Patent ID: 7177367

Claim:
A method for assigning bits to a plurality of channels in a discrete multi-tone modulation communications system, the method comprising: assigning, to each of one or more channels in a plurality of channels, at least a portion of a specified number of bits based on a performance characteristic of each of the one or more channels; determining an allowable number of bits that can be carried by each of one or more channels using a signal to noise measurement for each of the one or more channels; for a first group of channels in the plurality of channels, wherein the allowable number of bits that can be carried by each channel in the first group of channels is less than a characteristic minimum bit value for channels in the discrete multi-tone modulation communications system, reducing the determined allowable number of bits for each channel in the first group of channels to zero; and wherein the specified number of bits satisfies an aggregate constraint on the bits assigned to the plurality of channels, so that a total number of bits assigned to the plurality of channels is equal the specified number of bits.