Error filtering in a hybrid equalizer system

Abstract

Apparatus and methods of compensating for distortions introduced in communication signals received over a telephone network. An adaptive linear equalizer (LE) pre-filter is used for filtering incoming sampled communication signals received via the telephone network transmission medium. An adaptive decision feedback equalizer (DFE) is used in conjunction with the LE to provide error filtering as a hybrid equalizer system to determine which of a plurality of communication states of the sampled communication signals as an accurate estimate of the originally transmitted signals over the transmission medium, responsive to the filtered communication signals from the LE. An error signal is generated relative to the difference between the determined states of the decision mechanism of the DFE and the filtered communication signals from the LE. Further, an error filter provides a filtered output of the generated error signal, wherein the error filter has an error filter characteristic defined in accordance with the known telephone network transmission medium. The LE for the received sampled communication signals has a LE pre-filter characteristic defined in accordance with the filtered output of the error filter, using a recursive least-mean-square (LMS) technique.