Link-Coupled TCP for 5G networks

Applications are typically offered a single, generic option for end-to-end transport, which most commonly consists of the particular flavor of TCP that runs in the server host. This arrangement does not suit well the diversity of the requirements that individual applications pose on network metrics like throughput and delay. Link-Coupled TCP (LCTCP) is a new transport solution that leverages the architectural trends of 5G networks to enable accurate satisfaction of the unique requirements of each application. LCTCP first isolates the 5G access link as the only possible network bottleneck for the application flow, then establishes a lightweight signaling channel between the link buffer and the application server to convey critical information for flexible control of the data source. LCTCP can be deployed in the network without modification of the TCP clients. We use a Linux prototype to demonstrate its feasibility and effectiveness.