Patent ID: 8010672

Claim:
A method for controlling utilization of a resource or pool of resources by a plurality of devices, the method comprising: determining a utilization scaling factor for a resource or pool of resources based at least in part on current utilization, where the value of the utilization scaling factor varies as the current utilization changes; creating an apersistence property pattern comprising a plurality of apersistence property entries corresponding to apersistence update cycles of an apersistence pattern window, wherein the plurality of apersistence property entries of the apersistence property pattern form a series of apersistence property entries corresponding to sequential apersistence update cycles of the apersistence pattern window, wherein the pattern includes unimpeded entries if the utilization scaling factor is in a first range corresponding to low current utilization, and wherein the pattern includes at least one blocking entry and at least one non-blocking or unimpeded entry if the utilization scaling factor is in a second range corresponding to higher current utilization; and providing an apersistence property pattern entry one at a time in sequence from the apersistence property pattern to the devices in each apersistence update cycle of the apersistence pattern window.