Increasing reliable data throughput in a wireless network

摘要

Systems and methods for improving data transmission rates in communication networks are disclosed. In an 802.11 wireless communication network, where a source node of the wireless network transmits TCP data to a destination node of the wireless network, the destination node does not transmit TCP acknowledgments (ACKs) for the TCP data if 802.11 ACKs indicate that the destination node received the TCP data. If a source outside the wireless network transmits TCP data to the destination node within the wireless network through an intermediate device, such as an access point, the destination node suppresses transmitting TCP ACKs. The intermediate device transmits TCP ACKs as proxy for the destination node to the source. The intermediate device also suppresses TCP ACKs where a source node within the wireless network sends the TCP data to a destination node outside of the wireless network.

主权项

1. A method for reliably transmitting data from a source to a destination in a wireless network, the method comprising:
transmitting data from the source to the destination, the data transmitted according to a higher layer protocol that includes the transmission control protocol (TCP); receiving a first acknowledgment at the source, wherein the first acknowledgment is transmitted from an intermediate device between the source and the destination, wherein the first acknowledgment is transmitted according to a lower layer protocol that includes an 802.11 protocol, wherein the first acknowledgment includes an 802.11 acknowledgment (802.11 ACK); and suppressing any further transmission of acknowledgements in the wireless network at the source from the intermediate device, wherein the suppression is based on a transmission of a second acknowledgement from the destination to the intermediate device, wherein the second acknowledgement is transmitted according to the higher layer protocol and includes a transmission control acknowledgement (TCP ACK), and wherein the transmission of data in the wireless network from the source to the destination nevertheless remains reliable and occurs without delay of additional acknowledgment transmissions to the source from the intermediate device as a result of the first acknowledgment being transmitted according to the lower layer protocol and the second acknowledgment being transmitted according to the higher layer protocol.