A synchronization packet is preformed at a first device. The synchronization packet is to be transmitted to a second device through a connection over a computer network. The second device, in response to receiving the synchronization packet develops an acknowledgment packet to be transmitted back to the first device. The second device reads selected header information from the synchronization packet and re-uses this information for the header of the acknowledgment packet. The first and second device exchange a plurality of successively transmitted packets and a plurality of acknowledgment packets. For each packet to be developed and sent, the originator of the packet similarly reads the selected header information of the immediately prior received packet and re-uses this header information for the current packet. The first device may also preform a termination packet, and the second device acknowledges the termination packet in an acknowledgment packet that re-uses header information from the termination packet.
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