Abstract
The use of Internet Protocol (IP) suite over satellite and space platforms is limited by the large propagation delays to
reach their earth-distant position and the wireless nature of channel errors. Before they can provide an effective and
commerciable service, IP protocols require proper augmentation and correction precisely due to long feedback loops,
large number of in-transit packets, transmission errors, possibly asymmetric links and intermittent connectivity. By a
careful collective look to current research literature, we identify that all IP problems in long delay wireless networks
either stem from network measurement inefficiency or can be better overcome if accurate measurements were available.
In this paper, we introduce a flexible middle-box IP performance enhancement solution that deals with the satellite
WAN optimization problem without changes to senders and receivers. It accomplished an IP steady state improvement
factor that corresponds to approximately optimal channel utilization by effectively changing TCP/IP parameters
according to innovative, accurate passive network measurements, suitable for the high bandwidth and delay wireless
environment. We believe that our approach can optimize not only protocols but also improve currently proposed
optimizations as those suggested in the SCPS transport. While this study is focusing on TCP, our concept can take on a
wide number of transport, security, multimedia, real-time and QoS performance enhancements tasks.
