Modeling TCP Performance

Dr. Allen B. Downey
Boston University

February 28, 2003
11 a.m. - 12 noon
Fuller Labs 320

Abstract

During long downloads, many Web browsers display estimates of the remaining transfer time. Unfortunately, these estimates are so inaccurate that most users have learned to ignore them. To address this problem, I am trying to identify the properties of a network path (and the endpoints) we have to know in order to predict the duration of TCP transfers.

Based on measurements from a diverse set of network paths, I have developed a model of TCP performance that captures a wide range of the behavior seen in the Internet, including oddities like nondeterministic slow start. Although the resulting model is complicated, I will show that we can estimate its parameters with simple, application-level methods.

Host

Prof. Micha Hofri

Refreshments will be served in FL 320 beginning at 10:50 a.m.

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Last modified: Sep 27, 2006, 16:05 EDT