diff --git a/compute/src/main/java/org/jclouds/compute/config/ComputeServiceProperties.java b/compute/src/main/java/org/jclouds/compute/config/ComputeServiceProperties.java
index ac7d52ba3b..33602322a6 100644
--- a/compute/src/main/java/org/jclouds/compute/config/ComputeServiceProperties.java
+++ b/compute/src/main/java/org/jclouds/compute/config/ComputeServiceProperties.java
@@ -36,10 +36,18 @@ public interface ComputeServiceProperties {
    public static final String INIT_STATUS_INITIAL_PERIOD = "jclouds.compute.init-status.initial-period";
    public static final String INIT_STATUS_MAX_PERIOD = "jclouds.compute.init-status.max-period";
 
-   // The period in milliseconds between node updates when using the ComputeService
+   /**
+    * Initial period between the ComputeService's node polls. Subsequent periods increase exponentially
+    * (based on the backoff factor) and become constant when the maximum period is reached.
+    * The unit is milliseconds.
+    */
    public static final String POLL_INITIAL_PERIOD = "jclouds.compute.poll-status.initial-period";
 
-   // The max period in milliseconds between node updates when using the ComputeService
+   /**
+    * Once the exponentially increasing period between ComputeService's node
+    * polls has reached this maximum period, it remains at this value.
+    * The unit is milliseconds.
+    */
    public static final String POLL_MAX_PERIOD = "jclouds.compute.poll-status.max-period";
 
    /**
diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/util/Predicates2.java b/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/util/Predicates2.java
index 0acf32aac1..a1e3747f27 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/util/Predicates2.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/jclouds/util/Predicates2.java
@@ -71,7 +71,13 @@ public class Predicates2 {
       return retry(findOrBreak, timeout, period, maxPeriod, MILLISECONDS);
    }
 
+   /**
+    * @see org.jclouds.compute.config.ComputeServiceProperties#POLL_INITIAL_PERIOD
+    */
    public static final long DEFAULT_PERIOD = 50l;
+   /**
+    * @see org.jclouds.compute.config.ComputeServiceProperties#POLL_MAX_PERIOD
+    */
    public static final long DEFAULT_MAX_PERIOD = 1000l;
 
    /**
@@ -132,9 +138,17 @@ public class Predicates2 {
          return false;
       }
 
+      /**
+       * Calculates the time interval to a retry attempt.<p>
+       * The interval increases exponentially with each attempt, at a rate of nextInterval *= 1.5
+       * (where 1.5 is the backoff factor), to the maximum interval or specified timeout.
+       * 
+       * @param attempt number of this attempt (starting at 1 for the first retry)
+       * @param end timeout
+       * @return time in milliseconds from now until the next attempt, or if negative, time lapsed
+       * since the specified timeout
+       */
       protected long nextMaxInterval(long attempt, Date end) {
-         // Interval increases exponentially, at a rate of nextInterval *= 1.5
-         // Note that attempt starts counting at 1
          long interval = (long) (period * Math.pow(1.5, attempt - 1));
          interval = interval > maxPeriod ? maxPeriod : interval;
          long max = end.getTime() - System.currentTimeMillis();