TCP with bandwidth estimation over wireless networks

The Time Intervals based Bandwidth Estimation Technique (TIBET) is a proposed change to the TCP congestion control algorithm which performs a run-time sender-side-only estimation of the bandwidth available to the connection. TIBET uses the estimated bandwidth to allow TCP sources to achieve higher performances both over wired and wireless networks, avoiding overly conservative rate reductions in presence of random losses typical of wireless links. This paper analyzes the performances of TIBET sources over wireless links by accurately modeling correlated losses due to fading or handover typical of cellular networks. An analytical model developed in this paper allows to quantify the advantage of TCP sources performing an explicit bandwidth estimation, as TIBET, over actually implemented TCP versions, i.e TCP Reno and NewReno.