Patent ID: 7821942
Filing Date: 2010-10-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of controlling data flow through a data communications link, the link operating according to a data communications protocol in which a receiver of data communications on the link, upon detecting a lack of bandwidth for a current level of data communications, can, by sending a flow control message to a sender, suspend data communications on the link for a period of time determined by the receiver, the method comprising: specifying for the sender a duration for flow control periods; specifying for the sender a number of corrupt communications control packets to be transmitted from the sender to the receiver during a flow control period; determining by the sender whether a flow control message is received from the receiver during a flow control period, wherein the flow control message represents a request issued by the receiver to halt data communications on the link for a period of time determined by the receiver; altering, in dependence upon whether a flow control message is received from the receiver during a flow control period, the number of corrupt communications control packets; and transmitting, among normal data communications during a subsequent flow control period, the altered number of corrupt communications control packets from the sender to the receiver.