Patent ID: 7031400

Claim:
A method for transmitting digital data within a communication system having a data frame defined to include a fixed number of symbols having a fixed number of specified possible energy levels, and a maximum average power value, the method comprising the steps of: (a) assembling a signal constellation by individually assigning signal points corresponding to each symbol in said data frame by the steps of: (i) computing a minimum distance required between symbol signal points to achieve a preselected performance level; (ii) receiving a Digital Impairment Learning (DIL) sequence; (iii) using said DIL sequence, identifying distinguishable energy levels from among said possible energy levels; (iv) searching each of said symbols in said data frame to identify the smallest available energy level greater than or equal to said minimum distance; (v) assigning as a first signal point, said smallest available energy level identified in step (a)(iv); (vi) searching each of said symbols in said data frame to identify the smallest available energy level greater than or equal to said minimum distance higher than a previously assigned signal point; (vii) assigning as a next signal point said smallest available energy level identified in step (a)(vi); (iix) while the average power is less than the maximum average power value and one or more of said available energy levels remain unassigned, repeating steps (a)(vi) and (a)(vii); and (b) transmitting digital data with said signal constellation.