From Nano-Communications to Body Area Networks: A Perspective on Truly Personal Communications

TL;DR

This paper explores the spectrum of future personal communication systems, from nano-scale molecular communications inside the body to macro-scale wireless body area networks, highlighting potential mechanisms and bridging interfaces.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of potential communication mechanisms across scales and discusses interfaces bridging nano/micro systems with body area networks for personal communications.

Findings

Identification of molecular, electromagnetic, ultrasound communication methods

Discussion of existing technologies for body area networks

Highlighting the need for interfaces between nano/micro systems and BANs

Abstract

This article presents an overview of future truly personal communications, ranging from networking inside the human body to the exchange of data with external wireless devices in the surrounding environment. At the nano- and micro-scales, communications can be realized with the aid of molecular mechanisms, Forster resonance energy transfer phenomenon, electromagnetic or ultrasound waves. At a larger scale, in the domain of Body Area Networks, a wide range of communication mechanisms is available, including smart-textiles, inductive- and body-couplings, ultrasounds, optical and wireless radio transmissions, a number of mature technologies existing already. The main goal of this article is to identify the potential mechanisms that can be exploited to provide interfaces in between nano- and micro-scale systems and Body Area Networks. These interfaces have to bridge the existing gap between the two worlds, in order to allow for truly personal communication systems to become a reality. The extraordinary applications of such systems are also discussed, as they are strong drivers of the research in this area.