SEPARATE COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS FOR DATA AND CONTROL CODES

摘要

A communications system includes a physical layer hardware unit (220) and a processing unit (100). The physical layer hardware unit (220) is adapted to receive user data over a first communications channel and control codes over a second communications channel. The physical layer hardware unit (220) is further adapted to transmit an upstream data signal over the first communications channel based on transmission assignments defined by the control codes. The processing unit (100) is adapted to execute a software driver (240) for interfacing with the physical layer hardware unit (220). The software driver (240) includes program instructions for implementing a protocol layer (80) to decrypt the user data and provide upstream data to the physical layer hardware unit (220) for generation of the upstream data signal. A method for configuring a transceiver (50) includes receiving user data over a first communications channel; receiving control codes over a second communications channel; and transmitting an upstream signal over the first communications channel based on transmission assignments defined by the control codes.