An analytic model of TCP performance over multi-hop wireless links with correlated channel fading

In this paper, we present an analytic model for TCP performance over wireless channels with highly correlated fading characteristics. The wireless channel TCP segment loss process is modeled using a Linear Algebraic Queueing Theory representation of a hidden Markov chain that can incorporate autocorrelations in successive segment losses. The segment loss model is then used in the development of a discrete time Markov chain representation of the evolution of the TCP congestion window. Variability in the round-trip time (RTT) distribution and sublinear congestion window growth is also incorporated into the model. We derive transient and steady-state performance measures such as the mean and variance of the congestion window size and throughput for various error autocorrelation and RTTs.