Patent ID: 8130739

Claim:
A method for partitioning bandwidth in a communication medium, said method comprising: a) dividing bandwidth into a plurality of tone groups; b) dividing said tone groups into time slots; c) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said tone groups; d) determining Basic Usage Patterns (BUPs) for a device pair with a BUP processor comprising a processor and a memory; e) searching for BUP combinations that will provide sufficient bandwidth to fulfill a request for said device pair; f) if said searching is successful, i) calculating the number of BUP tone-slot units required to satisfy said request for each of said BUP combinations, when the tone groups are allocated in order of highest to lowest BLE, ii) selecting a final BUP combination, from among said combinations, and iii) allocating said final combination to said request; g) if said searching for BUP combinations is not successful, i) determining Derived Usage Patterns (DUPs) for said BUPs with a DUP processor comprising a processor and a memory; ii) estimating a Bit Loading Estimate (BLE) for each of said DUPs; iii) searching for DUP combinations that will provide sufficient bandwidth to fulfill said request for said device pair; iv) if said searching for DUP combinations is successful, (1) calculating the number of DUP tone-slot units required to satisfy said request for each of said combinations, when the tone-slot units are allocated in order of highest to lowest BLE, (2) selecting a final DUP combination, from among said DUP combinations; (3) allocating said final DUP combination to said request.