Method and apparatus for prioritizing data transfer

A method, comprising:

• receiving data from a transmitter in accordance with a scheduling algorithm;
• processing the data;
• storing the data in a buffer prior to processing the data;
• and
• intermittently providing a priority reset signal to the transmitter at times when the buffer has at least a predefined amount of unused storage, wherein the priority reset signal is configured to
• facilitate halting transmission of data from the transmitter, and
• subsequent to facilitating halting the transmission of data from the transmitter, facilitate (i) resetting the scheduling algorithm and (ii) resuming transmission of data from the transmitter in accordance with the reset scheduling algorithm;
• and
• forgoing providing the priority reset signal at times when available capacity of the buffer is less than a low capacity threshold.

A network component, comprising:

• a data port configured to receive data in accordance with a scheduling algorithm;
• a limited capacity resource that is allocated based at least in part on the data;
• and
• signal logic configured to generate a priority reset signal at the data port at times when the limited capacity resource has available capacity, wherein the priority reset signal is configured to
• facilitate halting of the reception of data, and
• subsequent to facilitating halting the reception of data, facilitate (i) resetting the scheduling algorithm and (ii) based on resetting the scheduling algorithm, starting reception of high-priority data by the network component, and
• forgo generating the priority reset signal at times when available capacity of the limited capacity resource is less than a low capacity threshold.