Abstract: An asymmetric network communication system for use in a client-server environment having independent forward and return channels operating at different speeds and/or under different protocols on the same or different communication media to provide efficient utilization of shared resources. A network manager, such as a hybrid access system, effects transmission of packetized data on a forward (downstream) channel from the host server to multiple client devices coupled with a shared downstream media at 10 or more megabits per second while simultaneously providing selectable multiple lower speeds of operation on shared or dedicated return (upstream) channels from the client devices to the host server depending on bandwidth availability, bandwidth demand, service level authorization, etc. for the return channel.

Abstract: A method for data flow rate detection useful with data flow rate control is introduced into a TCP packet communication environment which does not have data rate supervision by computing presumed speed based on latency between packets during the initial interchange of synchronization (SYN) packet and the acknowledgement (ACK) packet, presuming to know the initial length of each. This information may be utilized to determine potential rate of data flow for further use in making bandwidth allocation and rate enforcement decisions.