Patent ID: 7903550

Claim:
An apparatus for transmitting a data stream to a recipient device comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit the data stream to the recipient apparatus, the data stream including a plurality of data packets; a receiver configured to receive a response from the recipient apparatus regarding data packet arrival status; and a network unit configured to direct the operation of the transmitter, the network unit to direct the transmitter to maintain the data stream with a constant bandwidth, the constant bandwidth being at least as large as a peak for transmission of the data packets of the data stream, the network unit to direct the transmitter to transmit a sufficient number of additional data packets to maintain the constant bandwidth of the data stream transmitted by the apparatus; wherein the network unit is configured to determine that bandwidth for transmission of the data stream by the apparatus is reserved on the network based on the apparatus having successfully transmitted data of the data stream to the recipient apparatus for an admission waiting period, and if the network unit determines that the recipient unit has failed to receive data packets for a congestion waiting period, the congestion waiting time period being longer if the network unit has determined that bandwidth for transmission of the data stream is reserved on the network based on successful transmission of data for the admission waiting period than if the network unit has not determined that bandwidth for the transmission of the data stream is reserved, then the network unit is to: cease or reduce transmission of the data stream for a resume waiting period, and attempt to restart transmission of the data stream after the resume waiting period has expired.