Throughput optimization for molecule-as-a-frame communications

Abstract

Molecular communication systems proposed in the literature transmit data by encoding information in the quantity, type, or similar properties of the messenger molecules. This paper focuses on encoding the information in the chemical structure of the messenger molecules so that a complete data frame can be transmitted. Inspired by the frame structure in traditional communication networks, Molecule-as-a-Frame (MaaF) includes a header to allow for frame identifier and destination address bits. The paper shows the existence of a trade-off between the length of the frame identifier and transmit power, and finds the optimal throughput that minimizes the frame error rate.