System and method for data transfer in a peer-to-peer hybrid communication network

Abstract

An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to transfer data directly to another endpoint.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for transferring data from a first endpoint to a second endpoint, the method comprising:
 sending, by the first endpoint, a plurality of packets to the second endpoint, wherein the sending includes, for each packet,   placing the packet on an unacknowledged (UNACK) list upon sending the packet to the second endpoint;   removing the packet from the UNACK list only if an acknowledgment (ACK) response from the second endpoint indicates that the packet was correctly received by the second endpoint; and   resending the packet without waiting for each of the plurality of packets to be sent if an UNACK response from the second endpoint indicates that the packet was not correctly received by the second endpoint;   and wherein the sending includes, for each packet on the UNACK list after each of the plurality of packets is sent a first time, resending all packets that appear on the UNACK list after sending each of the plurality of packets a first time, wherein the packets that appear on the UNACK list are resent even if no response is received for each of the packets that appear on the UNACK list from the second endpoint, and wherein a packet is removed from the UNACK list only if an ACK response is received for that packet, and wherein the step of resending all packets that appear on the UNACK list is repeated by the first endpoint until either the UNACK list is empty or a timeout occurs.