TCP-akselerasjon i IP-baserte satellittnettverk

Abstract

Main characteristics of GEO-stationary satellites are long delay, high bit error rate and large asymmetry. TCP handles these characteristics poorly and dows not utlilize a satellite link well.

TCP acceleration is a solution where the TCP's end-to-end semantics is broken before the satellite jump. Over the satellite jump a different protocol is used. The protocol is places at layer 3.5 in the ISO-stack. For compability reasons, data are translated back to TCP after the satellite jump.

This thesis proposes a protocol (MTP) to be used over the satellite jump. The main goals for MTP are to fully utilize the link and to achieve maximum throughput at det tranport layer regardless of the link's delay, bit error rate, packet loss, asymmetry and number of TCP connections.

The thesis specifies, implements and tests MTP over a network simulating a GEO-satellite environment. Test analysis shows that MTP accomplishes both goals.