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Multipath TCP with Single Radio Access Technologies: a Paradox or an Opportunity?

João Torrinhas, Miguel Luís, Duarte Dias, Pedro Rito, Susana Sargento

TL;DR

This paper investigates the viability of Multipath TCP (MPTCP) in a vehicular network when only a single radio access technology is available. It introduces a software-defined vehicular network (SDVN) with GRE-overlays that create multiple logical links between OBUs and RSUs, enabling MPTCP subflows over a single IEEE 802.11p interface. Using real hardware and emulated mobility, the study demonstrates that MPTCPv1 with minRTT scheduling can achieve seamless handovers and distribute traffic across coexisting subflows, maintaining connectivity as OBUs move between RSUs. The results show closely matched subflow RTTs and robust aggregate throughput under favorable conditions, though performance degrades with added link delays due to channel contention, highlighting a practical opportunity to leverage MPTCP in single-RAT deployments. The work also outlines future directions to incorporate additional RATs to expand MPTCP subflow capacity.

Abstract

This paper addresses the use of Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) in a single Radio Access Technology (RAT) network. Different from other studies where multiple RATs are explored by the MPTCP, a situation that cannot be always guaranteed, due to lack of coverage for example, in this work we assess and evaluate the capability of MPTCP to operate over a single RAT environment. With a vehicular network as use case, we show how the IEEE 802.11p interface is shared among the multiple logical links created between the On-Board Unit (OBU) and the several Road Side Units (RSUs) in its range, supporting the different MPTCP subflows. The results, obtained through experimentation with real vehicular networking hardware, show that MPTCP allows for seamless handovers, ensuring continuous, stable and efficient communication in highly mobile environments.

Multipath TCP with Single Radio Access Technologies: a Paradox or an Opportunity?

TL;DR

This paper investigates the viability of Multipath TCP (MPTCP) in a vehicular network when only a single radio access technology is available. It introduces a software-defined vehicular network (SDVN) with GRE-overlays that create multiple logical links between OBUs and RSUs, enabling MPTCP subflows over a single IEEE 802.11p interface. Using real hardware and emulated mobility, the study demonstrates that MPTCPv1 with minRTT scheduling can achieve seamless handovers and distribute traffic across coexisting subflows, maintaining connectivity as OBUs move between RSUs. The results show closely matched subflow RTTs and robust aggregate throughput under favorable conditions, though performance degrades with added link delays due to channel contention, highlighting a practical opportunity to leverage MPTCP in single-RAT deployments. The work also outlines future directions to incorporate additional RATs to expand MPTCP subflow capacity.

Abstract

This paper addresses the use of Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) in a single Radio Access Technology (RAT) network. Different from other studies where multiple RATs are explored by the MPTCP, a situation that cannot be always guaranteed, due to lack of coverage for example, in this work we assess and evaluate the capability of MPTCP to operate over a single RAT environment. With a vehicular network as use case, we show how the IEEE 802.11p interface is shared among the multiple logical links created between the On-Board Unit (OBU) and the several Road Side Units (RSUs) in its range, supporting the different MPTCP subflows. The results, obtained through experimentation with real vehicular networking hardware, show that MPTCP allows for seamless handovers, ensuring continuous, stable and efficient communication in highly mobile environments.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 5 sections, 5 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. SDN-based Vehicular Network
  3. MPTCP in Single-RAT Vehicular Networks
  4. Performance Evaluation
  5. Conclusions

Figures (5)

  • Figure 1: Software-Defined Vehicular Network architecture: single-RAT is assumed, with IEEE 802.11p/ITS-G5 vehicular communication stack.
  • Figure 2: Integration of MPTCP in the SDVN architecture.
  • Figure 3: OBU's emulated path.
  • Figure 4: MPTCP performance in the first scenario (no additional delay): a) bitrate and b) RTT values for the entire experimentation period.
  • Figure 5: MPTCP performance in the second scenario (200 ms additional delay on the second link): a) bitrate and b) RTT values for the entire experimentation period.