Patent ID: 8737548

Claim:
A method for receiving in an adaptive loading orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) communication system, comprising: de-mapping a received OFDM symbol from at least one of a plurality of sub-carriers, wherein each sub-carrier has an associated at least one of a plurality of classes, in order to produce rate adapted bits; grouping the at least one of a plurality of sub-carriers into at least one of a plurality of classes, wherein the grouping is based upon channel state information, and wherein each class has an associated data rate; buffering the rate adapted data bits according to the at least one of a plurality of classes, wherein each class has an associated buffer; processing the buffered rate adapted data bits for inter-class boundary mitigation, wherein the processing comprises selecting one or more of the following: processing an entire class per symbol, using a highest quality class “Z” as a transition class, using a bottom class as a transition class, taking bits from another class when needed for additional transitions and collapsing the remainder into a lower class, increasing receiver (RX) CSI feedback, determining boundary classes, employing receiver (RX) feedback as to the best tones for a class prior to quantization for use at transitions, or using performance back off to mitigate inter-class boundary effects; and multiplexing the rate adapted bits, sized less than an OFDM frame, corresponding to the at least one of a plurality of classes, wherein the rate adapted data bits are rate adapted in order to produce encoded data bits.