Transport Layer

Bheemarjuna Reddy Tamma

Dept. of CSE, IIT Hyderabad
Computer Networking: A
Top-Down Approach
8th edition
Jim Kurose, Keith Ross
Pearson, 2020
Transport layer: overview
Our goal:
▪ understand principles ▪ learn about Internet transport
behind transport layer layer protocols:
services: • UDP: connectionless transport
• multiplexing, • TCP: connection-oriented reliable
demultiplexing transport
• reliable data transfer • TCP congestion control
• flow control
• congestion control

Transport Layer: 3-2

Transport services and protocols
application
transport

▪ provide logical communication mobile network

network
data link
physical

between application processes national or global ISP

running on different hosts

▪ transport protocols run in end-
systems only: local or
• sender: breaks application messages regional ISP

into segments, passes to network layer home network content

• receiver: reassembles segments into provider
network datacenter
messages, passes to application layer application
transport
network
network

▪ two transport protocols available to data link

physical

Internet applications enterprise

network
• TCP, UDP
Transport Layer: 3-4
Two principal Internet transport protocols
application
transport

▪ TCP: Transmission Control Protocol mobile network

network
data link
physical
• reliable, in-order delivery national or global ISP

• congestion control
• flow control
• connection setup
local or
▪ UDP: User Datagram Protocol regional ISP

• unreliable, unordered delivery home network content

provider
• no-frills extension of “best-effort” IP network datacenter
application
network
▪ services not available: transport
network
data link

• delay guarantees physical

• bandwidth (aka throughput) guarantees enterprise

network

Transport Layer: 3-9

Chapter 3: roadmap
▪ Transport-layer services
▪ Multiplexing and demultiplexing
▪ Connectionless transport: UDP
▪ Principles of reliable data transfer
▪ Connection-oriented transport: TCP
▪ Principles of congestion control
▪ TCP congestion control
▪ Evolution of transport-layer
functionality
Transport Layer: 3-10
Multiplexing/demultiplexing
multiplexing as sender: demultiplexing as receiver:
handle data from multiple use header info to deliver
sockets, add transport header received segments to correct
(later used for demultiplexing) socket

application

application P1 P2 application socket

P3 transport P4
process
transport network transport
network link network
link physical link
physical physical

Transport Layer: 3-11

 HTTP server
client
application application
HTTP msg
transport
Ht HTTP msg

Hnnetwork
Ht HTTP msg transport
transport
Hn Hnetwork
t HTTP msg
link network
link physical link
physical physical

Hn Ht HTTP msg

Transport Layer: 3-12

 Q: how did transport layer know to deliver message to Firefox
browser process rather then Netflix process or Skype process?

client
application application
HTTP msg
HTTP msg transport
Ht HTTP msg

transport network transport

network link network
link physical link
physical physical

Transport Layer: 3-13

 ?

de-multiplexing
 application

? transport

de-multiplexing
Demultiplexing
multiplexing
 application

transport

multiplexing
Multiplexing
How demultiplexing works
▪ host receives IP datagrams 32 bits
• each datagram has source IP source port # dest port #
address, destination IP address
• each datagram carries one other header fields
transport-layer segment
• each segment has source, application
destination port number data
▪ host uses IP addresses & port (payload)
numbers to direct segment to
appropriate socket TCP/UDP segment format

Transport Layer: 3-22

Connectionless demultiplexing
Recall: when receiving host receives
▪ when creating socket, we UDP segment:
• checks destination port # in
specify host-local port #: segment
DatagramSocket mySocket1 • directs UDP segment to
= new DatagramSocket(12534);
socket with that port #
▪ when creating datagram to
send into UDP socket, must
specify IP/UDP datagrams with same dest.
port #, but different source IP
• destination IP address addresses and/or source port
• destination port # numbers will be directed to same
socket at receiving host
Transport Layer: 3-23
Connectionless demultiplexing: an example
mySocket =
socket(AF_INET,SOCK_DGRAM)
mySocket.bind(myaddr,6428);
mySocket = mySocket =
socket(AF_INET,SOCK_DGRAM) socket(AF_INET,SOCK_DGRAM)
mySocket.bind(myaddr,9157); mySocket.bind(myaddr,5775);
application
application application
P1
P3 P4
transport
transport transport
network
network link network
link physical link
physical physical

B D
source port: 6428 source port: ?
dest port: 9157 dest port: ?

A C
source port: 9157 source port: ?
dest port: 6428 dest port: ?
Connection-oriented demultiplexing
▪ TCP socket identified by ▪ server may support many
4-tuple: simultaneous TCP sockets:
• source IP address • each socket identified by its
• source port number own 4-tuple
• dest IP address • each socket associated with
• dest port number a different connecting client
▪ demux: receiver uses all
four values (4-tuple) to
direct segment to
appropriate socket
Transport Layer: 3-25
Connection-oriented demultiplexing: example
application
application P4 P5 P6 application
P1 P2 P3
transport
transport transport
network
network link network
link physical link
physical server: IP physical
address B

host: IP source IP,port: B,80 host: IP

address A dest IP,port: A,9157 source IP,port: C,5775 address C
dest IP,port: B,80
source IP,port: A,9157
dest IP, port: B,80
source IP,port: C,9157
dest IP,port: B,80
Three segments, all destined to IP address: B,
dest port: 80 are demultiplexed to different sockets
Transport Layer: 3-26
Summary
▪ Multiplexing, demultiplexing: based on segment, datagram
header field values
▪ UDP: demultiplexing using destination port number (only)
▪ TCP: demultiplexing using 4-tuple: source and destination IP
addresses, and port numbers
▪ Multiplexing/demultiplexing happen at all layers

Transport Layer: 3-27

Chapter 3: roadmap
▪ Transport-layer services
▪ Multiplexing and demultiplexing
▪ Connectionless transport: UDP
▪ Principles of reliable data transfer
▪ Connection-oriented transport: TCP
▪ Principles of congestion control
▪ TCP congestion control
▪ Evolution of transport-layer
functionality
Transport Layer: 3-28
UDP: User Datagram Protocol
Why is there a UDP?
▪ “no frills,” “bare bones”
Internet transport protocol ▪ no connection
establishment (which can
▪ “best effort” service, UDP add RTT delay)
segments may be: ▪ simple: no connection state
• lost at sender, receiver
• delivered out-of-order to app ▪ small header size
▪ connectionless: ▪ no congestion control
• no handshaking between UDP ▪ UDP can blast away as fast as
desired!
sender, receiver
▪ can function in the face of
• each UDP segment handled congestion
independently of others
Transport Layer: 3-29
UDP: User Datagram Protocol
▪ UDP use:
▪ DNS
▪ SNMP
▪ HTTP/3
▪ some streaming and live multimedia apps (loss-tolerant, time-
sensitive)
▪ real-time games (time sensitive)
▪ if reliable transfer needed over UDP (e.g., HTTP/3):
▪ add needed reliability at application layer
▪ add congestion control at application layer

Transport Layer: 3-30

UDP: User Datagram Protocol [RFC 768]

Transport Layer: 3-31

UDP: Transport Layer Actions

SNMP client SNMP server

application application

transport transport
(UDP) (UDP)

network (IP) network (IP)

link link

physical physical

Transport Layer: 3-32

UDP: Transport Layer Actions

SNMP client SNMP server

UDP sender actions:
application ▪ is passed an application- application
SNMP msg
layer message
transport transport
▪ determines UDP segment UDP
UDPhh SNMP msg
(UDP) header fields values (UDP)

network (IP) ▪ creates UDP segment network (IP)

link ▪ passes segment to IP link

physical physical

Transport Layer: 3-33

UDP: Transport Layer Actions

SNMP client SNMP server

UDP receiver actions:
application ▪ receives segment from IP application
▪ checks UDP checksum
transport transport
SNMP msg header value
(UDP) (UDP)
▪ extracts application-layer
network
UDP h SNMP(IP)
msg message network (IP)
▪ demultiplexes message up
link link
to application via socket
physical physical

Transport Layer: 3-34

UDP segment header
32 bits
source port # dest port #
length checksum

application length, in bytes of

data UDP segment,
(payload) including header

data to/from
UDP segment format application layer

Transport Layer: 3-35

UDP checksum
Goal: detect errors (i.e., flipped bits) in transmitted segment
1st number 2nd number sum

Transmitted: 5 6 11

Received: 4 6 11

receiver-computed sender-computed
checksum
= checksum (as received)

Transport Layer: 3-36

Internet checksum
Goal: detect errors (i.e., flipped bits) in transmitted segment
sender: receiver:
▪ treat contents of UDP ▪ compute checksum of received
segment (including UDP header segment
fields and IP addresses of sender
and Receiver) as sequence of ▪ check if computed checksum equals
16-bit integers checksum field value:
▪ checksum: addition (one’s • not equal - error detected
complement sum) of segment • equal - no error detected. But maybe
content errors nonetheless? More later ….
▪ checksum value put into
UDP checksum field
Transport Layer: 3-37
Internet checksum: an example
example: add two 16-bit integers
1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0
1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1
wraparound 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1

sum 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0
checksum 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1

Note: when adding numbers, a carryout from the most significant bit needs to be
added to the result

* Check out the online interactive exercises for more examples: http://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/interactive/
Transport Layer: 3-38
Internet checksum: weak protection!
example: add two 16-bit integers
0 1
1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0
1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1
wraparound 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 Even though
numbers have
sum 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 changed (bit
flips), no change
checksum 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 in checksum!

Transport Layer: 3-39

Summary: UDP
▪ “no frills” protocol:
• segments may be lost, delivered out of order
• best effort service: “send and hope for the best”
▪ UDP has its plusses:
• no setup/handshaking needed (no RTT incurred)
• can function when network service is compromised
• helps with reliability (checksum)
▪ build additional functionality on top of UDP in application layer
(e.g., HTTP/3)
Readings
▪ Chapter 3.1 to 3.3 of Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach
by James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, 8th Edition, 2020, Addison
Wesley (Pearson Education)
• https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/videos/3/
▪ Service Name and Transport Protocol Port Number Registry
• https://www.iana.org/assignments/service-names-port-numbers/service-
names-port-numbers.xhtml
▪ UDP RFC 768: https://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc768.txt

Introduction: 1-41
Chapter 3: roadmap
▪ Transport-layer services
▪ Multiplexing and demultiplexing
▪ Connectionless transport: UDP
▪ Principles of reliable data transfer
▪ Connection-oriented transport: TCP
▪ Principles of congestion control
▪ TCP congestion control
▪ Evolution of transport-layer
functionality
Transport Layer: 3-42
 Principles of reliable data transfer

sending receiving
process process
application data data
transport
reliable channel

reliable service abstraction

Transport Layer: 3-43

 Principles of reliable data transfer

sending receiving sending receiving

process process process process
application data data application data data
transport transport
reliable channel
sender-side of receiver-side
reliable service abstraction reliable data of reliable data
transfer protocol transfer protocol

transport
network
unreliable channel

reliable service implementation

Transport Layer: 3-44

Principles of reliable data transfer

sending receiving
process process
application data data
transport

sender-side of receiver-side
Complexity of reliable data reliable data
transfer protocol
of reliable data
transfer protocol
transfer protocol will depend
(strongly) on characteristics of transport
network
unreliable channel (lose, unreliable channel
corrupt, reorder data?)
reliable service implementation

Transport Layer: 3-45

Principles of reliable data transfer

sending receiving
process process
application data data
transport

sender-side of receiver-side
reliable data of reliable data
Sender, receiver do not know transfer protocol transfer protocol
the “state” of each other, e.g.,
was a message received? transport
network
▪ unless communicated via a unreliable channel

message
reliable service implementation

Transport Layer: 3-46

 Reliable data transfer protocol (rdt): interfaces
rdt_send(): called from above, deliver_data(): called by rdt
(e.g., by app.). Passed data to to deliver data to upper layer
deliver to receiver upper layer
sending receiving
process process
rdt_send() data data
deliver_data()

sender-side data receiver-side

implementation of implementation of
rdt reliable data packet rdt reliable data
transfer protocol transfer protocol

udt_send() Header data Header data rdt_rcv()

unreliable channel
udt_send(): called by rdt rdt_rcv(): called when packet
to transfer packet over arrives on receiver side of
Bi-directional communication over
unreliable channel to receiver unreliable channel channel
Transport Layer: 3-47
Reliable data transfer: getting started
We will:
▪ incrementally develop sender, receiver sides of reliable data transfer
protocol (rdt)
▪ consider only unidirectional data transfer
• but control info will flow in both directions!
▪ use finite state machines (FSM) to specify sender, receiver
event causing state transition
actions taken on state transition
state: when in this “state”
next state uniquely state state
determined by next 1 event
event 2
actions

Transport Layer: 3-48

rdt1.0: reliable transfer over a reliable channel
▪ underlying channel perfectly reliable
• no bit errors
• no loss of packets
• in-order delivery of packets
▪ separate FSMs for sender, receiver:
• sender sends data into underlying channel
• receiver reads data from underlying channel

Wait for rdt_send(data) Wait for rdt_rcv(packet)

sender call from packet = make_pkt(data) receiver call from extract (packet,data)
above udt_send(packet) below deliver_data(data)

Transport Layer: 3-49

rdt2.0: channel with bit errors
▪ underlying channel may flip bits in packet
• checksum (e.g., Internet checksum) to detect bit errors
▪ the question: how to recover from errors?

How do humans recover from “errors” during conversation?

Transport Layer: 3-50

rdt2.0: channel with bit errors
▪ underlying channel may flip bits in packet
• checksum to detect bit errors
▪ the question: how to recover from errors?
• acknowledgements (ACKs): receiver explicitly tells sender that pkt
received OK
• negative acknowledgements (NAKs): receiver explicitly tells sender that
pkt had errors
• sender retransmits pkt on receipt of NAK
▪ rdt protocols based on retransmissions are known as ARQ (Automatic
Repeat reQuest) protocols
Stop-and-Wait ARQ
sender sends one packet, then waits for receiver’s response
Transport Layer: 3-51
rdt2.0: FSM specifications
rdt_send(data)
snkpkt = make_pkt(data, checksum)
udt_send(sndpkt)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) &&
Wait for Wait for isNAK(rcvpkt)
sender call from ACK or udt_send(sndpkt) rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && corrupt(rcvpkt)
above NAK
udt_send(NAK)

rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && isACK(rcvpkt)

Wait for
 call from receiver
below

rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && notcorrupt(rcvpkt)

extract(rcvpkt,data)
deliver_data(data)
udt_send(ACK)

Transport Layer: 3-52

rdt2.0: FSM specification
rdt_send(data)
snkpkt = make_pkt(data, checksum)
udt_send(sndpkt)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) &&
Wait for Wait for isNAK(rcvpkt)
sender call from ACK or udt_send(sndpkt) rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && corrupt(rcvpkt)
above NAK
udt_send(NAK)

rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && isACK(rcvpkt)

Wait for
 call from receiver
below

Note: “state” of receiver (did the receiver get my

message correctly?) isn’t known to sender unless rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && notcorrupt(rcvpkt)
extract(rcvpkt,data)
somehow communicated from receiver to sender deliver_data(data)
▪ that’s why we need a protocol! udt_send(ACK)

Transport Layer: 3-53

rdt2.0: operation with no errors
rdt_send(data)
snkpkt = make_pkt(data, checksum)
udt_send(sndpkt)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) &&
Wait for Wait for isNAK(rcvpkt)
sender call from ACK or udt_send(sndpkt) rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && corrupt(rcvpkt)
above NAK
udt_send(NAK)

rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && isACK(rcvpkt)

Wait for
 call from receiver
below

rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && notcorrupt(rcvpkt)

extract(rcvpkt,data)
deliver_data(data)
udt_send(ACK)

Transport Layer: 3-54

rdt2.0: corrupted packet scenario
rdt_send(data)
snkpkt = make_pkt(data, checksum)
udt_send(sndpkt)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) &&
Wait for Wait for isNAK(rcvpkt)
sender call from ACK or udt_send(sndpkt) rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && corrupt(rcvpkt)
above NAK
udt_send(NAK)

rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && isACK(rcvpkt)

Wait for
 call from receiver
below

rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && notcorrupt(rcvpkt)

extract(rcvpkt,data)
deliver_data(data)
udt_send(ACK)

Transport Layer: 3-55

rdt2.0 has a fatal flaw!
what happens if ACK/NAK handling duplicates:
corrupted? ▪ sender retransmits current pkt
▪ sender doesn’t know what if ACK/NAK corrupted
happened at receiver! ▪ sender adds sequence number
▪ can’t just retransmit: possible to each pkt
duplicate ▪ receiver discards (doesn’t
deliver up) duplicate pkt

stop and wait

sender sends one packet, then
waits for receiver response
Transport Layer: 3-56
rdt2.1: sender, handling garbled ACK/NAKs
rdt_send(data)
sndpkt = make_pkt(0, data, checksum)
udt_send(sndpkt) rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) &&
(corrupt(rcvpkt) ||
Wait for Wait for isNAK(rcvpkt) )
call 0 from ACK or
NAK 0 udt_send(sndpkt)
above
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt)
&& notcorrupt(rcvpkt) &&
&& notcorrupt(rcvpkt)
isACK(rcvpkt)
&& isACK(rcvpkt)


Wait for Wait for
ACK or call 1 from
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) NAK 1 above
&& (corrupt(rcvpkt) ||
isNAK(rcvpkt) ) rdt_send(data)

udt_send(sndpkt) sndpkt = make_pkt(1, data, checksum)

udt_send(sndpkt)

Transport Layer: 3-57

rdt2.1: receiver, handling garbled ACK/NAKs
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && notcorrupt(rcvpkt)
&& has_seq0(rcvpkt)
extract(rcvpkt,data)
deliver_data(data)
sndpkt = make_pkt(ACK, chksum)
udt_send(sndpkt)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && (corrupt(rcvpkt) rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && (corrupt(rcvpkt)
sndpkt = make_pkt(NAK, chksum) sndpkt = make_pkt(NAK, chksum)
udt_send(sndpkt) udt_send(sndpkt)
Wait for Wait for
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && 0 from 1 from rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) &&
not corrupt(rcvpkt) && below below not corrupt(rcvpkt) &&
has_seq1(rcvpkt) has_seq0(rcvpkt)
sndpkt = make_pkt(ACK, chksum) sndpkt = make_pkt(ACK, chksum)
udt_send(sndpkt) udt_send(sndpkt)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && notcorrupt(rcvpkt)
&& has_seq1(rcvpkt)

extract(rcvpkt,data)
deliver_data(data)
sndpkt = make_pkt(ACK, chksum)
udt_send(sndpkt)

Transport Layer: 3-58

rdt2.1: discussion
sender: receiver:
▪ seq # added to pkt ▪ must check if received packet
▪ two seq. #s (0,1) will suffice. is duplicate
Why? • state indicates whether 0 or 1 is
expected pkt seq #
▪ must check if received ACK/NAK
corrupted ▪ note: receiver can not know if
its last ACK/NAK received OK
▪ twice as many states at sender
• state must “remember” whether
“expected” pkt should have seq #
of 0 or 1

Transport Layer: 3-59

rdt2.2: a NAK-free protocol
▪ same functionality as rdt2.1, using ACKs only
▪ instead of NAK, receiver sends ACK for last pkt received OK
• receiver must explicitly include seq # of pkt being ACKed
▪ duplicate ACK at sender results in same action as NAK:
retransmit current pkt

As we will see, TCP uses this approach to be NAK-free

Transport Layer: 3-60

rdt2.2: sender, receiver fragments
rdt_send(data)
sndpkt = make_pkt(0, data, checksum)
udt_send(sndpkt)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) &&
( corrupt(rcvpkt) ||
Wait for Wait for
ACK isACK(rcvpkt,1) )
call 0 from
above 0 udt_send(sndpkt)
sender FSM
fragment rdt_rcv(rcvpkt)
&& notcorrupt(rcvpkt)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && && isACK(rcvpkt,0)
(corrupt(rcvpkt) || 
has_seq1(rcvpkt)) Wait for receiver FSM
0 from
udt_send(sndpkt) below fragment
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) && notcorrupt(rcvpkt)
&& has_seq1(rcvpkt)
extract(rcvpkt,data)
deliver_data(data)
sndpkt = make_pkt(ACK1, chksum)
udt_send(sndpkt) Transport Layer: 3-61
rdt2.2: sender

Transport Layer: 3-62

rdt2.2: receiver

Transport Layer: 3-63

rdt3.0: channels with errors and loss
New channel assumption: underlying channel can also lose
packets (data, ACKs)
• checksum, sequence #s, ACKs, retransmissions will be of help …
but not quite enough

Q: How do humans handle lost sender-to-

receiver words in conversation?

Transport Layer: 3-64

rdt3.0: channels with errors and loss
Approach: sender waits “reasonable” amount of time for ACK
▪ retransmits if no ACK received in this time
▪ if pkt (or ACK) just delayed (not lost):
• retransmission will be duplicate, but seq #s already handles this!
• receiver must specify seq # of packet being ACKed
▪ use countdown timer to interrupt after “reasonable” amount
of time
timeout

Transport Layer: 3-65

rdt3.0 sender
rdt_send(data)
sndpkt = make_pkt(0, data, checksum)
udt_send(sndpkt)
start_timer

Wait for Wait

call 0 from for
above ACK0
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt)
&& notcorrupt(rcvpkt) rdt_rcv(rcvpkt)
&& isACK(rcvpkt,1) && notcorrupt(rcvpkt)
stop_timer && isACK(rcvpkt,0)
stop_timer
Wait Wait for
for call 1 from
ACK1 above

rdt_send(data)
sndpkt = make_pkt(1, data, checksum)
udt_send(sndpkt)
start_timer

Transport Layer: 3-66

rdt3.0 sender
rdt_send(data)
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) &&
sndpkt = make_pkt(0, data, checksum) ( corrupt(rcvpkt) ||
udt_send(sndpkt) isACK(rcvpkt,1) )
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) start_timer 
 Wait for Wait
for timeout
call 0 from
ACK0 udt_send(sndpkt)
above
start_timer
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt)
&& notcorrupt(rcvpkt) rdt_rcv(rcvpkt)
&& isACK(rcvpkt,1) && notcorrupt(rcvpkt)
stop_timer && isACK(rcvpkt,0)
stop_timer
Wait Wait for
timeout for call 1 from
udt_send(sndpkt) ACK1 above
start_timer rdt_rcv(rcvpkt)
rdt_send(data) 
rdt_rcv(rcvpkt) &&
( corrupt(rcvpkt) || sndpkt = make_pkt(1, data, checksum)
isACK(rcvpkt,0) ) udt_send(sndpkt)
start_timer


Transport Layer: 3-67

rdt3.0 receiver

Transport Layer: 3-68

rdt3.0 in action
sender receiver sender receiver
send pkt0 pkt0 send pkt0 pkt0
rcv pkt0 rcv pkt0
ack0 send ack0 ack0 send ack0
rcv ack0 rcv ack0
send pkt1 pkt1 send pkt1 pkt1
rcv pkt1 X
loss
ack1 send ack1
rcv ack1
send pkt0 pkt0
rcv pkt0 timeout
ack0 send ack0 resend pkt1 pkt1
rcv pkt1
ack1 send ack1
rcv ack1
send pkt0 pkt0
(a) no loss rcv pkt0
ack0 send ack0

(b) packet loss

Transport Layer: 3-69
rdt3.0 in action
sender receiver
sender receiver send pkt0
pkt0
rcv pkt0
send pkt0 pkt0 send ack0
ack0
rcv pkt0 rcv ack0
ack0 send ack0 send pkt1 pkt1
rcv ack0 rcv pkt1
send pkt1 pkt1 send ack1
rcv pkt1 ack1
ack1 send ack1
X timeout
loss resend pkt1
timeout
pkt1 rcv pkt1
resend pkt1 pkt1
rcv pkt1 rcv ack1 (detect duplicate)
send pkt0 pkt0 send ack1
(detect duplicate)
ack1 send ack1 ack1 rcv pkt0
rcv ack1 rcv ack1 send ack0
send pkt0 pkt0 (ignore) ack0
rcv pkt0
ack0 send ack0 pkt1

(c) ACK loss (d) premature timeout/ delayed ACK

Transport Layer: 3-70
Performance of rdt3.0 (stop-and-wait)
▪ U sender: utilization – fraction of time sender busy sending

▪ example: 1 Gbps link, 15 ms prop. delay, 8000-bit packet

• time to transmit packet into channel:
L 8000 bits
Dtrans = R = 9 = 8 microsecs
10 bits/sec

Transport Layer: 3-71

rdt3.0: stop-and-wait operation
sender receiver
first packet bit transmitted, t = 0

first packet bit arrives

RTT last packet bit arrives, send ACK

ACK arrives, send next

packet, t = RTT + L / R

Transport Layer: 3-72

rdt3.0: stop-and-wait operation
sender receiver

L/R L/R
Usender=
RTT + L / R
.008 RTT
=
30.008
= 0.00027

▪ rdt 3.0 protocol performance stinks!

▪ Poor protocol design limits performance of underlying network
infrastructure (channel)
Transport Layer: 3-73
rdt3.0: pipelined protocols operation
pipelining: sender allows multiple, “in-flight”, yet-to-be-acknowledged
packets
• range of sequence numbers must be increased
• buffering at sender and/or receiver

Transport Layer: 3-74

Pipelining: increased utilization
sender receiver
first packet bit transmitted, t = 0
last bit transmitted, t = L / R

first packet bit arrives

RTT last packet bit arrives, send ACK
last bit of 2nd packet arrives, send ACK
last bit of 3rd packet arrives, send ACK
ACK arrives, send next
packet, t = RTT + L / R

3-packet pipelining increases

utilization by a factor of 3!

U 3L / R .0024
sender = = = 0.00081
RTT + L / R 30.008

Transport Layer: 3-75

Go-Back-N: sender
▪ sender: “window” of up to N, consecutive transmitted but unACKed pkts
• k-bit seq # in pkt header;

▪ cumulative ACK: ACK(n): ACKs all packets up to, including seq # n

• on receiving ACK(n): move window forward to begin at n+1
▪ timer for oldest in-flight packet
▪ timeout(n): retransmit packet n and all higher seq # packets in window
Transport Layer: 3-76
Go-Back-N: receiver
▪ ACK-only: always send ACK for correctly-received packet so far, with
highest in-order seq #
• may generate duplicate ACKs
• need only remember rcv_base
▪ on receipt of out-of-order packet:
• can discard (don’t buffer) or buffer: an implementation decision
• re-ACK pkt with highest in-order seq #

Receiver view of sequence number space:

received and ACKed

… … Out-of-order: received but not ACKed

rcv_base
Not received
Transport Layer: 3-77
Go-Back-N in action
sender window (N=4) sender receiver
012345678 send pkt0
012345678 send pkt1
012345678 send pkt2 receive pkt0, send ack0
012345678 send pkt3 Xloss receive pkt1, send ack1
(wait)
receive pkt3, discard,
012345678 rcv ack0, send pkt4 (re)send ack1
012345678 rcv ack1, send pkt5 receive pkt4, discard,
(re)send ack1
ignore duplicate ACK receive pkt5, discard,
(re)send ack1
pkt 2 timeout
012345678 send pkt2
012345678 send pkt3
012345678 send pkt4 rcv pkt2, deliver, send ack2
012345678 send pkt5 rcv pkt3, deliver, send ack3
rcv pkt4, deliver, send ack4
rcv pkt5, deliver, send ack5

Transport Layer: 3-78

Solve this:
▪ Consider the Go-Back N protocol with sender window size
(SWS) of 3 and 10-bit sequence number space. Suppose that at
time t, the next in-order packet that the receiver is expecting
has a sequence number of k. Assume that medium does not
reorder messages. Answer these questions:
a) What are the possible sets of sequence numbers inside the
sender’s window at time t? Justify your answer.
b) What are all possible values of the ACK field in all possible
messages currently propagating back to the sender at time
t? Justify your answer.

Transport Layer: 3-79

Selective repeat: the approach
▪pipelining: multiple packets in flight
▪receiver individually ACKs all correctly received packets
• buffers packets, as needed, for in-order delivery to upper layer
▪sender:
• maintains (conceptually) a timer for each unACKed pkt
• timeout: retransmits single unACKed packet associated with timeout
• maintains (conceptually) “window” over N consecutive seq #s
• limits pipelined, “in flight” packets to be within this window

Transport Layer: 3-81

Selective repeat: sender, receiver windows

Transport Layer: 3-82

Selective repeat: sender and receiver
sender receiver
data from above: packet n in [rcvbase, rcvbase+N-1]
▪ if next available seq # in ▪ send ACK(n)
window, send packet ▪ out-of-order: buffer
timeout(n): ▪ in-order: deliver (also deliver
buffered, in-order packets),
▪ resend packet n, restart timer advance window to next not-yet-
ACK(n) in [sendbase,sendbase+N-1]: received packet
▪ mark packet n as received packet n in [rcvbase-N,rcvbase-1]
▪ if n smallest unACKed packet, ▪ ACK(n)
advance window base to next otherwise:
unACKed seq # ▪ ignore

Transport Layer: 3-83

Selective Repeat in action
sender window (N=4) sender receiver
012345678 send pkt0
012345678 send pkt1
012345678 send pkt2 receive pkt0, send ack0
012345678 send pkt3 Xloss receive pkt1, send ack1
(wait)
receive pkt3, buffer,
012345678 rcv ack0, send pkt4 send ack3
012345678 rcv ack1, send pkt5
receive pkt4, buffer,
record ack3 arrived send ack4
receive pkt5, buffer,
pkt 2 timeout send ack5
012345678 send pkt2
012345678 (but not 3,4,5)
012345678 rcv pkt2; deliver pkt2,
012345678 pkt3, pkt4, pkt5; send ack2

Q: what happens when ack2 arrives?

Transport Layer: 3-84

 sender window receiver window
Selective repeat: (after receipt)

pkt0
(after receipt)

a dilemma!
0123012
0123012 pkt1 0123012
0123012 pkt2 0123012
0123012
example: 0123012 pkt3
X
▪ seq #s: 0, 1, 2, 3 (base 4 counting)
0123012
pkt0 will accept packet
with seq number 0
▪ window size=3 (a) no problem

0123012 pkt0
0123012 pkt1 0123012
0123012 pkt2 X 0123012
X 0123012
X
timeout
retransmit pkt0
0123012 pkt0
will accept packet
with seq number 0
(b) oops!
Transport Layer: 3-85
 sender window receiver window
Selective repeat: (after receipt)

pkt0
(after receipt)

a dilemma!
0123012
0123012 pkt1 0123012
0123012 pkt2 0123012
0123012
example: 0123012 pkt3
X
▪ seq #s: 0, 1, 2, 3 (base 4 counting) ▪ receiver can’t
0123012
pkt0 will accept packet
see sender side with seq number 0
▪ window size=3 (a) no problem
▪ receiver
behavior
identical in both
cases!
▪0something’s
123012 pkt0
Q: what relationship is needed (very) wrong!
0123012 pkt1 0123012
pkt2 X
between sequence # space size 0123012
X
0123012
0123012
(k) and window size to avoid X
timeout
problem in scenario (b)? retransmit pkt0
0123012 pkt0
will accept packet
with seq number 0
(b) oops!
Transport Layer: 3-86
 Issues with Sliding Window Protocol
SWS + RWS ≤ SeqNumSpaceSize
• Is this sufficient?
• If RWS = 1 (Go-Back-N), then SWS ≤ SeqNumSpaceSize – 1 (why?)
• If RWS = SWS (Selective Repeat), this is not sufficient
▪ For example, we have eight sequence numbers
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
RWS = SWS = 7 for SR Protocol
Sender sends 0, 1, …, 6
Receiver receives 0, 1, … ,6
Receiver acknowledges 0, 1, …, 6
ACK (0, 1, …, 6) are lost To avoid this, if RWS = SWS
SWS ≤ SeqNumSpaceSize/2
Sender retransmits 0, 1, …, 6
Receiver is expecting 7, 0, …., 5!!
Solve this:
▪Consider the GBN and SR protocols. Suppose the sequence
number space is of size k. That is for 3-bit sequence number
field, k=8. What is the largest allowable sender window size
that will avoid any dilemma at the receiver while receiving
packets in case of GBN and SR protocols?

Transport Layer: 3-88

Readings
▪ Chapter 3.4 of Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by
James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, 8th Edition, 2020, Addison
Wesley (Pearson Education)
• https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/videos/3/

Introduction: 1-89
Chapter 3: roadmap
▪ Transport-layer services
▪ Multiplexing and demultiplexing
▪ Connectionless transport: UDP
▪ Principles of reliable data transfer
▪ Connection-oriented transport: TCP
• segment structure
• reliable data transfer
• flow control
• connection management
▪ Principles of congestion control
▪ TCP congestion control
Transport Layer: 3-90
TCP: overview RFCs: 793,1122, 2018, 5681, 7323
▪ point-to-point: ▪ cumulative ACKs
• one sender, one receiver ▪ pipelining:
▪ reliable, in-order byte • TCP congestion and flow control
steam: set window size
• no “message boundaries" ▪ connection-oriented:
▪ full duplex data: • handshaking (exchange of control
• bi-directional data flow in messages) initializes sender,
same connection receiver state before data exchange
• MSS: maximum segment size ▪ flow controlled:
• sender will not overwhelm receiver

Transport Layer: 3-91

 TCP segment structure
32 bits

source port # dest port # segment seq #: counting

ACK: seq # of next expected sequence number bytes of data into bytestream
byte; A bit: this is an ACK (not segments!)
acknowledgement number
head not
length (of TCP header) len used C EUAP R SF Advt/receive window
flow control: # bytes
Internet checksum checksum Urg data pointer receiver willing to accept

options (variable length)

C, E: congestion notification
TCP options
application data sent by
RST, SYN, FIN: connection data application into
management (variable length) TCP socket

Transport Layer: 3-92

TCP sequence numbers, ACKs
outgoing segment from sender
Sequence numbers: source port # dest port #
sequence number
• byte stream “number” of acknowledgement number
rwnd
first byte in segment’s data checksum urg pointer

window size
Acknowledgements: N

• seq # of next byte expected

from other side sender sequence number space

• cumulative ACK sent sent, not- usable not

ACKed yet ACKed but not usable
(“in-flight”) yet sent
Q: how receiver handles out-of-
order segments outgoing segment from receiver

• A: TCP spec doesn’t say, - up

source port # dest port #
sequence number

to implementor acknowledgement number

A rwnd
checksum urg pointer
Transport Layer: 3-93
TCP sequence numbers, ACKs
Host A Host B

User types‘C’
Seq=42, ACK=79, data = ‘C’
host ACKs receipt
of‘C’, echoes back ‘C’
Seq=79, ACK=43, data = ‘C’
host ACKs receipt
of echoed ‘C’
Seq=43, ACK=80

simple telnet scenario

Transport Layer: 3-94
TCP round trip time, timeout
Q: how to set TCP timeout Q: how to estimate RTT?
value? ▪ SampleRTT:measured time
▪ longer than RTT, but RTT varies! from segment transmission until
ACK receipt
▪ too short: premature timeout,
• ignore retransmissions
unnecessary retransmissions
▪ SampleRTT will vary, want
▪ too long: slow reaction to estimated RTT “smoother”
segment loss • average several recent
measurements, not just current
SampleRTT

Transport Layer: 3-95

TCP round trip time, timeout
EstimatedRTT = (1- )*EstimatedRTT + *SampleRTT
▪ exponential weighted moving average (EWMA)
▪ influence of past sample decreases exponentially fast
RTT: gaia.cs.umass.edu to fantasia.eurecom.fr
▪ typical value:  = 0.125 350

RTT: gaia.cs.umass.edu to fantasia.eurecom.fr

RTT (milliseconds)
300

250

RTT (milliseconds)
200

sampleRTT
150

EstimatedRTT

100
1 8 15 22 29 36 43 50 57 64 71 78 85 92 99 106
time (seconnds)
time (seconds)
SampleRTT Estimated RTT
Transport Layer: 3-96
TCP round trip time, timeout
▪ timeout interval: EstimatedRTT plus “safety margin”
• large variation in EstimatedRTT: want a larger safety margin
TimeoutInterval = EstimatedRTT + 4*DevRTT

estimated RTT “safety margin”

▪ DevRTT: EWMA of SampleRTT deviation from EstimatedRTT:

DevRTT = (1-)*DevRTT + *|SampleRTT-EstimatedRTT|
(typically,  = 0.25)

* Check out the online interactive exercises for more examples: http://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/interactive/
Transport Layer: 3-97
TCP Sender (simplified)
event: data received from event: timeout
application ▪ retransmit segment that
caused timeout
▪ create segment with seq #
▪ restart timer
▪ seq # is byte-stream number
of first data byte in segment
event: ACK received
▪ start timer if not already
running ▪ if ACK acknowledges
previously unACKed segments
• think of timer as for oldest
unACKed segment • update what is known to be
ACKed
• expiration interval:
TimeOutInterval • start timer if there are still
unACKed segments
Transport Layer: 3-98
TCP Receiver: ACK generation [RFC 5681]
Event at receiver TCP receiver action
arrival of in-order segment with delayed ACK. Wait up to 500ms
expected seq #. All data up to for next segment. If no next segment,
expected seq # already ACKed send ACK

arrival of in-order segment with immediately send single cumulative

expected seq #. One other ACK, ACKing both in-order segments
segment has ACK pending

arrival of out-of-order segment immediately send duplicate ACK,

higher-than-expect seq. # . indicating seq. # of next expected byte
Gap detected

arrival of segment that immediate send ACK, provided that

partially or completely fills gap segment starts at lower end of gap

Transport Layer: 3-99

 TCP: retransmission scenarios
Host A Host B Host A Host B

SendBase=92
Seq=92, 8 bytes of data Seq=92, 8 bytes of data

Seq=100, 20 bytes of data

timeout
timeout

ACK=100
X
ACK=100
ACK=120

Seq=92, 8 bytes of data Seq=92, 8

timeout interval SendBase=100 bytes of data send cumulative
is doubled SendBase=120 ACK for 120
ACK=100
ACK=120

SendBase=120

lost ACK scenario premature timeout

Transport Layer: 3-100

TCP: retransmission scenarios
Host A Host B

Seq=92, 8 bytes of data

Seq=100, 20 bytes of data

ACK=100
X
ACK=120

Seq=120, 15 bytes of data

cumulative ACK covers

for earlier lost ACK

Transport Layer: 3-101

TCP fast retransmit
Host A Host B
TCP fast retransmit
if sender receives 3 additional
ACKs for same data (“triple
duplicate ACKs”), resend unACKed
segment with smallest seq # X
▪ likely that unACKed segment lost
(implicit NAK), so don’t wait for timeout!

timeout
Receipt of three duplicate ACKs
indicates 3 segments received Seq=100, 20 bytes of data

after a missing segment – lost

segment is likely. So retransmit!

Transport Layer: 3-102

TCP ARQ: GBN or SR?
▪ Cumulative ACKs
• Ok, GBN
▪ Buffers out-of-order segments at the receiver
• Ok, SR!
▪ On timeout(n), retransmits only the segment with starting seqNo n
• Ok, SR!!
▪ Timers: one timer set for the oldest unACKed segment
• Ok, GBN!!
▪ So, a hybrid of GBN+SR☺

Introduction: 1-103
Chapter 3: roadmap
▪ Transport-layer services
▪ Multiplexing and demultiplexing
▪ Connectionless transport: UDP
▪ Principles of reliable data transfer
▪ Connection-oriented transport: TCP
• segment structure
• reliable data transfer
• flow control
• connection management
▪ Principles of congestion control
▪ TCP congestion control
Transport Layer: 3-104
TCP flow control
application
Q: What happens if network Application removing
process
layer delivers data faster than data from TCP socket
buffers
application layer removes TCP socket
data from socket buffers? receiver buffers

TCP
code
Network layer
delivering IP datagram
payload into TCP
socket buffers IP
code

from sender

receiver protocol stack

Transport Layer: 3-105

TCP flow control
application
Q: What happens if network Application removing
process
layer delivers data faster than data from TCP socket
buffers
application layer removes TCP socket
data from socket buffers? receiver buffers

TCP
code
Network layer
delivering IP datagram
payload into TCP
socket buffers IP
code

from sender

receiver protocol stack

Transport Layer: 3-106

TCP flow control
application
Q: What happens if network Application removing
process
layer delivers data faster than data from TCP socket
buffers
application layer removes TCP socket
data from socket buffers? receiver buffers

TCP
code

receive window
flow control: # bytes
receiver willing to accept IP
code

from sender

receiver protocol stack

Transport Layer: 3-107

TCP flow control
application
Q: What happens if network Application removing
process
layer delivers data faster than data from TCP socket
buffers
application layer removes TCP socket
data from socket buffers? receiver buffers

TCP
code
flow control
receiver controls sender, so
sender won’t overflow IP
code
receiver’s buffer by
transmitting too much, too fast
from sender

receiver protocol stack

Transport Layer: 3-108

TCP flow control
▪ TCP receiver “advertises” free buffer
space in rwnd field in TCP header to application process
• RcvBuffer size set via socket
options (typical default is 4096 bytes) RcvBuffer buffered data
• many operating systems auto-adjust
RcvBuffer
rwnd free buffer space

▪ sender limits amount of unACKed

(“in-flight”) data to received rwnd TCP segment payloads

▪ guarantees receive buffer will not TCP receiver-side buffering

overflow

Transport Layer: 3-109

TCP flow control
flow control: # bytes receiver willing to accept

▪ TCP receiver “advertises” free buffer

space in rwnd field in TCP header
• RcvBuffer size set via socket
receive window
options (typical default is 4096 bytes)
• many operating systems auto-adjust
RcvBuffer
▪ sender limits amount of unACKed
(“in-flight”) data to received rwnd
▪ guarantees receive buffer will not
overflow
TCP segment format

Transport Layer: 3-110

TCP connection management
before exchanging data, sender/receiver “handshake”:
▪ agree to establish connection (each knowing the other willing to establish connection)
▪ agree on connection parameters (e.g., starting seq #s)

application application

connection state: ESTAB connection state: ESTAB

connection variables: connection Variables:
seq # client-to-server seq # client-to-server
server-to-client server-to-client
rcvBuffer size rcvBuffer size
at server,client at server,client

network network

Socket clientSocket = Socket connectionSocket =

newSocket("hostname","port number"); welcomeSocket.accept();
Transport Layer: 3-111
Agreeing to establish a connection
2-way handshake:

Q: will 2-way handshake always

Let’s talk work in network?
ESTAB
ESTAB
OK ▪ variable delays
▪ retransmitted messages (e.g.
req_conn(x)) due to message loss
▪ message reordering
choose x
req_conn(x) ▪ can’t “see” other side
ESTAB
acc_conn(x)
ESTAB

Transport Layer: 3-112

 2-way handshake scenarios

choose x
req_conn(x)
ESTAB
acc_conn(x)

ESTAB
data(x+1) accept
data(x+1)
ACK(x+1)
connection
x completes

No problem!

Transport Layer: 3-113

2-way handshake scenarios

choose x
req_conn(x)
ESTAB
retransmit acc_conn(x)
req_conn(x)

ESTAB
req_conn(x)

connection
client x completes server
terminates forgets x

ESTAB
acc_conn(x)
Problem: half open
connection! (no client)
Transport Layer: 3-114
2-way handshake scenarios
choose x
req_conn(x)
ESTAB
retransmit acc_conn(x)
req_conn(x)

ESTAB
data(x+1) accept
data(x+1)
retransmit
data(x+1)
connection
x completes server
client
terminates forgets x
req_conn(x)
ESTAB
data(x+1) accept
data(x+1)
Problem: dup data
accepted!
 TCP 3-way handshake
Server state
serverSocket = socket(AF_INET,SOCK_STREAM)
Client state serverSocket.bind((‘’,serverPort))
serverSocket.listen(1)
clientSocket = socket(AF_INET, SOCK_STREAM) connectionSocket, addr = serverSocket.accept()
LISTEN
clientSocket.connect((serverName,serverPort)) LISTEN
choose init seq num, x
send TCP SYN msg
SYNSENT SYNbit=1, Seq=x
choose init seq num, y
send TCP SYNACK
msg, acking SYN SYN RCVD
SYNbit=1, Seq=y
ACKbit=1; ACKnum=x+1
received SYNACK(x)
ESTAB indicates server is live;
send ACK for SYNACK;
this segment may contain ACKbit=1, ACKnum=y+1
client-to-server data
received ACK(y)
indicates client is live
ESTAB

Transport Layer: 3-116

A human 3-way handshake protocol

1. On belay?

2. Belay on.
3. Climbing.

Transport Layer: 3-117

Closing a TCP connection
▪ client, server each close their side of connection
• send TCP segment with FIN bit = 1
▪ respond to received FIN with ACK
• on receiving FIN, ACK can be combined with own FIN
▪ simultaneous FIN exchanges can be handled

Transport Layer: 3-118

Readings
▪ https://book.systemsapproach.org/e2e.html
▪ Chapter 3.5 of Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach by
James F. Kurose and Keith W. Ross, 8th Edition, 2020, Addison
Wesley (Pearson Education)
• https://gaia.cs.umass.edu/kurose_ross/videos/3/
▪ Refer TCP RFC for TCP State Machine and different types of
connection establishment/closure and Nagle algorithm
• https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc9293
• https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1122#page-82

Introduction: 1-119