Fujitsu Laboratories have developed a new data transfer protocol that, by taking a software-only approach, can significantly improve the performance of file transfers, virtual desktops and other various communications applications.
Conventionally, when using transmission control protocol (TCP) - the standard protocol employed in communications applications - in a low-quality communications environment, such as when connected to a wireless network or during times of line congestion, data loss (packet loss) can occur, leading to significant drops in transmission performance due to increased latency from having to retransmit data.
To address this problem, Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a proprietary software-based transfer protocol, which incorporates an efficient proprietarily developed retransmission method based on user datagram protocol (UDP). The protocol can quickly distinguish between lost packets and packets that have not yet arrived at their destination, thereby preventing unnecessary retransmissions and latency from occurring. In a comparison with standard TCP, the new protocol achieved a throughput increase of over 30 times during a simulated file transfer between Japan and the US, and operating packet delivery latency was reduced to less than 1/6 of previous levels.
A new control technology also addresses the problem of UDP transmissions consuming excess bandwidth, by performing a real-time measurement of available network bandwidth and securing an optimal amount of communications bandwidth without overwhelming TCP's share of the bandwidth. For example, when other TCP communications are using relatively little bandwidth, the bandwidth share for the new protocol will increase, and when other TCP communications are taking up a higher percentage of bandwidth, the new protocol will use a smaller share.
Finally, Fujitsu developed a technology makes it possible to easily speed up existing TCP applications without having to modify them.
Fujitsu claims that through a simple software installation, the new technology will make it possible to speed up TCP applications that previously required costly specialized hardware, and it can also be easily incorporated into mobile devices and other equipment. For instance, the technology can help speed up web browsing and file download speeds in mobile communications environments where there is deterioration due to building obstructions or movement.
Moreover, compared with TCP, the new technology enables a 30 times improvement in file transfer speeds between Japan and the US, in addition to reducing virtual desktop operating latency to less than 1/6 of previous levels. This, in turn, is expected to make it easier to take advantage of various applications employing international communication lines and wireless networks which are anticipated to become increasingly widespread.
Fujitsu Laboratories aims to commercialize the new technology during fiscal 2013.