1. In a data transmission system including a transmitter, a distorting channel, a distorting echo path, and a receiver including a SIRF, a method for efficiently minimizing distortions in said data transmission system jointly caused by said distorting channel and by said distorting echo path comprising the steps of: (a) approximating the channel impulse response of said distorting channel; (b) approximating the echo impulse response of said distorting echo path; (c) computing a set of time domain SIRF coefficients based upon said approximated channel impulse response in combination with said approximated echo impulse response; and (d) utilizing said SIRF coefficients in said SIRF to efficiently minimize distortions in said data transmission system jointly caused by said distorting channel and said distorting echo path.