Assessment of Communication Resource Allocation by the Transmission Control Protocol for the Target Virtual Connection under Competitive Conditions

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article is dedicated to evaluating the productivity of the information transmission process in a channel with a finite communication resource, which is simultaneously claimed by multiple active connections. One of the significant features of this study is that the authors generalized the proposed analytical expressions for the case when the information signal passes through an arbitrary number of transit nodes on its route.

The structure of the article is logical, and coherent, and contains all the attributes typical of research papers. The text of the article is written in good English. There are an adequate number of figures in the article. They are of good quality and adequately commented upon. The cited sources in the article are relevant, and their quantity does not raise questions. However, some references should be updated.

Overall, the article has evoked a positive response from me. All presented results are explained sequentially, clearly, and strictly mathematically. An example of their practical application is provided in the experiments section. At the same time, I have several questions and answers to which the authors can make the article even better:

1. The authors present the material of Section 2 based on the mathematical apparatus of Markov chains. In this case, why do the authors ignore the queuing theory?

2. The authors focus their research on the TCP protocol. The question arises: can the obtained theoretical results be adapted for the case of using the UDP protocol?

3. The authors reduce the obtained estimates to determine the share of bandwidth that is ultimately allocated to a specific connection. Is this estimate sufficiently universal and informative?

4. The authors implement the obtained analytical expressions in MATLAB. What is the reason for this choice? The software implemented in MATLAB has no commercial application.

5. I recommend that the authors specify their plans for future research.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,
please pay attention to the attached PDF.
Sincerely,
Authors.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 Very important the study provided by authors, average teoritical part, in section 3, it will be important to present the model used/developed (like a block diagram) in matlab/simulink also the PLC device that use TCP connection.

In conclusions, please explain the impact o IoT devices using TCP?....will need TCP connection

 

In this article, "Assessment of the communication resource allocation by TCP for the target virtual connection under competitive conditions," the experiments conducted based on analytical constructions have revealed several critical findings regarding the performance of virtual connections operating under selective repeat mode:
Dependency on Queue Sizes Distribution: The performance of the virtual connection is heavily influenced by the distribution of queue sizes in transit nodes. Variations in queue sizes can impact factors such as latency, throughput, and packet loss rates, thereby affecting overall communication performance.

Impact of Data Loss Intensity: The intensity of data loss, likely due to network congestion or other factors, significantly affects the performance of the virtual connection. Higher data loss rates can lead to decreased throughput, increased retransmissions, and degraded overall quality of service.

Relationship with Protocol Window Size and Route Length: The relationship between the protocol window size and the route length plays a crucial role in determining the performance of the virtual connection. Optimal window size settings relative to route length can improve throughput and minimize delays in data transmission.

Furthermore, empirical results suggest that, for a given window size, the bandwidth of the target virtual connection increases as the acknowledgement period
T increases. The empirical findings indicate that the virtual connection's bandwidth approaches a theoretical threshold when the TCP parameter
V for T values exceeds the protocol window size by 3-5 round-trip delays
d. This suggests that optimizing the acknowledgement period relative to the protocol window size can lead to more efficient resource utilization and improved communication performance in TCP-based virtual connections under competitive conditions.

To enhance the breadth and depth of laboratory results in the mentioned article, several strategies can be employed:

Parameter Variation: Experiment with a wider range of parameters such as queue sizes, data loss rates, acknowledgement periods, and protocol window sizes. By systematically varying these parameters, researchers can gain deeper insights into their individual and combined effects on virtual connection performance.

Scenario Diversification: Expand the experimental scenarios to encompass a broader range of network conditions and configurations. This could include varying network topologies, traffic patterns, and congestion levels to simulate real-world environments more accurately.

Additional Metrics: Include additional performance metrics beyond bandwidth, such as latency, jitter, and packet loss rate. These metrics provide a more comprehensive understanding of communication quality and can help identify potential bottlenecks or areas for optimization.

Replication and Validation: Replicate experiments across multiple laboratory setups or simulation environments to validate results and ensure their robustness. This helps confirm the reproducibility of findings and strengthens the credibility of the research outcomes.

Sensitivity Analysis: Conduct sensitivity analysis to assess the sensitivity of virtual connection performance to changes in key parameters. This involves systematically varying individual parameters while keeping others constant to identify critical factors driving performance variations.

Real-world Testing: Whenever feasible, complement laboratory experiments with real-world testing in live network environments. This allows researchers to validate findings obtained in controlled settings and assess the practical applicability of proposed solutions.

Statistical Analysis: Employ statistical techniques to analyze experimental data and extract meaningful insights. This includes techniques such as regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify significant relationships and trends.

By adopting these strategies, researchers can enrich the laboratory results presented in the article, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of communication resource allocation by TCP in virtual connections under competitive conditions. Additionally, it strengthens the validity and applicability of the findings to real-world networking scenarios.

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,
please pay attention to the attached PDF.
Sincerely,
Authors.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Summary: The paper aims to evaluate the virtual connection performance in a competitive environment with a selective repeat mode of retransmission. The main contributions include the development of a mathematical framework for bandwidth allocation in virtual connections and the exploration of potential adaptations for group retransmission modes. The strengths lie in the clear conceptualization and methodological approach of the study.

 

General Concept Comments: The paper effectively addresses the performance evaluation of virtual connections, but there are areas that could be strengthened. The hypothesis testing could be more explicitly outlined to enhance clarity.  Additionally, further elaboration on the implications of the results and their significance in the field could enhance the paper's impact.

 

Suggested improvements:

- The manuscript is clear and relevant, but additional clarity on the experimental design and hypothesis testing would be beneficial.

- Consider providing more context on the specific challenges or advantages of the selective repeat mode of retransmission in a competitive environment.

- Review the conclusions to ensure they align with the evidence presented in the manuscript and provide a comprehensive summary of the study's findings.

- Check the relevance of cited references, avoiding excessive self-citations to maintain objectivity.

 

Comments on the Quality of English Language

English level is quite good, only few minor corrections needed.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,
please pay attention to the attached PDF.
Sincerely,
Authors.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf