Abstract: There is provided a method for congestion control and avoidance in computer networks, which method includes the steps of sensing network congestion (including both sensing and predicting possible future network congestion) and allowing a network node to transmit at least one basic data segment and thereafter to transmit additional data, the quantity of said additional data being a function of the basic data segment, wherein the size of the basic data segment is deteremined at least in part by the sensed network congestion. Prediction of possible future network congestion is possible, for example, by learning from a history of network load and/or by detecting an increase in the number of users or other indications. When possible future network congestion is predicted, the application of the methods and apparatus of the invention is operative to prevent the development of future congestion altogether or at least to limit the evolving severity level that such future congestion would have otherwise reached.

Abstract: Apparatus for governing information transfer among a plurality of data utilization elements, without rate oscillation, which apparatus is operative according to a rate based transport protocol having apparatus for determining the rate of information transfer between data utilization elements.