Network device
Network devices ( 30 ) receiving first packets from first devices ( 10 ) and in response transmitting second packets to second devices ( 20 ), and receiving third packets from the second devices ( 20 ) and in response transmitting fourth packets to the first devices ( 10 ), get manipulation means ( 40 ) for manipulating information at layers higher than internet protocol layers of headers of packets for improving transport efficiencies between the first and second devices ( 10,20 ). The higher layer may comprise a transport control protocol layer-4 to allow the network devices ( 30 ) to take over acknowledging functions of the second devices ( 20 ) and to take over re-transmission functions of the first devices ( 10 ) and to support the second devices ( 20 ) through offering additional buffer space and to support the first devices ( 10 ) through offering extended/advanced stream management.
1. A network device comprising:
at least one first receiver for receiving a first packet including first data and a first header from a first device, the first header including first information at a layer higher than an internet protocol layer, the first information including a sequence parameter;
at least one first transmitter for transmitting a second packet in response to a reception of the first packet, the second packet including second data and a second header to a second device, which second header includes second information at the layer higher than the internet protocol layer, the second data being equal to the first data;
at least one second receiver for receiving a third packet including third data and a third header from the second device, the third header including third information at the layer higher than the internet protocol layer;
at least one second transmitter for transmitting a fourth packet in response to a reception of the third packet, the fourth packet including fourth data and a fourth header to the first device, which fourth header includes fourth information at the layer higher than the internet protocol layer, the fourth data being equal to the third data;
at least one detector for detecting the sequence parameter; and
at least one inserter for inserting an acknowledgement parameter in the fourth information of a fourth packet, said acknowledgement parameter being related to said sequence parameter and obtained from the third information of an earlier third packet; wherein
the at least one detector and the at least one inserter are for manipulating the information of at least one header of at least one packet for improving a transport efficiency between the first and second devices.
2. The network device as defined in claim 1 , wherein,
the internet protocol layer includes an internet protocol layer-3,
the layer higher than the internet protocol layer includes a transport control protocol layer-4, and
the transport efficiency between the first and second devices is from the first device to the second device.
3. The network device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a replacer for deleting the acknowledgement parameter from the third information.
4. The network device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
a storage medium for storing the second packet; and
a detector for detecting an acknowledgement parameter in the third information, wherein,
the second information includes a sequence parameter, and
the at least one of the first transmitter transmits the stored second packet to the second device based on a detection of the acknowledgement parameter.
5. The network device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one replacer for deleting an old size parameter in at least one of the third information and the fourth information, wherein
the at least one inserter for inserting a new size parameter in the fourth information.
6. The network device as defined in claim 5 , characterized further comprising:
a buffer for buffering first packets, such that the new size parameter in the fourth information is larger than the old size parameter in the third information, simulating to the first device that the second device has a larger buffer capacity than actually present.
7. The network device as defined in claim 5 , wherein,
the new size parameter in the fourth information is smaller than the old size parameter in the third information, simulating to the first device that the second device has a smaller buffer capacity than actually present.
8. The network device as defined in claim 1 , wherein,
the internet protocol layer includes an internet protocol layer-3 and the layer higher than the internet protocol layer includes a user datagram protocol layer-4, the transport efficiency between the first and second devices being from the first device to the second device.
9. Method comprising:
receiving a first packet including first data and a first header from a first device, the first header including first information at a layer higher than an internet protocol layer, the first information including a sequence parameter;
transmitting a second packet in response to a reception of the first packet, the second packet including second data and a second header to a second device, the second header including a second information at the layer higher than the internet protocol layer, the second data being equal to the first data;
receiving a third packet including third data and a third header from the second device, which third header includes third information at the layer higher than the internet protocol layer; and
transmitting a fourth packet in response to a reception of the third packet, the fourth packet including fourth data and a fourth header to the first device, which fourth header includes fourth information at the layer higher than the internet protocol layer, the fourth data being equal to the third data;
detecting the sequence parameter; and
inserting an acknowledgement parameter in the fourth information of the fourth packet, said acknowledgement parameter being related to said sequence parameter and obtained from the third information of an earlier third packet; wherein
the detecting and inserting are for manipulating the information of at least one header of at least one packet for improving a transport efficiency between the first and second devices.
10. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program instructions for performing a method of manipulating information, said computer program instructions defining the steps comprising:
receiving a first packet including first data and a first header from a first device, the first header including first information at a layer higher than an internet protocol layer, the first information including a sequence parameter;
transmitting a second packet in response to a reception of the first packet, the second packet including second data and a second header to a second device, the second header includes second information at the layer higher than the internet protocol layer, the second data being equal to the first data;
receiving a third packet including third data and a third header from the second device, the third header including third information at the layer higher than the internet protocol layer;
transmitting a fourth packet in response to a reception of the third packet, the fourth packet including fourth data and a fourth header to the first device, the fourth header including fourth information at the layer higher than the internet protocol layer, the fourth data being equal to the third data;
detecting the sequence parameter;
inserting an acknowledgement parameter in the fourth information of a fourth packet, said acknowledgement parameter being related to said sequence parameter and obtained from the third information of an earlier third packet; wherein
the detecting and inserting are for manipulating the information of at least one header of at least one packet for improving a transport efficiency between the first and second devices.
11. A non-transitory computer program product as defined in claim 10 .