Avoiding unwanted TCP retransmissions using optimistic window adjustments

• US 10,009,445 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Fall, Kevin Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Bates, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scott, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US13/830,048
• Publication Number:
  US 20130339543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 709233
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1825 Adaptation of specific ARQ protocol parameters according to transmission conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1832 Details of sliding window management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1838 for semi-reliable protocols, e.g. for less sensitive applications such as streaming video buffer level management for video bitstream receiver H04N21/44004
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communicating data via the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) are provided. The apparatus receives from a sender a plurality of data segments according to a sequential order, infers at least one missing data segment in the sequential order, and acknowledges to the sender receipt of a highest byte sequence number of a received data segment plus one based on the inference of the at least one missing data segment. The apparatus also adjusts a receive window based on at least one of: the inference of the at least one missing data segment, or a round-trip-time of a TCP connection, wherein the receive window indicates a buffer capacity for receiving data segments. The apparatus further advertises the adjusted receive window to the sender.

Claims

1. A method of communicating a plurality of data segments, the data segments corresponding to a sequential order, via the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the method comprising:

receiving from a sender a first data segment, the first data segment being one of the plurality of data segments;

sending to the sender an acknowledgement of the first data segment, the acknowledgement of the first data segment including a highest byte sequence number of the first data segment plus one;

receiving from the sender a second data segment, the second data segment being one of the plurality of data segments subsequent to the first data segment in the sequential order;

inferring at least one missing data segment between the first and second data segments; and

sending to the sender an acknowledgement of the second data segment that is sequentially after the at least one missing data segment based on the inference of the at least one missing data segment, the acknowledgement of the second data segment including the highest byte sequence number of the first data segment plus one.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the acknowledgement of the second data segment is further based on knowledge of missing byte sequence numbers in the sequential order, the missing byte sequence numbers corresponding to the at least one missing data segment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting a receive window based on at least one of;

the inference of the at least one missing data segment, or

a round-trip-time of a TCP connection,

the receive window indicating a buffer capacity for receiving data segments; and

advertising the adjusted receive window to the sender.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving at least one additional data segment from the sender at an adjusted transmission rate based on the advertised adjusted receive window.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the sender the at least one missing data segment, wherein the at least one missing data segment is received after the receipt of the second data segment; and

sending to the sender an acknowledgement of the at least one missing data segment, the acknowledgement of the at least one missing data segment including a highest byte sequence number of the second data segment plus one.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of data segments has a byte sequence number, and

the at least one missing data segment corresponds to at least one missing byte sequence number in the sequential order.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the contents of data segments received at any arbitrary time to an application without waiting to receive the at least one missing data segment.

8. A method of communicating a plurality of data segments, the data segments corresponding to a sequential order, via the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the method comprising:

transmitting to a receiver a first data segment, the first data segment being one of the plurality of data segments;

receiving from the receiver a first acknowledgement, the first acknowledgement including a highest sequence number of the first data segment plus one;

transmitting to the receiver a second data segment, the second data segment being the next data segment subsequent to the first data segment in the sequential order;

transmitting to the receiver a third data segment, the third data segment being one of the plurality of data segments subsequent to the second data segment in the sequential order;

receiving from the receiver a second acknowledgement after transmitting the third data segment;

inferring, based on the second acknowledgement, that the second data segment was not received by the receiver, wherein the second acknowledgement is received in response to the third data segment that is transmitted sequentially after the second data segment not received by the receiver, the second acknowledgement including the highest sequence number of the first data segment plus one; and

retransmitting the second data segment to the receiver.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an advertised receive window from the receiver, the advertised receive window indicating a buffer capacity for receiving data segments at the receiver; and

sending at least one additional data segment to the receiver at an adjusted transmission rate based on the advertised receive window.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving from the receiver a third acknowledgement after retransmitting the second data segment, the third acknowledgement including the highest sequence number of the third data segment plus one; and

transmitting to the receiver a fourth data segment without retransmitting the third data segment, the fourth data segment being the next data segment subsequent to the third data segment in the sequential order.

11. An apparatus for communicating a plurality of data segments, the data segments corresponding to a sequential order, via the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from a sender a first data segment, the first data segment being one of the plurality of data segments;

means for sending to the sender an acknowledgement of the first data segment, the acknowledgement of the first data segment including a highest byte sequence number of the first data segment plus one;

means for receiving from the sender a second data segment, the second data segment being one of the plurality of data segments subsequent to the first data segment in the sequential order;

means for inferring at least one missing data segment between the first and second data segments; and

means for sending to the sender an acknowledgement of the second data segment that is sequentially after the at least one missing data segment based on the inference of the at least one missing data segment, the acknowledgement of the second data segment including the highest byte sequence number of the first data segment plus one.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the acknowledgement of the second data segment is further based on knowledge of missing byte sequence numbers in the sequential order, the missing byte sequence numbers corresponding to the at least one missing data segment.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for adjusting a receive window based on at least one of;

the inference of the at least one missing data segment, or

a round-trip-time of a TCP connection,

the receive window indicating a buffer capacity for receiving data segments; and

means for advertising the adjusted receive window to the sender.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for receiving at least one additional data segment from the sender at an adjusted transmission rate based on the advertised adjusted receive window.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for receiving from the sender the at least one missing data segment, wherein the at least one missing data segment is received after the receipt of the second data segment; and

means for sending to the sender an acknowledgement of the at least one missing data segment, the acknowledgement of the at least one missing data segment including a highest byte sequence number of the second data segment plus one.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of data segments has a byte sequence number, and

the at least one missing data segment corresponds to at least one missing byte sequence number in the sequential order.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for sending the contents of data segments received at any arbitrary time to an application without waiting to receive the at least one missing data segment.

18. An apparatus for communicating a plurality of data segments, the data segments corresponding to a sequential order, via the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting to a receiver a first data segment, the first data segment being one of the plurality of data segments;

means for receiving from the receiver a first acknowledgement, the first acknowledgement including a highest sequence number of the first data segment plus one;

means for transmitting to the receiver a second data segment, the second data segment being the next data segment subsequent to the first data segment in the sequential order;

means for transmitting to the receiver a third data segment, the third data segment being one of the plurality of data segments subsequent to the second data segment in the sequential order;

means for receiving from the receiver a second acknowledgement after transmitting the third data segment;

means for inferring, based on the second acknowledgement, that the second data segment was not received by the receiver, wherein the second acknowledgement is received in response to the third data segment that is transmitted sequentially after the second data segment not received by the receiver, the second acknowledgement including the highest sequence number of the first data segment plus one; and

means for retransmitting the second data segment to the receiver.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for receiving an advertised receive window from the receiver, the advertised receive window indicating a buffer capacity for receiving data segments at the receiver; and

means for sending at least one additional data segment to the receiver at an adjusted transmission rate based on the advertised receive window.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

means for receiving from the receiver a third acknowledgement after retransmitting the second data segment, the third acknowledgement including the highest sequence number of the third data segment plus one; and

means for transmitting to the receiver a fourth data segment without retransmitting the third data segment, the fourth data segment being the next data segment subsequent to the third data segment in the sequential order.

21. An apparatus for communicating a plurality of data segments, the data segments corresponding to a sequential order, via the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive from a sender a first data segment, the first data segment being one of the plurality of data segments;

send to the sender an acknowledgement of the first data segment, the acknowledgement of the first data segment including a highest byte sequence number of the first data segment plus one;

receive from the sender a second data segment, the second data segment being one of the plurality of data segments subsequent to the first data segment in the sequential order;

infer at least one missing data segment between the first and second data segments; and

send to the sender an acknowledgement of the second data segment that is sequentially after the at least one missing data segment based on the inference of the at least one missing data segment, the acknowledgement of the second data segment including the highest byte sequence number of the first data segment plus one.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the acknowledgement of the second data segment is further based on knowledge of missing byte sequence numbers in the sequential order, the missing byte sequence numbers corresponding to the at least one missing data segment.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, the at least one processor further configured to:

adjust a receive window based on at least one of;

the inference of the at least one missing data segment, or

a round-trip-time of a TCP connection,

the receive window indicating a buffer capacity for receiving data segments; and

advertise the adjusted receive window to the sender.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, the at least one processor further configured to receive at least one additional data segment from the sender at an adjusted transmission rate based on the advertised adjusted receive window.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, the at least one processor further configured to:

receive from the sender the at least one missing data segment, wherein the at least one missing data segment is received after the receipt of the second data segment; and

send to the sender an acknowledgement of the at least one missing data segment, the acknowledgement of the at least one missing data segment including a highest byte sequence number of the second data segment plus one.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of data segments has a byte sequence number, and

the at least one missing data segment corresponds to at least one missing byte sequence number in the sequential order.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, the at least one processor further configured to send the contents of data segments received at any arbitrary time to an application without waiting to receive the at least one missing data segment.

28. An apparatus for communicating a plurality of data segments, the data segments corresponding to a sequential order, via the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the apparatus comprising:

a memory;

at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

transmit to a receiver a first data segment, the first data segment being one of the plurality of data segments;

receive from the receiver a first acknowledgement, the first acknowledgement including a highest sequence number of the first data segment plus one;

transmit to the receiver a second data segment, the second data segment being the next data segment subsequent to the first data segment in the sequential order;

transmit to the receiver a third data segment, the third data segment being one of the plurality of data segments subsequent to the second data segment in the sequential order;

receive from the receiver a second acknowledgement after transmitting the third data segment;

infer, based on the second acknowledgement, that the second data segment was not received by the receiver, wherein the second acknowledgement is received in response to the third data segment that is transmitted sequentially after the second data segment not received by the receiver, the second acknowledgement including the highest sequence number of the first data segment plus one; and

retransmit the second data segment to the receiver.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, the at least one processor further configured to:

receive an advertised receive window from the receiver, the advertised receive window indicating a buffer capacity for receiving data segments at the receiver; and

send at least one additional data segment to the receiver at an adjusted transmission rate based on the advertised receive window.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, the at least one processor further configured to:

receive from the receiver a third acknowledgement after retransmitting the second data segment, the third acknowledgement including the highest sequence number of the third data segment plus one; and

transmit to the receiver a fourth data segment without retransmitting the third data segment, the fourth data segment being the next data segment subsequent to the third data segment in the sequential order.

31. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for communicating data a plurality of data segments, the data segments corresponding to a sequential order, via the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for:

receiving from a sender a first data segment, the first data segment being one of the plurality of data segments;

sending to the sender an acknowledgement of the first data segment, the acknowledgement of the first data segment including a highest byte sequence number of the first data segment plus one;

receiving from the sender a second data segment, the second data segment being one of the plurality of data segments subsequent to the first data segment in the sequential order;

inferring at least one missing data segment between the first and second data segments; and

sending to the sender an acknowledgement of the second data segment that is sequentially after the at least one missing data segment based on the inference of the at least one missing data segment, the acknowledgement of the second data segment including the highest byte sequence number of the first data segment plus one.

32. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for communicating data a plurality of data segments, the data segments corresponding to a sequential order, via the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code for:

transmitting to a receiver a first data segment, the first data segment being one of the plurality of data segments;

receiving from the receiver a first acknowledgement, the first acknowledgement including a highest sequence number of the first data segment plus one;

transmitting to the receiver a second data segment, the second data segment being the next data segment subsequent to the first data segment in the sequential order;

transmitting to the receiver a third data segment, the third data segment being one of the plurality of data segments subsequent to the second data segment in the sequential order;

receiving from the receiver a second acknowledgement after transmitting the third data segment;

inferring, based on the second acknowledgement, that the second data segment was not received by the receiver, wherein the second acknowledgement is received in response to the third data segment that is transmitted sequentially after the second data segment not received by the receiver, the second acknowledgement including the highest sequence number of the first data segment plus one; and

retransmitting the second data segment to the receiver.

33. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising code for:

receiving an advertised receive window from the receiver, the advertised receive window indicating a buffer capacity for receiving data segments at the receiver; and

sending at least one additional data segment to the receiver at an adjusted transmission rate based on the advertised receive window.

34. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising code for:

receiving from the receiver a third acknowledgement after retransmitting the second data segment, the third acknowledgement including the highest sequence number of the third data segment plus one; and

transmitting to the receiver a fourth data segment without retransmitting the third data segment, the fourth data segment being the next data segment subsequent to the third data segment in the sequential order.