SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FLOW CONTROL WITHIN A STATEFUL PROTOCOL PROCESSING SYSTEM

A method of flow control implemented by a system disposed to execute a protocol stack and an application is disclosed herein. The method includes configuring the system to operate in a push mode pursuant to which the protocol stack initiates the forwarding, to the application, of a first sequence of data packets received by the protocol stack. The system may also be configured to operate in a pull mode pursuant to which the application initiates the forwarding, to the application, of a second sequence of data packets received by the protocol stack. In a particular implementation the system may be configured to transition from the push mode to the pull mode, or vice-versa, in response to receipt at the protocol stack of a data packet bearing a specified sequence number.