Bandwidth estimation schemes for TCP over wireless networks

The use of enhanced bandwidth estimation procedures within the congestion control scheme of TCP was proposed recently as a way of improving TCP performance over links affected by random loss. This paper first analyzes the problems faced by every bandwidth estimation algorithm implemented at the sender side of a TCP connection. Some proposed estimation algorithms are then reviewed, analyzing and comparing their estimation accuracy and performance. As existing algorithms are poor in bandwidth estimation, and in sharing network resources fairly, we propose TIBET (time intervals based bandwidth estimation technique). This is a new bandwidth estimation scheme that can be implemented within the TCP congestion control procedure, modifying only the sender-side of a connection. The use of TIBET enhances TCP source performance over wireless links. The performance of TIBET is analyzed and compared with other schemes. Moreover, by studying TCP behavior with an ideal bandwidth estimation, we provide an upper bound to the performance of all possible schemes based on different bandwidth estimates.