Method of determining a channel quality and modem

摘要

The present invention is concerned with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) data transmission over a transmission channel that is subject to narrowband interferers. An increased overall bit or data transmission rate is achieved by a method of determining a channel capacity of a plurality of sub-channels of the transmission channel based on a net background noise power estimation. The net background noise power comprises only white noise-like contributions and excludes; to a reasonable extent; noise contributions or signal power from narrowband interferers. Hence, the net background noise power is reduced as compared to the conventional case of a background noise power estimated for the totality of sub-channels or a continuous transmission band. Based on this, an OFDM signal code construction or bit allocation scheme is chosen that provides for optimized data transmission at a data rate that approximates or approaches the more realistic channel capacity of the individual sub-channel, resulting in an increased overall bit or data transmission rate.