# US 8,542,683 B2 · Dynamic bitloading > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,542,683 B2 - Document ID: US8542683B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/165,426 - Filed: 2008-06-30 - Published: 2009-12-31 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-30 - Assignees: Entropic Communications, Inc. - Applicants: Kenneth Chu; Inderjit Singh - Inventors: Kenneth Chu; Inderjit Singh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8542683B2 ## CPC - H04L 12/2801: {Broadband local area networks} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The subject matter disclosed herein relates to dynamically adjusting bitloading for multiple destinations on a network. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: a) determining bitloading capability of a plurality of channels to clients by transmitting probes intended only for determining the characteristics of the channel and that do not have a payload intended to be received for its content; b) associating said clients into aggregation groups based at least in part on said bitloading capability; and c) aggregating information by combining the data portion of at least a first packet intended for a first client and not a second client, said first packet having a first overhead portion, with the data portion of at least a second packet intended for said second client and not said first client, said second packet having a second overhead portion different from said first overhead portion, while using an aggregation header comprising an address of said first client and an address of said second client, wherein the aggregated information for transmission to two or more of said clients is based at least in part on whether said clients are members of the same aggregation group, and wherein said aggregated information is performed by combining the data portion of the at least first packet sequentially with the data portion of the at least second packet, wherein each of the data portion of the at least first packet and the data portion of the at least second packet comprises a header, and wherein said aggregated information include data portions of packets intended only for clients in the same aggregation group. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said aggregated information includes a data packet having a payload comprising information intended for transmission to said two or more clients. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising adding one or more of said clients to one of said aggregation groups based at least in part on a reassessment of bitloading capability of respective channels associated with said one or more clients above a threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: a) removing one or more of said clients from one of said group based at least in part on a reassessment of bitloading capability of respective channels associated with said one or more clients below a threshold; and b) including said one or more clients to another of said aggregation groups based on said reassessment of said bitloading capability. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a size of said aggregated information is based, at least in part, on a greatest common denominator (GCD) bitloading of said same aggregation group. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: a) reassessing said bitloading capability of said plurality of channels to clients; and b) associating said clients into new aggregation groups based at least in part on the reassessed bitloading capability. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a single bitloading is applied for all members of an aggregation group. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein said single bitloading is based at least in part on a greatest common denominator (GCD) bitloading of all members of said aggregation group. ### Claim 9 An article comprising a storage medium comprising machine-readable instructions stored thereon which, if executed by an execution device, are adapted to direct said execution device to: a) determine bitloading capability of a plurality of channels to clients; b) associate said clients into aggregation groups based at least in part on said bitloading capability; and c) aggregate information by combining the data portion of at least a first packet intended for a first client and not a second client, said first packet having a first overhead portion, with the data portion of at least a second packet intended for said second client and not said first client, said second packet having a second overhead portion different from said first overhead portion, while using an aggregation header comprising an address of said first client and an address of said second client, wherein the aggregated information for transmission to two or more of said clients is based at least in part on whether said clients are members of the same aggregation group, and wherein said aggregated information is performed by combining the data portion of the at least first packet sequentially with the data portion of the at least second packet, wherein each of the data portion of the at least first packet and the data portion of the at least second packet comprises a header, and wherein said aggregated information include data portions of packets intended only for clients in the same aggregation group. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The article of claim 9, wherein said aggregated information includes a data packet having a payload comprising information intended for transmission to said two or more clients. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The article of claim 9, wherein said instructions, if executed, are further adapted to direct said execution device to include one or more of said clients to one of said aggregation groups based at least in part on a reassessment of bitloading capability of respective channels associated with said one or more clients above a threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The article of claim 9, wherein said instructions, if executed, are further adapted to direct said execution device to: a) remove one or more of said clients from one of said group based at least in part on a reassessment of bitloading capability of respective channels associated with said one or more clients below a threshold; and b) include said one or more clients to another of said aggregation groups based on said reassessment of said bitloading capability. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The article of claim 9, wherein a size of said aggregated information is based, at least in part, on a greatest common denominator (GCD) bitloading of said same aggregation group. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The article of claim 9, wherein said instructions, if executed, are further adapted to direct said execution device to: a) reassess said bitloading capability of said plurality of channels to clients; and b) associate said clients into new aggregation groups based at least in part on the reassessed bitloading capability. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The article of claim 9, wherein a single bitloading is applied for all members of an aggregation group. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The article of claim 15, wherein said single bitloading is based at least in part on a greatest common denominator (GCD) bitloading of all members of said aggregation group. ### Claim 17 An apparatus comprising: a) means for determining bitloading capability of a plurality of channels to clients by transmitting probes intended only for determining the characteristics of the channel and that do not have a payload intended to be received for its content; b) means for associating said clients into aggregation groups based at least in part on said bitloading capability; and c) means for aggregating information by combining the data portion of at least a first packet intended for a first client and not a second client, said first packet having a first overhead portion, with the data portion of at least a second packet intended for said second client and not said first client, said second packet having a second overhead portion different from said first overhead portion, while using an aggregation header comprising an address of said first client and an address of said second client, wherein the aggregated information for transmission to two or more of said clients is based at least in part on whether said clients are members of the same aggregation group, and wherein said aggregated information is performed by combining the data portion of the at least first packet sequentially with the data portion of the at least second packet, wherein each of the data portion of the at least first packet and the data portion of the at least second packet comprises a header, and wherein said aggregated information include data portions of packets intended only for clients in the same aggregation group. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said aggregated information includes a data packet having a payload comprising information intended for transmission to said two or more clients. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising adding one or more of said clients to one of said aggregation groups based at least in part on a reassessment of bitloading capability of respective channels associated with said one or more clients above a threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a) means for removing one or more of said clients from one of said group based at least in part on a reassessment of bitloading capability of respective channels associated with said one or more clients below a threshold; and b) means for including said one or more clients to another of said aggregation groups based on said reassessment of said bitloading capability. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a size of said aggregated information is based, at least in part, on a greatest common denominator (GCD) bitloading of said same aggregation group. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: a) means for reassessing said bitloading capability of said plurality of channels to clients; and b) means for associating said clients into new aggregation groups based at least in part on the reassessed bitloading capability. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a single bitloading is applied for all members of an aggregation group. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said single bitloading is based at least in part on a greatest common denominator (GCD) bitloading of all members of said aggregation group. ### Claim 25 A network controller comprising: a) a transceiver to receive data packets from a source and to forward the data packets to a plurality of clients; b) a processor to determine bitloading capability of a plurality of channels to said clients and to associate said clients into aggregation groups based at least in part on said bitloading capability; and c) a memory to aggregate information by combining the data portion of at least a first packet intended for a first client and not a second client, said first packet having a first overhead portion, with the data portion of at least a second packet intended for said second client and not said first client, said second packet having a second overhead portion different from said first overhead portion, while using an aggregation header comprising an address of said first client and an address of said second client, wherein the aggregated information for transmission to two or more of said clients is based at least in part on whether said clients are members of the same aggregation group, and wherein said aggregated information is performed by combining the data portion of the at least first packet sequentially with the data portion of the at least second packet, wherein each of the data portion of the at least first packet and the data portion of the at least second packet comprises a header, and wherein said aggregated information include data portions of packets intended only for clients in the same aggregation group. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The network controller of claim 25, wherein said aggregated information includes a data packet having a payload comprising information intended for transmission to said clients. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The network controller of claim 25, wherein a size of said aggregated information is based, at least in part, on a greatest common denominator (GCD) bitloading of said same aggregation group. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The network controller of claim 25, wherein a single bitloading is applied for all members of an aggregation group. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The network controller of claim 28, wherein said single bitloading is based at least in part on a greatest common denominator (GCD) bitloading of all members of said aggregation group.