Towards High Data-Rate Diffusive Molecular Communications: Performance Enhancement Strategies

Abstract

Diffusive molecular communications (DiMC) have recently gained attention as a candidate for nano-to microand macro-scale communications due to its simplicity and energy efficiency. As signal propagation is solely enabled by Brownian motion mechanics, DiMC faces severe inter-symbol interference (ISI), which limits reliable and high data-rate communications. Herein, recent literature on DiMC performance enhancement strategies is surveyed; key research directions are identified. Signaling design and associated design constraints are presented. Classical and novel transceiver designs are reviewed with an emphasis on methods for ISI mitigation and performancecomplexity tradeoffs. Key parameter estimation strategies such as synchronization and channel estimation are considered in conjunction with asynchronous and timing error robust receiver methods. Finally, source and channel coding in the context of DiMC is presented.

Higher Order Derivatives: Improved Pre-Processing and Receivers for Molecular Communications

“…Note that Σ is dependent on s through x, which implies the signal-dependent noise phenomenon of MCD systems [11], [14], [16], [28].…”

“…The ISI problem has been tackled through both transmitter and receiver side solutions. In particular, single-or multimolecule modulation schemes have been considered [13], source and channel codes have been designed [14], as well as transmitter-side pre-equalization approaches [11], [15]. At the receiver side, the maximum a posteriori (MAP) and maximum likelihood (ML) sequence detectors are considered by [16], as well as decision feedback and minimum mean squared error (MMSE) equalizers that account for ISI.…”