The present solution is directed towards systems and methods to more efficiently control a flow of a data stream traversing at least one intermediary on a network between a client and a server. A sender transmits a first message, comprising a first value of a bandwidth between the first intermediary and a second intermediary determined by the sender, to a first intermediary. The first intermediary establishes a next value of the bandwidth between the first intermediary and the second intermediary. The sender receives from the first intermediary responsive to the first message a second message comprising the established next value of the bandwidth between the first intermediary and the second intermediary. A data transfer manager of the sender, responsive to the second message determines a size of a portion of data queued for transmission to transmit to the first intermediary and a time for transmitting the portion of data queued.