Dynamic bandwidth allocation

A method for dynamically allocating bandwidth to a service unit in a telecommunications system that uses a multi-carrier transmission scheme with transmission channels that include a number of subbands, each including a number of payload channels, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for a payload channel to provide a service unit that is assigned to a first subband;
• selecting an available payload channel in the first subband;
• determining if the payload channel is acceptable to provide the service to the service unit;
• when the payload channel is acceptable, allocating the payload channel to the service unit;
• when the payload channel is unacceptable, repeating the steps of selecting and determining to find an acceptable payload channel.

A method for allocating payload channels for a service that uses multiple payload channels in a telecommunications system with a multi-carrier transmission scheme to communicate with a service unit, the method comprising:

• assigning an identifier for each payload channel that indicates the relative order of the multiple payload channels for the service;
• monitoring the quality of the multiple payload channels;
• when the quality of one of the payload channels drops below a threshold, allocating a different payload channel to replace the original payload channel for the service;
• and
• in the service unit, reordering the payload channels using the identifier for the original payload channel so that the proper order for the allocated payload channels is maintained by the service irrespective of the order that the payload channels are received at the service unit.