Data throughput over lossy communication links
First Claim
1. In a data network comprising a first host, a second host, and a data connection between the first host and the second host, a method implemented at the second host comprising:
- a) determining whether error-induced losses or congestion-losses dominate the data connection;
b) if congestion-losses dominate the data connection, using a standard transmission protocol technique for acknowledging packets; and
c) if error-induced losses dominate the connection, sending a plurality of non-duplicate acknowledgements of a single packet whenever a packet is received after an out-of-order packet is received.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a heterogeneous data network including both wired and wireless/lossy links, a transport protocol method implemented at the wireless host is fully compatible with existing wired networks and wireless gateways, and requires no modification to transport protocols at existing wired hosts. The wireless host calculates a temperament parameter [100] characterizing the error-proneness of the data connection and uses this parameter to determine whether error-induced losses or congestion-losses dominate the data connection [110]. If congestion-losses dominate the data connection, then the host uses a standard technique for acknowledging data packets [130]. If, on the other hand, error-induced losses dominate the connection, the host uses a modified technique for acknowledging data packets [120]. According to this modified technique, the wireless host sends a plurality of non-duplicate acknowledgements of a single packet whenever a packet is received after an out-of-order packet is received. By acknowledging distinct fragments of the packet, rather than identical (i.e., duplicate) acknowledgments of the packet, the acknowledgments have the effect of accelerating recovery of maximal window size at the wired host and increasing data throughput.
47 Citations
19 Claims
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1. In a data network comprising a first host, a second host, and a data connection between the first host and the second host, a method implemented at the second host comprising:
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a) determining whether error-induced losses or congestion-losses dominate the data connection;
b) if congestion-losses dominate the data connection, using a standard transmission protocol technique for acknowledging packets; and
c) if error-induced losses dominate the connection, sending a plurality of non-duplicate acknowledgements of a single packet whenever a packet is received after an out-of-order packet is received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. A method for providing a packet transport protocol within a data communication network having a first host, a second host, and a lossy link connected to the second host, the method comprising using a standard transport protocol at the first host, and using a modified transport protocol at the second host, wherein the modified transport protocol comprises sending a plurality of non-duplicate acknowledgements of a single packet whenever error-induced losses dominate the data connection and a new packet is received after an out-of-order packet is received.
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16. A method for acknowledging packets in a data communications host communicating over a lossy data connection, the method comprising:
- if error-induced losses dominate the data connection, sending a plurality of non-duplicate acknowledgements of a single packet in response to receiving a new packet after receiving an out-of-order packet.
Specification