Patent ID: 6205120
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for minimizing queuing of data on a transmission link in a digital data packet communication environment having an arbitrary and unknown plurality of digital packet transmission stations interconnectable in data paths through a network, each said data path having associated therewith a flow of data comprising packets, wherein said data packet communication environment uses a sliding window method of rate control wherein a receiver sends a value for a window back to a sender as a receiver-advertised window, wherein said receiver-advertised window is associated with each packet of said particular flow along each said data path, said method comprising the steps of:for each particular flow of data and concurrent with a first packet exchange in said flow of data between said sender and said receiver connected via a particular data path, determining a network transit latency; thereuponcomputing an optimal window value from said network transit latency for said data path independent of knowledge of number and latency of intermediate digital packet transmission stations, said optimal window value retaining validity for duration of said flow of data; thereupondetermining on each said packet of said particular flow from said receiver to said sender using a receiver-advertised window value, whether said receiver-advertised window value for said packet is greater than said optimal window value; and if true thereupon,setting said receiver-advertised window to said optimal window value in order to override said receiver-advertised window.