The present invention relates to a method for assigning transmission resources (101) to communications between an access node (11) and a plurality of subscriber devices (41 to 46) coupled to a shared transmission medium.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises characterizing interference between respective ones of the plurality of subscriber devices over the shared transmission medium, grouping highly-interfering subscriber devices into respective interfering groups (G1, G2, G3, G4) based on the so-characterized interference, and assigning disjoint transmission time intervals to upstream communication from any one subscriber device of any one interfering group and to downstream communication towards any other subscriber device of the same interfering group.

The present invention also relates to a resource controller.

The present invention relates to a method for assigning transmission resources (101) to communications between an access node (11) and a plurality of subscriber devices (41 to 46) coupled to a shared transmission medium. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises characterizing interference between respective ones of the plurality of subscriber devices over the shared transmission medium, grouping highly-interfering subscriber devices into respective interfering groups (G1, G2, G3, G4) based on the so-characterized interference, and assigning disjoint transmission time intervals to upstream communication from any one subscriber device of any one interfering group and to downstream communication towards any other subscriber device of the same interfering group. The present invention also relates to a resource controller.

A central node for digital subscriber line access multiplex. The central node supports a plurality of subscriber devices and comprises: a digital interface for upstream communication; a converter device for each one of the subscriber devices wherein each converter device comprises an A/D, analogue to digital, converter and a D/A, digital to analogue, converter; an analogue optical interface for communication of analogue signals for all of the subscriber devices with an intermediate distribution node for digital subscriber line access multiplex; a digital multiplexer/demultiplexer connected between the digital interface and the plurality converter devices; an analogue multiplexer/demultiplexer connected between the analogue optical interface and the plurality of converter devices; and a control signal generator connected to the analogue multiplexer/demultiplexer, wherein the control signal generator is arranged to generate an analogue control signal for controlling time division duplex operation at the intermediate distribution node.

A central node for digital subscriber line access multiplex. The central node supports a plurality of subscriber devices and comprises: a digital interface for upstream communication; a converter device for each one of the subscriber devices wherein each converter device comprises an A/D, analogue to digital, converter and a D/A, digital to analogue, converter; an analogue optical interface for communication of analogue signals for all of the subscriber devices with an intermediate distribution node for digital subscriber line access multiplex; a digital multiplexer/demultiplexer connected between the digital interface and the plurality converter devices; an analogue multiplexer/demultiplexer connected between the analogue optical interface and the plurality of converter devices; and a control signal generator connected to the analogue multiplexer/demultiplexer, wherein the control signal generator is arranged to generate an analogue control signal for controlling time division duplex operation at the intermediate distribution node.