Patent ID: 8639828

Claim:
A network comprising: a first network device, wherein the first network device comprises a processor, a memory, coupled to the processor, and a network adapter, coupled to the processor, and the memory is configured to initialize the first network device, wherein the initializing initializes a source port of the first network device to a listening state, the first network device is configured to communicate with a plurality of network devices via a plurality of network connections, and each of the plurality of network connections is coupled to the source port, identify the plurality of network devices, store status information in a state table, wherein the state table is stored in the memory, and the status information comprises information regarding a state of communication with each of the plurality of network devices via the plurality of network connections, receive network communications via the plurality of network connections in a connectionless manner, wherein receipt of the network communications comprises updating the status information to indicate that the network communications have been received, and control network bandwidth, wherein the control of the network bandwidth comprises identifying a bandwidth limit, identifying an amount of information sent in a current time period, an amount of time remaining in the current time period, and a current bandwidth requirement for the network communications, and comparing the current bandwidth requirement with the bandwidth limit; the plurality of network devices; and a network, wherein the first network device and the plurality of network devices are coupled to one another by the network.