Patent ID: 8284669
Filing Date: 2012-10-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A relay node for transmitting data in a network, the network comprising the relay node, a sending node and a receiving node, the receiving node and the relay node being configured to receive data via the network at a first protocol layer and a second protocol layer of a protocol layer stack, the first protocol layer being for transmitting data between adjacent nodes of a connection and the second layer being for establishing a connection in respect of the data, and to send different types of notifications identifying receipt of data, the different types of notifications including: a first type of notification identifying receipt of data at the first protocol layer of the node from which the notification is sent; and a second type of notification identifying receipt of data at the first protocol layer of the node from which the notification is sent and at the second protocol layer of the receiving node, the relay node comprising: an interface for receiving data at the first protocol layer of the relay node, the data having been sent from the sending node, wherein the interface is configured to send the data to the receiving node; and means for monitoring for a given notification of the second type from the receiving node, wherein the relay node is configured to: cease the monitoring and send, to the sending node, a notification of the second type, in response to receiving the given notification; and send, to the sending node, a notification of the first type, in response to a predefined period elapsing without receipt, at the relay node, of the given notification.