Abstract: A method of identifier correlation in a communications network, the network comprising: an identifier translator, for translating at least one identifier of a communications packet, wherein a packet which has passed through the identifier translator comprises translated and untranslated identifiers; the method comprising: selecting a first packet prior to transmission through the identifier translator; selecting a second packet after transmission through the identifier translator which has at least one identifier which is the same as a corresponding identifier of the first packet; and correlating at least one identifier from the first packet which is different to a corresponding identifier of the second packet.

Abstract: A method of improving the flow of data in a communication system having at least two links, comprising inserting into one of said links at least one enhancer, the operation of which is to a) communicate with a the unit upstream of the data flow such that the upstream unit perceives that it is communicating with the unit (s) downstream of the enhancer; b) obtaining a measure of the efficacy of operation of the down stream unit(s), and c) dependent upon the measure, varying the control of data flow sent to downstream units.

Abstract: A method of determining reliability of information received at a destination (16) in a communication network sent from a source with which the destination does not have a security association comprises generating first and second data (12, 13) representative of the information at the source. The first data is sent down a first route (14) from the source to the destination and the second data is sent down a second route (15) from the source to the destination. At the destination, received data that has been sent via the first and second routes (14, 15) is compared. Information is regenerated from the received data and the reliability of the information is determined from the result of the comparison of the received data.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of controlling data flow between a local network (120) and a remote network (30) via a geostationary satellite link (40, 46, 48). The local network (120) comprises a sending host (22) and a connection splitting node (124) which includes a throttling unit (150). The remote network (30) comprises a receiving host (32) which is connected to a second connection splitting node (142) having a buffer (152) via the internet (34). The data flow rate from the local network (120) is throttled to provide a data flow rate which substantially matches that which can be handled by the remote network (30) so that the buffer (152) at the second connection splitting node (142) is not overfilled.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of controlling data flow between a local network (120 ) and a remote network (30) via a geostationary satellite link (40, 46, 48). The local network (120) comprises a sending host (22) and a connection splitting node (124) which includes a throttling unit (150). The remote network (30) comprises a receiving host (32) which is connected to a second connection splitting node (142) having a buffer (152) via the internet (34. The data flow rate from the local network (120) is throttled to provide a data flow rate which substantially matches that which can be handled by the remote network (30) so that the buffer (152) at the second connection splitting node (142) is not overfilled.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of providing an enhanced path between an internet or intranet (40) and a stub or further internet or intranet (36). The enhanced path is provided by locating a pair of associated enhancers (22, 32) such that one is located in the internet (40) and one is located in the stub network (36), the enhancers (22, 32) being connected together by means of an IP tunnel (50) and each knows the IP address of the other.

Abstract: Described herein is apparatus and method for implementing location specific congestion control in a transmission control protocol (TCP) connection. The TCP connection extends between an internet connection (12) and one or more mobile terminals (22, 24, 26). Each mobile terminal (22, 24, 26) is connected to a base station (18) which is then connected to the internet connection (12). An enhancer (14) is provided in the TCP connection to divide it into two connections (16, 20) so that congestion control can be implemented in the connection (16) remote from the mobile terminals (22, 24, 26). There is no requirement of congestion control between the base station (18) and the mobile terminals (22, 24, 26) as they comprise point-to-point connections. The enhancer (14) may be co-located with the base station (18).

Abstract: Described herein is a method for improving the performance of long latency or error prone links without reconfiguration. A host (10) is connected to an external network (20) by means of a satellite connection (30). A first router (40) and a first transparent cache (60) are associated with the host (10). Similarly, a second router (50) and a second transparent cache (70) are associated with the external network (20). When the host (10) sends a domain name server query, it is intercepted by the first router (40) and sent to the first transparent cache (60). If the first transparent cache (60) has the answer, it is passed back to the host (10) via the first router (40). If the first transparent cache (60) does not have the answer, the first router (40) passes the query to the second router (50) via the satellite (30) which passes it onto the second transparent cache (70) which supplies the answer if it has it. Otherwise, the router (50) passes the query to the external network (20).