One embodiment of the invention includes a method of buffering data between an upstream system sending data to a buffer and a downstream system obtaining data from the buffer. This method may include receiving a data record containing a status flag and a position identifier, reading the status flag and the position identifier of the received data record, and searching an existing buffer location associated with the received position identifier. In some instances, when the existing buffer location associated with the received position identifier has an existing record associated with the received position identifier, the condition of a processing flag associated with the existing record and buffering the received data at the buffer location may be reviewed and subsequent updates to a processing flag may be made.