Patent ID: 8284663

Claim:
A method of discarding a message that is intended to be delivered to a computer over a data communication network, said method comprising: (a) receiving a first message intended for said computer, said first message having a first sequence index and a first ephemerality index; (b) receiving a second message intended for said computer, said second message having a second sequence index and a second ephemerality index; (c) determining that said first ephemerality index and said second ephemerality index are the same; (d) comparing the first sequence index and the second sequence index; (e) on the basis of the comparison, delivering said second message before said first message; (f) receiving a third message intended for said computer, said third message having a third sequencing index and a third ephemerality index; (g) receiving a fourth message intended for said computer, said fourth message having a fourth sequencing index and a fourth ephemerality index; (h) determining that said third ephemerality index and said fourth ephemerality index are different; and (i) discarding said third message; wherein said ephemerality indices are not priority indices; whereby the third message, which was intended for said computer, never reaches said computer.