Efficient Internet Traffic Delivery over Wireless Networks

The high demand for wireless Internet connectivity has driven the development of highly efficient radio link technologies. However, their performance can be compromised by inadvertent interactions with the higher layer TCP flow control protocol. If we are to maximize the performance of wireless links, then we must ensure that mechanisms operating at every layer of the protocol stack interact efficiently. In this article we provide a brief tutorial of some of these radio link enhancements. We then outline how higher layer flow control protocols should behave, and outline techniques for taming the behavior of TCP, to ensure that the performance of lower layer enhancements are not compromised.