Enhancing TCP delivery over wireless networks

Abstract

Wireless communication has become a significant life style in the daily use. The wireless communication can be used to extend the service of wired communication. Based on the idea of simplicity, Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) has been used widely over wired network. When network applications take place using wireless link, TCP is still useful because partial wired connection might be necessary. Although wired and wireless communication do share something in common, they have distinct features. Therefore, TCP needs to be adjusted to fit in the wireless environment.
This research aims to enhance wireless TCP performance. In order to study network protocols and behaviours, network simulators are often used for researchers to configure and monitor the network factors and system states. Unfortunately, most network simulators cannot demonstrate what the real network does. They are applications. In this research, a network simulator based on the real Linux TCP/IP stacks is proposed. This simulator is able to not only simulate the wired network, but also allow users to extend its structure for live wireless emulation. By means of simulator and emulator, researchers can understand and configure detail factors for further experiments. Eventually, a new wireless TCP enhancement is proposed.
In this research, some contributions are delivered. Firstly, a network simulator based on Linux TCP stacks is implemented. Secondly, a wireless emulator and test environment are built, so the wireless factors can be configured and performance can be monitored. Thirdly, a wireless TCP mechanism, TCP NewZag, is proposed. Finally, several experiments to show the value of NewZag are reported in the thesis.

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