Adjusting physical layer transmission properties

A first device comprising:

• a physical layer controller configured to:
• receive a first tone map including transmission properties for each of a set of frequencies used for data transmission via a communications channel between the first device and a second device,
• determine that an amount of data available to transmit from the first device to the second device via the communications channel is less than a transmission size for a minimum transmission unit associated with the first tone map, and
• determine a derated tone map different from the first tone map in response to determining that the amount of data available to transmit is less than the transmission size for the minimum transmission unit associated with the first tone map;
• and
• a network interface configured to transmit the data using the derated tone map.

A method comprising:

• providing a first tone map from a first device to a second device used for data transmission via a communications channel between the first device and the second device, the first tone map including transmission properties for each of a set of frequencies;
• receiving, at the first device, an indication regarding a derated tone map different from the first tone map, the derated tone map determined by the second device based, at least in part, on an amount of data available to transmit from the second device to the first device via the communications channel, the amount of data being less than a transmission size for a minimum transmission unit associated with the first tone map;
• and
• receiving the data from the second device using the derated tone map.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which when executed by a processor of a device cause the device to:

• receive, at a first device, a first tone map used for data transmission via a communications channel between the first device and a second device, the first tone map including transmission properties for each of a set of frequencies;
• determine that an amount of data available to transmit from the first device to the second device via the communications channel is less than a transmission size for a minimum transmission unit associated with the first tone map;
• determine, at the first device, a derated tone map different from the first tone map in response to determining that the amount of data available to transmit is less than the transmission size for the minimum transmission unit associated with the first tone map;
• and
• transmit the data using the derated tone map.