Internet Protocol Performance over Networks with Wireless Links

This article discusses the problems that arise when standard Internet protocols such as TCP are used over wireless links. We review wireless link characteristics with case studies drawn from commercial Wireless LANs and Cellular Telephony systems. We discuss problems with Internet protocols when employed over these systems, such as degraded TCP performance when wireless errors are interpreted as congestion losses. We survey various proposed approaches to mitigating such problems and examine their applicability. Finally, we look at the future of wireless systems and the new challenges that they will create for Internet protocols, and state some goals for further protocol enhancement and evolution, pointing out the need for better protocol integration across layers.