Clustered-loss Retransmission Protocol over Wireless TCP1

Abstract Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) performs well in traditional wired networks where the packet loss rate is low. However, in heterogeneous wired/wireless networks, the high packet loss rate over wireless links may result in excessive invocation of the congestion control algorithm, thus deteriorating the performance of TCP. In this paper, a novel localized link layer retransmission protocol, called Clustered-loss Retransmission Protocol (CLRP), is proposed. CLRP consists of three protocol components, namely, TCP-FH deployed on a fixed host, TCP-MH deployed on a mobile host and CLRP-BS deployed on a base station. CLRP can provide not only explicit distinction between congestion and packet corruption losses, and effective multiple wireless loss information for retransmissions, but also better retransmission control for wireless losses. Thus it is well suited to wireless networks, in which packet loss and bursty packet corruption is a serious problem. Moreover, CLRP does not require any modifications to TCP deployed on fixed hosts. I