Patent ID: 7161907

Claim:
A method of dynamically controlling the rate of communication between two entities, the method comprising: if a maximum bandwidth of a relay element situated between a first entity and a second entity has not been allocated, identifying an available bandwidth of said relay element by: (a) receiving one or more communications on one or more channels other than a first channel between the first entity and the second entity; (b) allocating a portion of the maximum bandwidth of said relay element to said other channels; (c) repeating said steps (a)–(b) for a predetermined period of time; (d) summing said bandwidths allocated to said other channels to determine a total allocated bandwidth; and (e) determining a difference between the maximum bandwidth and said total allocated bandwidth; receiving an electronic communication on said first channel at said relay element; retrieving from said communication a modifiable first value associated with a first target bandwidth for said first channel; retrieving from said communication a fixed second value associated with a desired bandwidth for said first channel, wherein the desired bandwidth is never less than said first target bandwidth; and modifying said first value in said communication to a value associated with a decreased first target bandwidth if said first target bandwidth exceeds said available bandwidth.