TCP ACK Aggregation Policies for Uplink Delay Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

In high-bandwidth data transmission, the increased frequency of ACK segments leads to a significant allocation of uplink resources, causing transmission delays, particularly during large-capacity downloads.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a communication processor classifies and stores TCP ACKs into groups based on set policies, selectively transmitting only a portion of these ACKs to manage resource allocation efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the transmission frequency of ACK segments is increased to ensure reliable data transmission, then the reliability of data transmission is improved, but the uplink resource allocation increases causing transmission delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of data transmissionVSAvoidtransmission delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple ACK segments are merged into a single aggregated ACK segment. The communication processor receives multiple ACK segments from the network stack, aggregates them by combining their acknowledgment numbers and other relevant fields, and transmits the aggregated ACK segment to the server. This merging process reduces the number of uplink transmissions while maintaining the reliability of data transmission acknowledgment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary aggregation of ACK segments before transmission. The communication processor buffers incoming ACK segments from the network stack, performs aggregation operations in advance, and then transmits the pre-aggregated ACK segment. This preliminary action reduces the frequency of uplink transmissions and minimizes transmission delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If all generated ACK segments are transmitted to ensure accurate transmission status feedback, then the measurement precision of transmission status is improved, but the uplink resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission status feedback accuracyVSAvoiduplink resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple ACK segments are merged into a single aggregated ACK segment. The communication processor receives multiple ACK segments from the network stack, aggregates them by combining their acknowledgment numbers and other relevant fields, and transmits the aggregated ACK segment to the server. This merging process reduces the number of uplink transmissions while maintaining the reliability of data transmission acknowledgment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of transmitting all generated ACK segments, the system transmits a partial set of aggregated ACK segments. The communication processor selectively aggregates and transmits only the necessary ACK information, omitting redundant acknowledgments. This partial action approach maintains sufficient transmission status feedback accuracy while significantly reducing uplink resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Quantity of substance

If TCP ACK aggregation is used to transmit only some ACKs, then the uplink resource allocation is reduced, but the transmission status feedback may become less comprehensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuplink resource allocationVSAvoidtransmission status feedback completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary aggregation of ACK segments before transmission. The communication processor buffers incoming ACK segments from the network stack, performs aggregation operations in advance, and then transmits the pre-aggregated ACK segment. This preliminary action reduces the frequency of uplink transmissions and minimizes transmission delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The aggregated ACK segment incorporates feedback from multiple individual ACK segments, consolidating transmission status information. The communication processor ensures that the aggregated ACK contains comprehensive acknowledgment numbers and status information that reflect the state of multiple received data segments, providing complete feedback to the transmitter with reduced uplink resource usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260067222A1Electronic device for transmitting ACK and operation method thereof

Publication Date: 2026.03.05 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device may include at least one communication processor and at least one application processor. The at least one communication processor may be configured to obtain a plurality of TCP ACKs generated on the basis of a network stack executed by the at least one application processor. The at least one communication processor may be configured to classify the plurality of TCP ACKs into a plurality of groups and store same in at least one buffer associated with the at least one communication processor. The at least one communication processor may be configured to fetch each of at least one TCP ACK from each of the plurality of groups on the basis of each of policies configured to correspond to each of the plurality of groups. The at least one communication processor may be configured to transmit at least a part of each of the fetched at least one TCP ACK. Various other embodiments are possible.