Performance Enhancement for Tcp/ip on a Satellite, Channel*

Worldwide usage of the Internet is currently growing atan exponential rate, resulting inadrainatic increase in thedemandfortiie transmission of Internet data via satellite. The TCP/IP protocol suite, which forms the basis of the Internet, performs sub-optimally when confronted with a geostationary satellite link. This may result in poor perj40rmance as seen by an interactive user and/or ine&icient utilization of precious satellite resources. In response to militaiy needs, MIT Lincoln Laboratory has developed the Wireless IP Suite Enhancer (WISE) which dramatically improves the pe~ormance of TCP/IP when it is extended via a satellite link. Tests of a prototype unit conducted on the Satellite Networking Test-bed at Lincoln Luboratoq show that WISE yields nearly optimal utilization of