Patent ID: 8611218
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method, comprising: a) determining, by a first network node, a received power level of an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) signal received, over a channel, at the first network node; b) adjusting a Physical Layer (PHY) Margin based on the received power level, wherein adjusting the PHY Margin comprises: determining whether the received power level is lower than at least one Subcarrier Added PHY Margin (SAPM) Threshold; c) if the received power level is lower than at least one SAPM Threshold, then determining a SAPM for at least one subcarrier based on a lowest SAPM Threshold that is greater than the received power level; d) determining a signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the channel; e) adding the determined SAPM to the SNR to determine an index value on a subcarrier by subcarrier basis; and f) using the index value to determine a data transmission rate that is acceptable for communication of information over the channel to be used on a subcarrier by subcarrier basis.