Patent ID: 7864771

Claim:
A method comprising: receiving, at a local node of a network, a plurality of sequenced data packets from a source node directed toward a destination node, wherein the local node executes a transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) communications scheme in which packet transmissions are systematically acknowledged by receiving network nodes, and wherein the plurality of sequenced data packets include a first data packet, a third data packet, and a fourth data packet associated with an ordered transmission control protocol (TCP) flow; determining that a second data packet is missing from the flow; communicating, by the local node, a selective acknowledgement (SACK) for only the first data packet, which is forwarded toward the destination node; and storing the third data packet and the fourth data packet, wherein the third data packet and the fourth packet are not parsed and are withheld from being forwarded toward the destination node, wherein a time interval is exceeded such that respective SACK messages have not been received by the source node for the second, third, and fourth data packets, which causes a retransmission of the second, third, and fourth data packets, and wherein the retransmitted second, third, and fourth data packets are received, parsed, and forwarded toward the destination node.