Rate loading in OFDM based on bit-level capacities

A new bit allocation algorithm for uncoded transmission over parallel, independent channels (e.g., multicarrier transmission) is proposed. In contrast to state-of-the-art loading algorithms it is based on bit-level capacities and aims at the maximization of the so-called parallel decoding capacity. The algorithm can be implemented very efficiently and requires significantly lower complexity than existing approaches. Numerical results show a performance in terms of the bit-error ratio comparable to established bit-loading algorithms.