Patent ID: 7237034

Claim:
A method comprising: using an intermediary node on a network to forward messages on behalf of a plurality of other nodes on the network; determining, in the intermediary node, that a first message received by the intermediary node from a first downstream node and destined for an upstream node should not be forwarded, based on congestion detected on the network; using a flow control algorithm in the intermediary node to compute a back-off time period, wherein the back-off time period is a minimum amount of time for the first downstream node to wait before resending the message destined for the upstream node; sending a first outgoing back-off message including the back-off time period from the intermediary node to the first downstream node in response to the first message and said determining that the first message should not be forwarded; receiving, in the intermediary node, a second message destined for the upstream node, the second message from a second downstream node; in response to receiving the second message, determining in the intermediary node whether the back-off time period in said first outgoing back-off message sent to the first downstream node has expired; and if the back-off time period sent to the first downstream node has not expired, sending a second outgoing back-off message from the intermediary node to the second downstream node.