Flow control in a packet data communication system

A method for controlling a data rate for a transfer of data from a first node of a plurality of nodes in a communication system to a second node of the plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

• determining whether a period of time has expired since a conveyance of a preceding flow control message from the second node to the first node;
• determining a plurality of flow control parameters comprising a current occupancy (Q) of a buffer of the second node, an upper threshold (U) for an occupancy of the buffer, a lower threshold (L) for an occupancy of the buffer, a quantity (q) corresponding to an amount by which the current occupancy (Q) of the buffer exceeds the lower threshold (L), and a quantity (q0) corresponding to a value determined for the quantity q with respect to the preceding flow control message;
• determining at least one of whether a difference between the quantity (q) and the quantity (q0) exceeds an adjustment threshold (d), whether the quantity (q) is less than or equal to zero (0), and whether the quantity (q) is greater than or equal to a difference between the upper threshold (U) and the lower threshold (L);
• and
• determining to adjust the data rate when the period of time has expired and the difference between the quantity (q) and the quantity (q0) exceeds the adjustment threshold (d), the quantity (q) is less than or equal to zero (0), or the quantity (q) is greater than or equal to a difference between the upper threshold (U) and the lower threshold (L).

A node in a wireless communication infrastructure, wherein the node receives data at a data rate from a different node in the communication system for transmission to a mobile station, the node comprising:

• at least one memory device that stores an adjustment threshold (d) and that comprises a buffer that stores data intended for mobile station;
• and
• a processor that determines whether a period of time has expired since the node conveyed a preceding flow control message to the different node;
• determines a plurality of flow control parameters comprising a current occupancy (Q) of the buffer, an upper threshold (U) for an occupancy of the buffer, a lower threshold (L) for an occupancy of the buffer, a quantity (q) corresponding to an amount by which the current occupancy (Q) of the buffer exceeds the lower threshold (L), and a quantity (q0) corresponding to a value determined for the quantity q with respect to the preceding flow control message, determines at least one of whether a difference between the quantity (q) and the quantity (q0) exceeds the adjustment threshold (d), whether the quantity (q) is less than or equal to zero (0), and whether the quantity (q) is greater than or equal to a difference between the upper threshold (U) and the lower threshold (L), and determines to adjust the data rate when the period of time has expired and the difference between the quantity (q) and the quantity (q0) exceeds the adjustment threshold (d), the quantity (q) is less than or equal to zero (0), or the quantity (q) is greater than or equal to a difference between the upper threshold (U) and the lower threshold (L).