TCP/IP and Mobile IP over asymmetric wireless links

The issues related to implementation of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) in the fixed and mobile environments are being investigated for a variety of commercial and military applications. Specific issues are the effects of disadvantaged links associated with bandwidth, latency, and traffic asymmetries, high bit error rates, quality of services, and security requirements on network operation. We set up a 'TCP/IP and Mobile IP Networks Testbed for Mobile Platforms', which allowed us to simulate a wide range of network topologies such as asymmetric satellite links, mobile IP links, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11B wireless local area networks (WLAN). In this paper, the segmented TCP (i.e., TCP Splitting) performance with SkyX(TM) Gateways is described over asymmetric satellite links. Compatibility test of mobile IP mobile clients (mobile nodes) software is performed with mobile agents (home and foreign agents) software. Finally, the mobile IP network/router mobility currently under development will be also briefly described.