Apparatus and method for avoiding packet losses in a network connection

A method for avoiding packet losses in a network, the method comprising:

• receiving packets of data over the network from a first communication device;
• storing information indicative of a sliding window that corresponds to a predetermined number of packets of data;
• determining a number of lost packets of data for the sliding window in response to receiving the packets of data;
• determining a maximum value from the sliding window, the maximum value being equal to a maximum number of lost packets of data from a group of sliding windows;
• controlling the first communication device to adjust a bandwidth rate at which the packets of data are transmitted over the network based at least on the maximum value by decreasing the bandwidth rate at which the packets of data are transmitted such that packet losses are avoided in the network based on at least the maximum value;
• determining whether any additional packets of data have been lost within a predetermined time frame in response to controlling the first communication device to decrease the bandwidth rate;
• and
• decreasing the maximum value by a first value in the event no additional packets of data have been lost within a predetermined time frame.

An apparatus for avoiding packet losses in a network, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a first communication device including the processor for transmitting packets of data over a network to a second communication device, the second communication device being configured to:
• store information indicative of a sliding window that corresponds to a predetermined number of packets of data;
• determine a number of lost packets of data from the sliding window in response to receiving the packets of data;
• determine a maximum value from the sliding window, the maximum value being equal to a maximum number of lost packets of data for a number of sliding windows;
• and
• transmit a signal indicative of an adjusted amount of bandwidth in which packets of data are transmitted over the network based at least on the maximum value;
• determine whether any additional packets of data have been lost within a predetermined time frame in response to transmitting the signal to indicate the adjusted amount of bandwidth;
• and
• decrease the maximum value by a first value in response to determining that no additional packets of data have been lost within the predetermined time frame;
• wherein the first communication device decreases a bandwidth rate at which the packets of data are transmitted such that packet losses are avoided in the network after transmitting the signal.