A communication provider which provides wireless access to a packetized
data network, such as the Internet. The provider includes a server
computer. The server computer is connected to the network, which is at
least in part a wired network. A client device is also connected to the
network, including by wireless means. The wired network is connected to a
cellular wireless communications system. Payloads of information
communicated by the server computer to the client device are assigned
corresponding Global Sequence Numbers. By determining a time differential
between next succeeding payloads received by the client, a determination
is made whether any payload loss occurs on a wired portion of the network
or on a wireless portion of the network. Headers of all payloads of
information are compressed together and transmitted together, in order to
limit communications and amount of data communicated. A send rate of the
server computer is adjusted in relation to an effective receive rate of
the client device.