Method and system for providing load sensitive throttling

A hub station system for shaping traffic of a communication system, the system comprising:

• a transmission system for communicating over a satellite to a terminal interfacing a host;
• and
• a gateway coupled to the transmission system and configured to communicate with a data network coupled to a content server, the gateway including,
• memory configured to selectively store content destined to the host from the content server, and
• logic configured to determine throughput associated with the host, and to specify one of a plurality of transmission states based upon a comparison of the throughput with a plurality of thresholds corresponding to the transmission states, the thresholds being established based upon loading of the transmission system, wherein the logic permits selective transmission of the stored content according to the one transmission state.

A method for controlling traffic in a shared capacity communication system, the method comprising:

• maintaining a throttle meter for altering a transmission state of a user among a plurality of transmission states, the throttle meter being set based on loading of the communication system;
• selectively transmitting content destined for the user according to a new transmission state in response to the throttle meter;
• and
• updating the throttle meter to reflect a current loading of the communication system.

An apparatus for controlling traffic in a shared capacity communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• means for maintaining a throttle meter for altering a transmission state of a user among a plurality of transmission states, the throttle meter being set based on loading of the communication system;
• and
• means for selectively transmitting content destined for the user according to a new transmission state in response to the throttle meter,
• wherein the maintaining means updates the throttle meter to reflect a current loading of the communication system.