Controlling command message flow in a network

摘要

A method for controlling command message flow in a network including a server and a client. A command window, comprising a maximum number of command messages that may be outstanding at the server, is included in messages sent from the server to the client. The value of the command window at the server is modified in accordance with available server resources for receiving command messages. When there are insufficient resources at the server to process one of the command messages delivered to the server, then a pause message is sent to the client indicating which said command message cannot be received; indicia is stored that indicates the command message initially discarded; and subsequent said command messages delivered to the server are discarded until an initially discarded said command message is again delivered to the server.