Patent ID: 8239720

Claim:
One or more computer-readable storage media that store executable instructions to perform a method of communicating, the method comprising: transmitting a plurality of packets to a node via a first channel, each of the packets having a sequence number; determining that said first channel has become unusable; determining a highest sequence number acknowledged by said node; opening a second channel; determining one or more first parameters that govern sending acknowledgment requests for packets that are transmitted on said second channel, said first parameters specifying, as a constraint, that there may be only a fixed finite number of acknowledgment requests, and any retransmissions thereof, outstanding; retransmitting, to said node, via said second channel, those ones of said plurality of packets whose sequence number is higher than said highest sequence number acknowledged by said node; and maintaining a buffer of unacknowledged packets that have been transmitted to said node, said one or more first parameters being chosen based on said second channel's implementing a reliable transmission protocol, and a rate specifying that an acknowledgment request is to be sent when an amount of unacknowledged data in said buffer reaches a specified fraction of a size of said buffer.