TCP switching: exposing circuits to IP

Abstract

A simple technique could eliminate choke points on the the Internet. TCP switching, which integrates circuit switching benefits in the packet-switched Internet, demonstrates the possibilities. The research presented focuses on how the existing IP infrastructure can incorporate fast, simple (and perhaps optical) circuit switches. Several approaches to this already exist, but we propose a technique called transmission control protocol (TCP) switching in which each application flow (usually an individual TCP connection) triggers its own end-to-end circuit creation across a circuit-switched core. Based on IP switching, TCP switching incorporates modified circuit switches that use existing IP routing protocols to establish circuits. Routing occurs hop by hop, and circuit maintenance uses soft state, that is, it is removed through an inactivity time-out.