TagoSoft, Inc. proposes to investigate and simulate a set of Internet protocols that achieves better throughput by utilizing multi-layer protocol knowledge. This effort will focus in a class of improvements that take advantage of processing capabilities in intermediate network components, and will take into account the software/hardware characteristics of next generation scaleable intermediate network componentry: clustered routers; continuously available clusters of servers that additionally provide continuously available routing; replicated and hierarchical caching servers that transparently reduce network load presented by next generation information appliances (NCs and NetPCs) while providing additional service availability. It is very important to preserve the current availability properties of Internet protocols, which only rely on the availability of the end systems. Intelligent protocol processing done at intermediate elements must not transform the intermediate elements into statefull elements required for the proper operation of Internet protocols. TagoSoft has done significant R&D (ICCOS) in the development of Internet protocol software for next generation scaleable network components, and we expect significant synergy between these efforts. A set of initial (confidential) protocol changes to be investigated is described in this proposal.
