Patent attributes
A method for data communication includes providing an order for assigning bits of an input data stream to tones in a multi-tone modulation scheme, and allocating respective bit-loading values to the tones, such that some of the tones are allocated a first bit-loading value and other tones are allocated at least one second bit-loading value. The order is modified so as to form pairs of the tones that are allocated the first bit-loading value, with one or more of the other tones intervening between at least some of the pairs. The input data stream is modulated by assigning the bits to the tones in accordance with the modified order and the respective bit-loading values, and encoding the bits that are assigned to each of the pairs of the tones as a constellation point.