What Is Flow Control?
Sometimes, communication devices and systems cannot send and receive data simultaneously. In these instances, a mechanism must be implemented if one is trying to send information but cannot because it may be busy. Receiving data from another source will buffer this information until the receiver has finished its current task. Flow control ensures that the rate at which a sender is transmitting is proportional to the receiver's receiving capabilities. This feature helps to manage data transmission, reduce errors, and stabilize data receivers' performance. Flow control is essential in multicast communication, where a single sender sends data to multiple receivers. In this case, the flow control mechanism at the sender level prevents the sender from transmitting data at a rate that overwhelms the receivers. The flow control mechanism enables the receivers to process the data at a pace that suits their capabilities at the receiving station. Flow control is critical for real-time communication, such as voice-over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing. Though the real-time nature of these communications makes it impossible to buffer data, flow control still enables these applications to deliver quality service. Flow Control is a technique that manages data flow between nodes, keeping both nodes' sending/receiving capabilities as the primary concern. For example, if you send data through a pipe with a blockage at one end, flow control can help overcome this problem. The flow control protocol Xon-Xoff can be used when the sender and receiver need to communicate. There are two types of signals being sent by this protocol: Transmit off signal and Transmit on the movement. The transmit-on and transmit-off signals sync the sender with the receiver. It is very frustrating when you try to talk with someone on the phone only to have them break up over your lousy cell reception. With flow control, you can ensure that the sender's transmission is proportional to your receiving capabilities so you can catch all the beat
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