Internet protocol performance over networks with wireless links

This article discusses the problems that arise when standard Internet proto cols such as TCP are used over wireless links. We review wireless link char acteristics with case studies drawn from commercial Wireless LANs and Cellu lar Telephony systems. We discuss problems with Internet protocols when emp loyed over these systems, such as degraded TCP performance when wireless er rors are interpreted as congestion losses. We survey various proposed appro aches to mitigating such problems and examine their applicability. Finally, we look at the future of wireless systems and the new challenges that they will create for Internet protocols, and state some goals for further proto col enhancement and evolution, pointing out the need for better protocol in tegration across layers.