A bit error rate analysis for TCP traffic over parallel free space photonics

Inter-satellite links (ISL) are a useful technology to transmit data to space stations and to communicate between satellites. However, there are serious limitations due to long delays and poor channel performance, resulting in high bit error rates (BER). In this paper, parallel transmission and the scaling of the Transport Control Protocol (TCP) window in free space optics (FSO) communications are analyzed in order to overcome these disadvantages in optical inter-satellite links. Latency and BER are the dominant effects that determine link performance. Thus, a physical, link, network and transport cross-layer analysis for FSO over ISL is presented in this paper. This analysis shows the advantages and disadvantages of using optical parallel transmission and TCP window scaling for free space optical links between stations and satellite constellations. The key contribution of this work is to simulate the effects of the BER and to link the results to packet error rate (PER) to determine the goodput for TCP transmissions by using a cross-layering approach. The results give evidence that wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) can mitigate the effects of long delay and high BER for a FSO communication using TCP.     

Error counter-based negative acknowledgement mode in CCSDS file delivery protocol

Deep space communication has its own features such as long propagation delays,heavy noise,asymmetric link rates,and intermittent connectivity in space,therefore TCP/IP protocol cannot perform as well as it does in terrestrial communications.Accordingly,the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) developed CCSDS File Delivery Protocol (CFDP),which sets standards of efficient file delivery service capable of transferring files to and from mass memory located in the space segment.In CFDP,four optional acknowledge modes are supported to make the communication more reliable.In this paper,we gave a general introduction of typical communication process in CFDP and analysis of its four Negative Acknowledgement (NAK) modes on the respect of file delivery delay and times of retransmission.We found out that despite the shortest file delivery delay,immediate NAK mode suffers from the problem that frequent retransmission may probably lead to network congestion.Thus,we proposed a new mode,the error counter-based NAK mode.By simulation of the case focused on the link between a deep space probe on Mars and a terrestrial station on Earth,we concluded that error counter-based NAK mode has successfully reduced the retransmission times at negligible cost of certain amount of file delivery delay.     

Transport layer protocols and architectures for satellite networks

Designing efficient transmission mechanisms for advanced satellite networks is a demanding task, requiring the definition and the implementation of protocols and architectures well suited to this challenging environment. In particular, transport protocols performance over satellite networks is impaired by the characteristics of the satellite radio link, specifically by the long propagation delay and the possible presence of segment losses due to physical channel errors. The level of impact on performance depends upon the link design (type of constellation, link margin, coding and modulation) and operational conditions (link obstructions, terminal mobility, weather conditions, etc.). To address these critical aspects a number of possible solutions have been presented in the literature, ranging from limited modifications of standard protocols (e.g. TCP, transmission control protocol) to completely alternative protocol and network architectures. However, despite the great number of different proposals (or perhaps also because of it), the general framework appears quite fragmented and there is a compelling need of an integration of the research competences and efforts. This is actually the intent of the transport protocols research line within the European SatNEx (Satellite Network of Excellence) project. Stemming from the authors' work on this project, this paper aims to provide the reader with an updated overview of all the possible approaches that can be pursued to overcome the limitations of current transport protocols and architectures, when applied to satellite communications. In the paper the possible solutions are classified in the following categories: optimization of TCP interactions with lower layers, TCP enhancements, performance enhancement proxies (PEP) and delay tolerant networks (DTN). Advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches, as well as their interactions, are investigated and discussed, taking into account performance improvement, complexity, and compliance to the standard semantics. From this analysis, it emerges that DTN architectures could integrate some of the most efficient solutions from the other categories, by inserting them in a new rigorous framework. These innovative architectures therefore may represent a promising solution for solving some of the important problems posed at the transport layer by satellite networks, at least in a medium‐to‐long‐term perspective. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A DTN approach to satellite communications

Satellite communications pose serious challenges to transport layer performance, mainly because of long propagation delays (especially in geosynchronous systems) and the possi ble presence of random errors on the satellite link. Solutions that cope with these impairments usually rely upon either the adoption of enhanced versions of transport protocols, or the insertion of intermediate agents, like PEPs (Performance Enhancing Proxies). An alternative approach is to adopt the DTN (Delay/Disruption Tolerant Networking) architecture based on the introduction of the new "bundle" layer in the protocol stack. The aim of the paper is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the DTN approach compared to the more conventional solutions mentioned. DTN performance is assessed by considering both fully connected networks and networks where continuous connectivity cannot be guaranteed during data transfer and/or at start-up. Performance is evaluated by using the TATPA testbed (Testbed for Advanced Transport Protocols and Architectures), which is based on a cluster of Linux PCs running the DTNperf application, developed to this end by the authors and now included in the official DTN package. Comparative results show that DTN, coupled with TCP Hybla, outperforms NewReno, offering a performance very close to PEPsal and end- to-end Hybla, which are among the most effective solutions on satellite channels. In addition to these encouraging results, DTN offers an intrinsic greater robustness in intermittent or disruptive environments.     

基于可靠UDP的卫星IP网关设计

TCP是面向连接的可靠点到点协议,但是由于卫星网络中典型的长延时、高误码率以及非对称带宽的特点,导致TCP通过宽带卫星网络时,信道利用率非常低。可靠UDP协议基于标准UDP协议并在应用中增加窗口、应答和重传算法来实现。网关采用该协议将TCP连接分段,在应用中明显地改善了TCP在宽带卫星信道上传输的性能,增加TCP的信道利用率。     

Performance of TCP protocols in deep space communication networks

The communication requirements for space missions necessitate to address the problems due to deep space communication networks. In this letter, the effects of slow start algorithm, propagation delay and the link errors on the throughput performance of transport layer protocols are investigated in deep space communication networks. The objective of this letter is to demonstrate through experimental results that existing TCP protocols are far from satisfying the deep space communication requirements and point out the urgent need for new TCP solutions.     

Improving TCP performance over wireless networks at the link layer

We present the transport unaware link improvement protocol (TULIP), which dramatically improves the performance of TCP over lossy wireless links, without competing with or modifying the transport- or network-layer protocols. TULIP is tailored for the half-duplex radio links available with today's commercial radios and provides a MAC acceleration feature applicable to collision-avoidance MAC protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11) to improve throughput. TULIP's timers rely on a maximum propagation delay over the link, rather than performing a round-trip time estimate of the channel delay. The protocol does not require a base station and keeps no TCP state. TULIP is exceptionally robust when bit error rates are high; it maintains high goodput, i.e., only those packets which are in fact dropped on the wireless link are retransmitted and then only when necessary. The performance of TULIP is compared against the performance of the Snoop protocol (a TCP-aware approach) and TCP without link-level retransmission support. The results of simulation experiments using the actual code of the Snoop protocol show that TULIP achieves higher throughput, lower packet delay, and smaller delay variance. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Improving TCP performance over wireless networks at the link layer

We present the transport unaware link improvement protocol (TULIP), which dramatically improves the performance of TCP over lossy wireless links, without competing with or modifying the transport- or network-layer protocols. TULIP is tailored for the half-duplex radio links available with today's commercial radios and provides a MAC acceleration feature applicable to collision-avoidance MAC protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11) to improve throughput. TULIP's timers rely on a maximum propagation delay over the link, rather than performing a round-trip time estimate of the channel delay. The protocol does not require a base station and keeps no TCP state. TULIP is exceptionally robust when bit error rates are high; it maintains high goodput, i.e., only those packets which are in fact dropped on the wireless link are retransmitted and then only when necessary. The performance of TULIP is compared against the performance of the Snoop protocol (a TCP-aware approach) and TCP without link-level retransmission support. The results of simulation experiments using the actual code of the Snoop protocol show that TULIP achieves higher throughput, lower packet delay, and smaller delay variance. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

TCP extensions for space communications

The space communication environment and mobile and wireless communication environments show many similarities when observed from the perspective of a transport protocol. Both types of environments exhibit loss caused by data corruption and link outage, in addition to congestion‐related loss. The constraints imposed by the two environments are also similar – power, weight, and physical volume of equipment are scarce resources. Finally, it is not uncommon for communication channel data rates to be severely limited and highly asymmetric. We are working on solutions to these types of problems for space communication environments, and we believe that these solutions may be applicable to the mobile and wireless community. As part of our work, we have defined and implemented the Space Communications Protocol Standards‐Transport Protocol (SCPS‐TP), a set of extensions to TCP that address the problems that we have identified. The results of our performance tests, both in the laboratory and on actual satellites, indicate that the SCPS‐TP extensions yield significant improvements in throughput over unmodified TCP on error‐prone links. Additionally, the SCPS modifications significantly improve performance over links with highly asymmetric data rates. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Simulation Study of Scalable TCP and HighSpeed TCP in Geostationary Satellite Networks

This paper investigates the performance of two TCP enhancements (i.e., Scalable TCP and HighSpeed TCP), recently proposed for high-speed backbone networks with a very large bandwidth-delay product, in a geostationary satellite environment. Both persistent and elastic traffic patterns are considered, performance being evaluated in terms of TCP throughput and mean session delay, respectively. The impact of channel characteristics (packet error rate, correlation between successive losses) is widely discussed. Fairness issues are also accounted for, together with the impact of some system parameters, such as the satellite link bandwidth. Extensive comparisons are carried out among Scalable TCP, HighSpeed TCP and other congestion control schemes. The obtained results show the soundness for the use of such protocols in geostationary satellite networks. Indeed, both protocols permit to improve the performance of TCP connections in a wide range of channel conditions, showing (especially Scalable TCP) to be able to cope well with rainy conditions and to exploit a future increase in the satellite link capacity. This work was carried out within the framework of the SatNex Network of Excellence, http://www.satnex.org     

Modeling TCP SACK performance over wireless channels with semi-reliable ARQ/FEC

Providing reliable data communications over wireless channels is a challenging task because time-varying wireless channel characteristics often lead to bit errors. These errors result in loss of IP packets and, consequently, TCP segments encapsulated into these packets. Since TCP cannot distinguish packet losses due to bit corruption from those due to network congestion, any packet loss caused by wireless channel impairments leads to unnecessary execution of the TCP congestion control algorithms and, hence, sub-optimal performance. Automatic Repeat reQuest (ARQ) and Forward Error Correction (FEC) try to improve communication reliability and reduce packet losses by detecting and recovering corrupted bits. Most analytical models that studied the effect of ARQ and FEC on TCP performance assumed that the ARQ scheme is perfectly persistent (i.e., completely reliable), thus a frame is always successfully transmitted irrespective of the number of transmission attempts it takes. In this paper, we develop an analytical cross-layer model for a TCP connection running over a wireless channel with a semi-reliable ARQ scheme, where the amount of transmission attempts is limited by some number. The model allows to evaluate the joint effect of stochastic properties of the wireless channel characteristics and various implementation-specific parameters on TCP performance, which makes it suitable for performance optimization studies. The input parameters include the bit error rate, the value of the normalized autocorrelation function of bit error observations at lag 1, the strength of the FEC code, the persistency of ARQ, the size of protocol data units at different layers, the raw data rate of the wireless channel, and the bottleneck link buffer size.     

Optimal design of hybrid FEC/ARQ schemes for TCP over wireless links with Rayleigh fading

In this paper, we investigate interactions between TCP and wireless hybrid FEC/ARQ schemes. The aim is to understand what is the best configuration of the wireless link protocol in order to guarantee TCP performance and channel efficiency. Interactions between TCP and different link layer mechanisms are evaluated by means of an analytic model that reproduces: 1) a Rayleigh fading channel with FEC coding, 2) a generic selective repeat ARQ Protocol, and 3) the TCP behavior in a wired-cum-wireless network scenario. The analytic model is validated-by means of ns-based simulations. The analysis represents a contribution to the optimal design of link layer parameters of wireless networks crossed by TCP/IP traffic. The main findings can be summarized as follows: 1) fully reliable ARQ protocols are the best choice for both TCP performance and wireless link efficiency and 2) optimal values of FEC redundancy degree from the point of view of energy efficiency maximizes TCP performance as well.     

An efficient transport service for slow wireless telephone links

Modern digital cellular telephones and portable computers have created a new platform for distributed information processing. However, the characteristics of wireless telephone links are different from those of wireline links. With standard TCP/IP protocols, this can lead to severe performance problems; some are related to the control of the wireless link, some to the cooperation of the wireless link and the fixed network. One possible solution is to split the end-to-end communication path into two parts, and to establish a separate control for each part. The Mowgli communication architecture is a sophisticated elaboration of this basic idea covering several data communication layers. One of its main components is the Mowgli data channel service (MDCS), which transparently replaces the standard TCP/IP core protocols over the slow wireless link. We discuss how the Mowgli approach, using the MDCS, alleviates the problems encountered with TCP/IP protocols over slow wireless links. The results of our performance tests indicate the merits of the Mowgli approach. The transfer times and the response times become more stable, transfer times for multiple parallel bidirectional transfers are substantially reduced, and response times in interactive work can be kept at a low and predictable level, even when there is other traffic on the wireless link     

容迟网络体系结构及其关键技术研究

当前的Intemet体系结构和其中许多协议无法很好的适用存在高延迟和频繁割裂的网络.当端节点具有严格的能量和存储限制时,这一问题将更加恶化.由于移动性和特殊应用需求,使得像陆地移动网络、军事无线自组织网络、星际网络及无线传感器网络等这样的受限网络缺乏“保持连接”的基础结构.这些受限网络有它们自己的专有协议而不采用TCP/IP协议.为了实现这些网络之间的互联,国际上提出了在端到端连接和节点资源都受限时的一种新型网络体系结构和应用接口,称为延迟容忍网络(简称容迟网络,DIN,Delay-Tolerant Networks).DTN作为网络互联时传输层上的覆盖网可用来满足随意的异步消息可靠转发.本文研究分析了容迟网络的应用背景、体系结构、关键技术和一些开放问题,并给出了未来的发展方向和应用前景.     

Improving Bandwidth Utilization of Intermittent Links in Highly Dynamic Ad Hoc Networks

Non-uniform node densities occur and intermittent links exist in highly dynamic ad hoc networks. To fit these networks, researchers usually combine delay tolerant network (DTN) routing protocols and mobile ad hoc network (MANET) routing protocols. The DTN protocol separates end-to-end links into multiple DTN links, which consist of multi-hop MANET links. Determining how to arrange DTN links and MANET links from source to end and dealing with intermittent links are performance issues, because node density ranges from sparse to dense and MANET protocols are much lighter than DTN protocols. This paper presents HMDTN, an application-network cross-layer framework, to solve the previously mentioned issues. The application layer in HMDTN supports disrupt tolerance with a large data buffer while adjusting the routing table on the basis of the connection state of links (link is disrupted or recovered), which are collected by the network layer. As a result, HMDTN increases the bandwidth utilization of intermittent links without compromising the efficiency of the MANET protocol in a reliable network. The HMDTN prototype was implemented based on Bytewalla (a Java version of DTN2) and Netfilter-based AODV. Experiments on Android devices show that unlike AODV and Epidemic, HMDTN increases the bandwidth utilization of intermittent links with a negligible increase of network overhead. In particular, HMDTN maintains the network throughput as high as regular network conditions even if the network undergoes relatively long-term (dozens of seconds or few minutes) data link disruptions.

     

Space link simulator for development of new packet-based space communication protocols

Terrestrial network-based file transfer protocol is known to be unacceptable for the space network environment. The Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) is about to propose a new file transfer protocol for use in both space and ground-based networks, named CCSDS File Delivery Protocol (CFDP). CFDP is based on packet oriented protocols as its underlaying network layer. The supported packet protocols include CCSDS packet standard protocol and TCP/IP. The space communication link displays specific characteristics different from those of terrestrial ones: larger link delay, higher bit error rates, bursts of errors, packet deordering, etc. For use in CFDP implementation, a packet protocol-based space link simulator is designed and implemented. This space link simulator, named LinkSim, can simulate not only distance driven link delay, but also link quality and link diversity. This paper presents the organization of the space link simulator and the algorithms used to emulate each link characteristic feature. The test shows that the LinkSim program simulates exactly the expected space link environment. An example configuration is also discussed at the end of this paper. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

卫星通信在因特网中的应用

因特网正在以迅猛的速度飞速发展，卫星作为一种重要的通信手段，其传输的因特网业务也日益增加。本针对卫星信道的长延时特点对TCP办议在卫星信道上的传输效率进行了分析，同时对当前的各种解决方案作了简单介绍，最后介绍了下一代卫星宽带多媒体网络。     

Performance evaluation of TCP‐based applications over DVB‐RCS DAMA schemes

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) performance over Digital Video Broadcasting—Return Channel via Satellite (DVB‐RCS) standard is greatly affected by the total delay, which is mainly due to two components, propagation delay and access delay. Both are significant because they are dependent on the long propagation path of the satellite link. The former is intrinsic and due to radio wave propagation over the satellite channel for both TCP packets and acknowledgements. It is regulated by the control loop that governs TCP. The latter is due to the control loop that governs the demand assignment multiple access (DAMA) signalling exchange between satellite terminals and the network control center, necessary to manage return link resources. DAMA is adopted in DVB‐RCS standard to achieve flexible and efficient use of the shared resources. Therefore, performance of TCP over DVB‐RCS may degrade due to the exploitation of two nested control loops also depending on both the selected DAMA algorithm and the traffic profile. This paper analyses the impact of basic DAMA implementation on TCP‐based applications over a DVB‐RCS link for a large set of study cases. To provide a detailed overview of TCP performance in DVB‐RCS environment, the analysis includes both theoretical approach and simulation campaign. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluating the communication performance of an ad hoc wirelessnetwork

Adaptive and self-organizing wireless networks are gaining in popularity. Several media access and routing protocols were proposed for such networks and the performance of such protocols were evaluated based on simulations. In this paper, we evaluate the practicality of realizing an ad hoc wireless network and investigate on performance issues. Several mobile computers were enhanced with ad hoc routing capability and were deployed in an outdoor environment and communication performance associated with ad hoc communications were evaluated. These computers periodically send beacons to their neighbors to declare their presence. We examined the impact of varying packet size, beaconing interval, and route hop count on route discovery time, communication throughput, end-to-end delay, and packet loss. We had also performed mobility experiments and evaluated the route reconstruction time incurred. File transfer times associated with sending information reliably (via TCP) over multihop wireless links are also presented. The experimental results obtained revealed that it is feasible to augment existing wireless computers with ad hoc networking capability. End-to-end performance in ad hoc routes are less affected by beaconing intervals than packet size or route length. Similarly, communication throughput is more dependent on packet size and route length with the exception at very high beaconing frequencies. Packet loss, on the other hand, is not significantly affected by packet size, route length or beaconing frequency. Finally, route discovery time in ad hoc wireless networks are more dependent on channel conditions and route length than variations in beaconing intervals     

一种基于分组丢失率测量的差错容忍式拥塞控制算法

空间通信的TCP大多数是基于Vegas算法,该算法需要对往返时延进行较为精确的测量,这在具有极长且可变时延的信道特征的深空通信环境中很难实现。提出一种基于分组丢失率测量的差错容忍式拥塞控制算法,该算法采用数据块的形式发送数据,依据历史数据设定差错容忍度,利用分组丢失率测量值进行拥塞状态判断及发送窗口大小调整,从而使用较小的开销达到较高的传输效率。最后,利用数学建模方法,证明基于分组丢失率测量的差错容忍式拥塞控制算法的吞吐量比传统TCP的Tahoe算法提高34%,比Reno算法提高22%。