Page 176 - Computer_Science_F5

(c) Congestion avoidance: To Buffering mechanisms
manage network congestion 1. Data storage: When a sender transmits
caused by high data traffic, data faster than the receiver can process,
congestion avoidance techniques excess data is stored in a buffer, a Chapter Three: Advanced Computer Networks
are employed. These techniques temporary holding area in the receiver’s
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aim to regulate data flow and memory.
prevent network congestion from 2. Smooth data transfer: The buffer allows
occurring. the receiver to process data at its own
pace, preventing data loss or overflow.
Buffering 3. Buffer management: Efficient
Buffering involves temporarily storing management ensures the buffer does not
excessive data in memory (buffers) to overflow; if full, the sender is signaled
prevent overflow and ensure smooth to slow down or pause transmission.
data transfer. This technique is crucial 4. Clearing buffers: Once processed,
for maintaining efficient and reliable buffered data is cleared, making room
communication between devices for new data, maintaining a steady data
with different processing speeds or flow.

capabilities. Figure 3.22 shows how the buffering works.

TPC sender sending at 10 TPC receiver receiving sending
messages/second at 5 messages/second

TCP/IP TCP/IP

Sender Receiver

Data in
the buffer

Receive window
Sender buffer size 100

Receive buffer size 200
Figure 3.22: How buffering works
Benefits of buffering

1. Prevents data loss: Temporarily stores excess data until the receiver is ready to
process it.

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Student’s Book Form Five

Computer Science Form 5.indd 167 23/07/2024 12:33