Patent ID: 9660792
Date: 2017-05-23
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A multi-carrier system comprising: a plurality of end stations configured to exchange signals over a network, at least one more of the end stations being higher-order end stations operable to exchange signals over the network when modulated within a first frequency range and at least one or more of the end stations being lower-order end stations operable to exchange signals over the network when modulated within a second frequency range, the second frequency range being a subset of the first frequency range such that an entirety of the second frequency range falls within the first frequency range, wherein each of the plurality of end stations is configured to continuously listen for signals being exchanged over the network within a third frequency range, the third frequency range being a subset of the second frequency range such that an entirety of the third frequency range falls within the second frequency range; an aggregating unit including: i) a negotiator configured to determine modulation orders available to facilitate exchanging signals over the network as a function of network and end station performance capabilities; ii) a MAP generator configured to iteratively generate a MAP whereby each iteration of the MAP is sufficient for identifying portions of a signal to be processed by each of the plurality of end stations at a corresponding point in time in order to receive the user data being transmitted from the aggregating unit over the network; and iii) a modulator configured to vary modulation orders of the signal used to communicate the user data to the plurality of end stations, wherein the modulator is configured to iteratively transmit the MAP over the network within the third frequency range and to independently transmit the user data over the network outside of the third frequency range and within the first frequency range; wherein the MAP generator is configured to generate the MAP for specifying one or more segments of the signal being transmitted outside of the third frequency range that each of the plurality of end stations is to listen to in order receive the user data when intended to be transmitted thereto, including: i) specifying in a first iteration of the MAP one or more segments within the first frequency range and outside of the second frequency range for the higher-order end stations and one or more segments within the second frequency range for the lower-order end stations; ii) specifying in a second iteration of the MAP one or more segments within the second frequency range for at least a portion of the higher-order end stations specified one or more segments within the first iteration such that the portion of the higher-order end stations receive user data outside of the second frequency range during the first iteration and user data inside of the second frequency range during the second iteration.