Bit loading for optical discrete multi-tone transmission

摘要

System and method embodiments are provided for bit loading for optical Discrete Multi-Tone Transmission (DMT). In an embodiment, a method for bit loading for optical DMT transmission or reception includes receiving, at a processor, a bit data stream, wherein the bit data stream comprises a plurality of subcarriers; assigning, with the processor, a code rate to each of a plurality of forward error correction (FEC) encoders/decoders according to a mapping of a signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) to a code rate for each of the subcarriers or subcarrier groups, wherein each FEC encoder/decoder corresponds to a respective one of the subcarriers or a respective subcarrier group; and assigning, with the processor, a modulation format to each subcarrier or each subcarrier group according to a mapping of an SNR for each subcarrier or subcarrier group to a bit number for a corresponding subcarrier or subcarrier group.