Abstract: An apparatus (200) and method for load balancing for a processor (103) operable in data terminal equipment (102), such as a personal computer or workstation, for operation of a data communications program for data transmission and reception over a communications channel (105), concurrently with the operation of other applications programs. The apparatus includes a loading selector (205) coupleable to a user interface (100) for selection of a data transfer priority. A priority translator (210) coupled to the load selector (205) maps or translates the data transfer priority to a modulation mode or to a subset of modulation modes. The priority translator (210) may also determine processor availability, which is then also mapped to a modulation mode or to a subset of modulation modes.

Abstract: An automatic modulation mode selecting unit (208) and a method (100) provide for selection from a plurality of modulation modes having an optimized transmission time for a data file. This is particularly useful where a small data file is to be transmitted, such as for a hand-held message pad. The present invention may select a modulation mode having a slow data rate but a short training time to achieve a shorter transmission time a small data file in comparison with using another modulation mode having a fast data rate but a longer training time, and thus a longer transmission time. The automatic modulation mode selecting unit includes a mode select controller (202), a mode computer (204), and a mode-select switch (206) for selecting a modulation mode based on a calculated optimized transmission time.