Increasing reliable data throughput in a wireless network
Systems and methods for improving data transmission rates in communication networks are disclosed. In an 802.11 wireless communication network, where a source node of the wireless network transmits TCP data to a destination node of the wireless network, the destination node does not transmit TCP acknowledgments (ACKs) for the TCP data if 802.11 ACKs indicate that the destination node received the TCP data. If a source outside the wireless network transmits TCP data to the destination node within the wireless network through an intermediate device, such as an access point, the destination node suppresses transmitting TCP ACKs. The intermediate device transmits TCP ACKs as proxy for the destination node to the source. The intermediate device also suppresses TCP ACKs where a source node within the wireless network sends the TCP data to a destination node outside of the wireless network.
1. An access point in a wireless network comprising:
a transmitter configured to transmit, to a destination network node in the wireless network, first data according to a lower layer protocol, wherein the first data comprises second data received from a source network node according to a higher layer protocol; and
a receiver configured to receive a first acknowledgment, according to the lower layer protocol, transmitted from the destination network node in response to the destination network node receiving the first data,
wherein the access point is configured to determine that the destination network node has received the first data and the second data without error based on the first acknowledgment according to the lower layer protocol received by the receiver,
wherein the access point and the destination network node are configured to cooperate to suppress acknowledgements according to the higher layer protocol based on a response from the destination network node to a beacon transmitted by the access point advertising a capability of the access point to generate higher protocol layer acknowledgments based on lower protocol layer acknowledgments, and
wherein the access point is configured to generate and transmit a second acknowledgment, according to the higher layer protocol, to the source network node, as an acknowledgment for the second data.
2. The access point of claim 1 , wherein the receiver is configured to receive additional data, according to the higher layer protocol, from the source network node, in response to the second acknowledgement.
3. The access point of claim 1 , wherein the access point is configured to receive the first data from the source network node via a wireless connection using the receiver.
4. The access point of claim 1 , wherein the access point is configured to receive the first data from the source network node via a wired connection using the receiver.
5. The access point of claim 1 , further comprising an antenna apparatus and a RF communication apparatus.
6. The access point of claim 5 , wherein the RF communication apparatus is configured to operate utilizing the 802.11g protocol.
7. The access point of claim 1 , wherein the beacon transmitted by the access point advertises a capability of the access point to generate transmission control protocol (TCP) acknowledgments based on 802.11 acknowledgments.
8. A wireless network device comprising:
a receiver configured to receive, from a network node and via a wireless link, first data according to a lower layer protocol, wherein the first data comprises second data according to a higher layer protocol;
a transmitter configured to transmit, via the wireless link and to the network node, a first acknowledgement, according to the lower layer protocol in response to the receiver receiving the first data; and
a processor configured to: receive a beacon transmitted by the network node advertising a capability of the network node to generate higher protocol layer acknowledgments based on lower protocol layer acknowledgments on behalf of the wireless network device; respond to the beacon; and cooperate with the network node to suppress transmission to the network node of a second acknowledgment, according to the higher layer protocol, of the second data based on the beacon and the response of the wireless network device to the beacon.
9. The wireless network device of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to prevent generation of the second acknowledgement according to the higher layer protocol.
10. The wireless network device of claim 8 , wherein the network node is an access point.
11. The wireless network device of claim 8 , wherein the second data includes transmission control protocol (TCP) data.
12. The wireless network device of claim 8 , wherein the lower layer protocol includes an 802.11 protocol.
13. A method for reliably transmitting data from a source node to a destination node in a wireless network, the method comprising:
receiving, at an intermediate device between the source node and the destination node, second data from the source node received according to a higher layer protocol;
encapsulating, by the intermediate device and according to a lower layer protocol, the second data within first data and transmitting the first data to the destination node;
receiving, by the intermediate device and from the destination node, a first acknowledgment according to the lower layer protocol indicating that the first data has been received by the destination node;
determining, by the intermediate device and based on the first acknowledgement, that the destination node has received the first and second data without error;
suppressing, by the intermediate device and in cooperation with the destination node, higher layer protocol acknowledgements, wherein the intermediate device and the destination node cooperate to suppress higher layer protocol acknowledgements based on a response from the destination node to a beacon transmitted by the intermediate device advertising a capability of the intermediate device to generate higher protocol layer acknowledgments based on lower protocol layer acknowledgments; and
generating and transmitting, by the intermediate device, to the source node, and according to the higher layer protocol, a second acknowledgment as an acknowledgment for the second data.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second data includes transmission control protocol (TCP) data.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the lower layer protocol includes an 802.11 protocol.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the intermediate device and the destination node cooperate to suppress higher layer protocol acknowledgements based on a response from the destination node to a beacon transmitted by the intermediate device advertising a capability of the intermediate device to generate higher protocol layer acknowledgments based on lower protocol layer acknowledgments.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the intermediate device is an access point.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the higher and lower layer protocols are both reliable transmission protocols.
19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the intermediate device and the destination node cooperate to suppress higher layer protocol acknowledgements during a handshake process between the intermediate device and the destination node.
20. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first data comprises 802.11 frame data.