A Communication Theoretical Analysis of Multiple-Access Channel Capacity in Magneto-Inductive Wireless Networks

• Published in: IEEE transactions on communications Vol. 65; no. 6; pp. 2594 - 2607
• Main Author: Gulbahar, Burhan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.06.2017; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Acoustic noise; Body area networks; capacity; Channel capacity; Coils; Computer simulation; Couplings; Dipoles; Interference; Local area networks; Magneto-inductive communications; Mathematical models; multiple-access; Network topology; Optics; Optimization; Random numbers; Solid modeling; Thermal noise; Three dimensional models; Topology; topology management; Transmitters; Underground acoustics; Underground communication; Underwater communication; water-filling; Wireless communications; Wireless networks
• ISSN: 0090-6778; 1558-0857
• DOI: 10.1109/TCOMM.2017.2669995

Magneto-inductive (MI) wireless communications is an emerging subject with a rich set of applications, including local area networks for the Internet-of-Things, wireless body area networks, in-body and on-chip communications, and underwater and underground sensor networks as a low-cost alternative to radio frequency, acoustic or optical methods. Practical MI networks include multiple access channel (MAC) mechanisms for connecting a random number of coils without any specific topology or coil orientation assumptions covering both short and long ranges. However, there is not any information theoretical modeling of MI MAC (MIMAC) capacity of such universal networks with fully coupled frequency selective channel models and exact 3-D coupling model of circular coils instead of long range dipole approximations. In this paper, K-user MIMAC capacity is information theoretically modeled and analyzed, and two-user MIMACs are modeled with explicitly detailed channel responses, bandwidths and coupled thermal noise. K-user MIMAC capacity is achieved through Lagrangian solution with K-user water-filling optimization. Optimum orientations maximizing capacity and received power are theoretically analyzed, and numerically simulated for two-user MIMACs. Constructive gain and destructive interference mechanisms on MIMACs are introduced in comparison with the classical interference based approaches. The theoretical basis promises the utilization of MIMACs in 5G architectures.