Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting the window size in a session between a sender and a receiver over a link of a packet transmission network. This invention discloses a dynamic window adjustment scheme to determine the optimum window size with a minimum number of iterations. This invention also covers a method and apparatus for sharing pacing credits among a number of sessions during which packets are transmitted over the network. With this invention sessions having no packets to transmit will send pacing credits to a shared credit pool while pacing credits will be distributed to those session having packets to transmit.

Abstract: A method for reducing transmission polling overhead of packets within a node of a communications network. This invention involves setting session ready bits in the line adaptor modules of the node. These bits are then used to inform a given module as to which modules of the node have packets that are bound for the given module. A given module of the node will not transmit a pacing message (YT control message) to another module unless it knows that the other module has a packet to transmit to the given module.

Abstract: A technique called "Adaptive Pacing" permits a receiving node, in a computing networking, to change the size of an information window during an active session. To effect the change, the receiving node sends an "Isolated Pacing Message" (IPM) to the sending node. Thereafter, the sending node adjusts the window size to conform with a window size value in the IPM. The IPM includes a type field, a reset window indicator and a next window size field. There are three types of isolated pacing messages. Two of the messages are used by the receiving node to control the flow of data; while the third message is used, by the sending node, to confirm the beginning of a new window and the ending of an old one.