Patent ID: 8503451
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus including a processing circuit at a send station, the processing circuit configured to: generate a data frame at the send station in a network; store a copy of the data frame in a transmit buffer at the send station; send the data frame from the send station to a receive station; reset a reminder timer in response to sending the data frame, the reminder timer being configured to be reset for each data frame sent from the send station to the receive station; determine, based on expiration of the reminder timer, a period of inactivity that exceeds a threshold during which no further data frames are sent from the send station to the receive station; and send, in response to the determining, a reminder control frame to the receive station identifying a last data frame transmitted from the send station to the receive station, wherein the reminder control frame does not include a payload field.