and readily deployable network access technology capable of providing bit rates ranging from hundreds of kb/s to potentially greater than 1 Mb/s on existing copper telephone lines. The usable bit rate, which varies depending on the length and gauge of the wire, is adaptively determined at system start up. The results of rate adaption testing are presented, as well as the results of throughput testing when TCP is used to provide flow control across the adaptive rate transmission line. It is also shown that current IBM compatible computers are only capable of supporting data rates of slightly more than 1 Mb/s through Ethernet adaptor cards; providing access rates beyong a few Mb/s is currently unnecessary.