Scalable TCP over Satellite Links: Performance Issues and Cross-Layer Design

In this work, we analyze some issues related to the performance of a recently proposed TCP enhancement, scalable TCP (S-TCP), over satellite links. We first discuss S-TCP features and assess its performance in satellite networks, by means of numerical simulations, for a wide range of conditions (fixed users, mobile users, rainy days). Then, we analyze the impact of S-TCP protocol parameters in a satellite environment, and provide guidelines for their setting in order to improve the system performance. Finally, we present some possible enhancements deriving from the adoption of erasure codes at the link level (in a cross-layer perspective). In particular, TCP/FEC interactions are analyzed and the optimal operating point is derived