Performance enhancement for TCP/IP on a satellite channel

Worldwide usage of the Internet is currently growing at an exponential rate, resulting in a dramatic increase in the demand for the 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 performance as seen by an interactive user and/or inefficient utilization of precious satellite resources. In response to military needs, MIT Lincoln Laboratory has developed the Wireless IP Suite Enhancer (WISE) which dramatically improves the performance 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 Laboratory show that WISE yields nearly optimal utilization of the satellite link.