Modified slow start for background connections

A system, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory in communication with the processor, the memory having computer-readable instructions stored thereupon that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to
• initiate a communication of data from the system to a second computing device;
• increase a rate in which packets of the data are communicated from the system to the second computing device, wherein an individual packet is associated with a current rate;
• receive acknowledgement data indicating a round trip time associated with the individual packet, wherein the round trip time indicates a sum of a time in which the individual packet is communicated from the system to the second computing device and a time in which the acknowledgement data is communicated from the second computing device to the system;
• determine that the round trip time meets or exceeds a threshold;
• select the current rate associated with the individual packet in response to determining that the round trip time meets or exceeds the threshold;
• and
• communicate additional data from the system to the second computing device at the selected current rate.

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a one or more processors of a first computing device, cause the first computing device to:

• initiate a communication of data from the first computing device to a second computing device;
• increase a rate in which packets of the data are communicated from the first computing device to the second computing device, wherein an individual packet is associated with a current rate;
• receive acknowledgement data indicating a round trip time associated with the individual packet, wherein the round trip time indicates a sum of a time in which the individual packet is communicated from the first computing device to the second computing device and a time in which the acknowledgement data is communicated from the second computing device to the first computing device;
• determine that the round trip time meets or exceeds a threshold;
• select the current rate associated with the individual packet in response to determining that the round trip time meets or exceeds the threshold;
• and
• communicate additional data from the first computing device to the second computing device at the selected current rate.

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

• communicating data from the first computing device to the second computing device in a slow start mode, wherein the slow start mode is based, at least in part, on the current rate and a slow start threshold;
• receiving acknowledgement data indicating a round trip time associated with an individual packet of the data, wherein the round trip time indicates a sum of a time in which the individual packet is communicated from the first computing device to the second computing device and a time in which the acknowledgement data is communicated from the second computing device to the first computing device;
• while the slow start threshold is infinite, determining when the round trip time is greater than a minimum round trip time plus a target queueing delay;
• in response to determining when the round trip time is greater than the minimum round trip time plus the target queueing delay, setting the slow start threshold to the current rate, and communicating data based on the slow start threshold being set to the current rate;
• in response to determining when the round trip time is less than the minimum round trip time plus the target queueing delay, increasing the current rate to an increased rate, at least in part, on a quantity of communicated data indicated in the acknowledgement data, and communicating data based on the increased rate;
• still in slow start
• determining when the current rate exceeds the slow start threshold;
• and
• in response to determining when the current rate exceeds the slow start threshold, exit the slow start mode and communicate the data in a congestion avoidance mode.