MPTCP Tunnel: An Architecture for Aggregating Bandwidth of Heterogeneous Access Networks

Xiaolan Liu,Tong Zhang,Danfeng Shan,Ran Shu

doi:10.1155/2018/2045760

Xiaolan Liu, Tong Zhang + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/2045760

Copy DOI

Abstract

Fixed and cellular networks are two typical access networks provided by operators. Fixed access network is widely employed; nevertheless, its bandwidth is sometimes not sufficient enough to meet user bandwidth requirements. Meanwhile, cellular access network owns unique advantages of wider coverage, faster increasing link speed, more flexible deployment, and so forth. Therefore, it is attractive for operators to mitigate the bandwidth shortage by bundling these two. Actually, there have been existing schemes proposed to aggregate the bandwidth of two access networks, whereas they all have their own problems, like packet reordering or extra latency overhead. To address this problem, we design new architecture, MPTCP Tunnel, to aggregate the bandwidth of multiple heterogeneous access networks from the perspective of operators. MPTCP Tunnel uses MPTCP, which solves the reordering problem essentially, to bundle multiple access networks. Besides, MPTCP Tunnel sets up only one MPTCP connection at play which adapts itself to multiple traffic types and TCP flows. Furthermore, MPTCP Tunnel forwards intact IP packets through access networks, maintaining the end-to-end TCP semantics. Experimental results manifest that MPTCP Tunnel can efficiently aggregate the bandwidth of multiple access networks and is more adaptable to the increasing heterogeneity of access networks than existing mechanisms.

Highlights

Nowadays, operators present two approaches to the access of Internet services: one is fixed access network, and the other is cellular access network (2G, 3G, LTE, etc.)
Our results demonstrate that multipath TCP (MPTCP) Tunnel can bundle fixed and cellular access networks efficiently and is more adaptable to dynamic variation of network states than Hybrid access (HYA)
We will evaluate the performance of MPTCP Tunnel and compare it with HYA in terms of throughput under the varying network states

Summary

Introduction

Operators present two approaches to the access of Internet services: one is fixed access network (cable, xDSL, FTTH, etc.), and the other is cellular access network (2G, 3G, LTE, etc.). Because of reliability and stability, fixed access networks transmit more than 90% of total Internet traffic in most countries [1, 2]. Popular as it is, fixed access network is in a dilemma in bandwidth provision sometimes. Though FTTH (fiber to the home) and optical network are prior choices essentially, there still exist limitations in their deployment, especially in old downtowns or remote rural areas. There are numerous advantages owned by cellular access network, such as larger coverage, faster increasing link speed, and more flexible deployment

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion