LAN emulation service delay of multicast tree generation during congestion

A method comprising the steps of:

• issuing from a first device to a second device a first control signal that causes said second device to provide connectivity among a group of predetermined devices;
• said first device not issuing the first control signal until an occurrence of an event in a predetermined set of events;
• said first device selecting a random delay time value from a predetermined interval of delay time values;
• and
• issuing from said first device a next control signal after said random delay time value has elapsed.

In a data processing network, a method of reducing congestion comprising the steps of:

• issuing from a first device to a second device a first add party message that causes the second device to provide connectivity to predetermined devices;
• said first device entering a first delay state of not issuing the first add party message, in response to an occurrence of an event in a predetermined set of events,
• wherein said predetermined set of events includes:
• Said first device receiving a rejection, generated by the second device, of said first add party message according to a predetermined set of cause codes;
• and
• expiration of a preselected timeout value or wherein said step of entering a first delay state comprises the steps of:
• said first device selecting a random delay time value from a predetermined interval of delay time values;
• and
• said first device issuing a next control signal after said random delay time value has elapsed;
• entering a sequence of delay states in response to an occurrence of an event in said predetermined set of events;
• and
• said first device terminating said sequence of delay states after a preselected termination condition is reached,
• wherein an instance of entering a delay state of said sequence of delay states forms a retry, and a plurality of such instances of entering a delay state of said sequence of delay states forms a plurality of retries, after said first delay state.

A data processing system comprising:

• an emulated Local Area Network (ELAN);
• a first data processing device attached to said ELAN;
• a second data processing device attached to said ELAN, said second data processing device including circuitry for sending control signals to said first data processing device, wherein said circuitry is operable for entering a delay state of not sending control signals, in response to an occurrence of an event in a predetermined set of events coming from sources including the first data processing device wherein said predetermined set of events includes
• rejection of the control signals by said first data processing device according to a predetermined set of cause codes;
• or
• expiration of a preselected timeout value at said second data processing device.

A program product adaptable for storage on a program storage media, the program product operable for reducing congestion in a data processing network, said program product comprising:

• programming code for causing a first device to issue a first control signal;
• programming code for causing said first device to enter a delay state;
• programming code that causes said first device to respond to an occurrence of an event in a predetermined set of events wherein said predetermined set of events includes
• rejection of said first control signal according to a predetermined set of cause codes;
• or
• expiration of a preselected timeout value.