Methods and apparatus for optimizing tunneled traffic
View Patent ↗A satellite communication system may be configured to establish multiple different tunnels between a first satellite modem and a second satellite modem in accordance with a protocol. The first satellite modem may receive a packet via a tunnel established in accordance with a different protocol, determine an endpoint identifier corresponding to the tunnel based on information from one or more headers included in the packet, identify one of the multiple different tunnels that corresponds to the tunnel, generate a corresponding packet omitting at least a portion of the information from the one or more headers and comprising at least a portion of data included in a payload of the packet and an information block comprising a tunnel index corresponding to the identified one of the multiple different tunnels, and transmit the corresponding packet to the second satellite modem via the identified one of the multiple different tunnels.
1. A first satellite modem comprising:
a communication interface configured to interface via a satellite link; and
hardware comprising executable logic that, when executed, causes the first satellite modem to:
receive, from an access point of a cellular network, a first packet formatted according to a cellular network communication protocol;
determine a satellite communication tunnel index associated with the first packet;
generate a second packet encapsulating data of the first packet, wherein the second packet comprises the satellite communication tunnel index; and
transmit the second packet to a second satellite modem via the satellite link.
2. The first satellite modem of claim 1 , wherein the executable logic, when executed, further causes the first satellite modem to generate the satellite communication tunnel index based on an identifier associated with the first packet and with the cellular network communication protocol.
3. The first satellite modem of claim 2 , wherein the executable logic, when executed, further causes the first satellite modem to transmit a message to the second satellite modem via the satellite link, wherein the message causes the second satellite modem to establish a tunnel with the first satellite modem, wherein the message includes the satellite communication tunnel index and the identifier associated with the first packet and with the cellular network communication protocol.
4. The first satellite modem of claim 1 , wherein the executable logic, when executed, further causes the first satellite modem to:
identify recurring data within a plurality of packets formatted according to the cellular network communication protocol;
receive a third packet formatted according to the cellular network communication protocol, the third packet including the recurring data;
determine that the third packet is associated with the satellite communication tunnel index;
generate a fourth packet encapsulating data of the third packet, wherein the fourth packet comprises the satellite communication tunnel index, wherein the fourth packet omits the recurring data, wherein the fourth packet comprises a shorter representation of the recurring data; and
transmit the fourth packet to the second satellite modem via the satellite link.
5. The first satellite modem of claim 1 , wherein the executable logic, when executed, further causes the first satellite modem to:
determine that the first packet contains a transmission control protocol (TCP) segment associated with a TCP connection;
prior to receipt of an acknowledgement for the TCP segment from the second satellite modem, generate the acknowledgement for the TCP segment; and
transmit, to the access point, the acknowledgment for the TCP segment, wherein the acknowledgment is formatted in accordance with the cellular network communication protocol.
6. The first satellite modem of claim 1 , wherein the executable logic, when executed, further causes the first satellite modem to:
determine that the first packet comprises an HTTP request;
initiate, with the second satellite modem via the satellite link, a pre-fetching session for one or more additional data objects associated with the HTTP request;
receive, from the second satellite modem via the satellite link, the one or more additional data objects; and
cache the one or more additional data objects.
7. The first satellite modem of claim 6 , wherein the executable logic, when executed, further causes the first satellite modem to, responsive to receipt of additional HTTP requests, fetch at least some of the cached one or more additional data objects, and transmit the one or more additional data objects to the access point in accordance with the cellular network communication protocol.
8. The first satellite modem of claim 1 , wherein the second packet transmitted via the satellite link includes one or more compressed headers associated with the cellular network communication protocol.
9. A method comprising:
receiving, at a first satellite modem, from an access point of a cellular network, a first packet formatted according to a cellular network communication protocol;
determining a satellite communication tunnel index associated with the first packet;
generating a second packet encapsulating data of the first packet, wherein the second packet comprises the satellite communication tunnel index; and
transmitting, by the first satellite modem, the second packet to a second satellite modem via a satellite link.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising generating the satellite communication tunnel index based on an identifier associated with the first packet and with the cellular network communication protocol.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting a message to the second satellite modem via the satellite link, wherein the message causes the second satellite modem to establish a tunnel with the first satellite modem, wherein the message includes the satellite communication tunnel index and the identifier associated with the first packet and with the cellular network communication protocol.
12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
identifying recurring data within a plurality of packets formatted according to the cellular network communication protocol;
receiving a third packet formatted according to the cellular network communication protocol, the third packet including the recurring data;
determining that the third packet is associated with the satellite communication tunnel index;
generating a fourth packet encapsulating data of the third packet, wherein the fourth packet comprises the satellite communication tunnel index, wherein the fourth packet omits the recurring data, wherein the fourth packet comprises a shorter representation of the recurring data; and
transmitting the fourth packet to the second satellite modem via the satellite link.
13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining that the first packet contains a transmission control protocol (TCP) segment associated with a TCP connection;
prior to receiving an acknowledgement for the TCP segment from the second satellite modem, generating the acknowledgement for the TCP segment; and
transmitting, to the access point, the acknowledgment for the TCP segment, wherein the acknowledgment is formatted in accordance with the cellular network communication protocol.
14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining that the first packet comprises an HTTP request;
initiating, with the second satellite modem via the satellite link, a pre-fetching session for one or more additional data objects associated with the HTTP request;
receiving, from the second satellite modem via the satellite link, the one or more additional data objects; and
caching the one or more additional data objects.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, responsive to receiving additional HTTP requests, fetching at least some of the cached one or more additional data objects, and transmitting the one or more additional data objects to the access point in accordance with the cellular network communication protocol.
16. Non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause a first satellite modem to:
receive, from an access point of a cellular network, a first packet formatted according to a cellular network communication protocol;
determine a satellite communication tunnel index associated with the first packet;
generate a second packet encapsulating data of the first packet, wherein the second packet comprises the satellite communication tunnel index; and
transmit the second packet to a second satellite modem via a satellite link.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the first satellite modem to generate the satellite communication tunnel index based on an identifier associated with the first packet and with the cellular network communication protocol.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the first satellite modem to transmit a message to the second satellite modem via the satellite link, wherein the message causes the second satellite modem to establish a tunnel with the first satellite modem, wherein the message includes the satellite communication tunnel index and the identifier associated with the first packet and with the cellular network communication protocol.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the first satellite modem to:
identify recurring data within a plurality of packets formatted according to the cellular network communication protocol;
receive a third packet formatted according to the cellular network communication protocol, the third packet including the recurring data;
determine that the third packet is associated with the satellite communication tunnel index;
generate a fourth packet encapsulating data of the third packet, wherein the fourth packet comprises the satellite communication tunnel index, wherein the fourth packet omits the recurring data, wherein the fourth packet comprises a shorter representation of the recurring data; and
transmit the fourth packet to the second satellite modem via the satellite link.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 16 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the first satellite modem to:
determine that the first packet contains a transmission control protocol (TCP) segment associated with a TCP connection;
prior to receipt of an acknowledgement for the TCP segment from the second satellite modem, generate the acknowledgement for the TCP segment; and
transmit, to the access point, the acknowledgment for the TCP segment, wherein the acknowledgment is formatted in accordance with the cellular network communication protocol.