Patent ID: 7729259

Claim:
A method comprising: setting a threshold number of bits for a store and forward buffer in a first device, wherein the threshold is lower than the number of bits in a maximum transmission unit (MTU); receiving at the first device packets from a second device in a sending environment that is configured to start and stop packet transfer based on backpressure signals; storing the packets in the store and forward buffer for transmission to a receiving environment, wherein a first transfer speed to the receiving environment is lower than a second transfer speed from the sending environment and a buffer level in the store and forward buffer reflects a difference between the first and second transfer speeds; sending the packets to the receiving environment; determining when contents of the store and forward buffer meet criteria including when the buffer level exceeds the threshold and at least one complete packet is in the store and forward buffer; and sending a stop transfer backpressure signal to the second device when it is determined that the buffer level exceeds the threshold and at least one complete packet is in the store and forward buffer.