Forward error correction for molecular communications

Communication between nanoscale devices is an area of considerable importance as it is essential that future devices be able to form nanonetworks and realise their full potential. Molecular communication is a method based on diffusion, inspired by biological systems and useful over transmission distances in the nm to μmμm range. The propagation of messenger molecules via diffusion implies that there is thus a probability that they can either arrive outside of their required time slot or ultimately, not arrive at all. Therefore, in this paper, the use of a error correcting codes is considered as a method of enhancing the performance of future nanonetworks. Using a simple block code, it is shown that it is possible to deliver a coding gain of ∼1.7 dB at transmission distances of 1μm. Nevertheless, energy is required for the coding and decoding and as such this paper also considers the code in this context. It is shown that these simple error correction codes can deliver a benefit in terms of energy usage for transmission distances of upwards of 25μm for receivers of a 5μm radius.