US Patent 8015281 Dynamic server flow control in a hybrid peer-to-peer network

Technologies are described herein for providing dynamic flow control of requests to a server in a hybrid peer-to-peer network. The server collects a number of metrics related to its current stability and the throughput of requests from peer-to-peer devices. These metrics, along with associated trend data, are used by the server to calculate a current stability rating and a current throughput rating. The server then imposes flow control on a proportional number of the peer-to-peer devices based upon the current ratings. This operation is run periodically, with ratings re-calculated from current metrics, and new flow control measures imposed in each cycle.