Abstract
The Extended Dataflow Architecture (EDA) model originates from attempting to apply the principles of dataflow models for more general application domains of parallel processing, such as distributed real-time applications where efficient communication and synchronization are greatly demanded. A program in the EDA model consists of a set of connected objects. An object has a state comprised of exclusive variables and shared variables. A number of concurrent activities (threads) can exist within an object. A long message is normally required to transmit enough information for the creation of a new thread, whereas operations on shared variables would be carried out by short messages. A flow control method is examined that grants the short messages higher priorities to compete with long messages for the bandwidths of physical links, based on virtual channels.