Method of determining whether to use preempt/resume or alternate protocol for data transmission
 A method is disclosed for determining whether to use a preempt/resume protocol or an alternate protocol in transmitting data packets from a local system to a remote system. Each system informs the other whether it supports preempt/resume and provides the sizes of the largest low priority data packets it can send and receive. The local system always elects the alternate protocol unless both support preempt/resume. The local system then selects the lesser of (a) the largest low-priority data packet it can send and (b) the largest low-priority data packet the remote system can receive. Use of prompt/resume is initiated by the local system only where a packet of the selected size would be delayed in reaching the remote system by more than a predetermined interval. 
International Business Machines Corporation
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Israel John E. Elizabeth A. Theodore E. Richard M. Kenneth H.
Cidon Drake, Jr. Hervatic Tedijanto Doney Potter, Jr.