Bio-Inspired Synchronization for Nanocommunication Networks

Nanonetworks are networks of devices inherently working and communicating at a scale ranging between one and hundreds of nanometers. The motivation behind these nanonetworks is to enhance the complexity and range of operation of the system, as the nanomachines that will be part of these networks have significant limitations in terms of size and power consumption. Neither classical communication schemes nor protocols used in conventional networks are valid in this new scenario. For instance, synchronization between nodes is a feature commonly required to build a network architecture. In this paper, we propose Quorum Sensing as a valid tool to achieve synchronization in a cluster of nodes of a nanonetwork by means of molecular communication, and in a distributed manner. Quorum Sensing is a mechanism by which bacteria coordinate their behavior, based on the emission and reception of molecules called autoinducers. The authors present the communication aspects of this natural phenomenon, as well as some simulation results that show the performance of Quorum Sensing-enabled entities. As a conclusion, some possible applications are outlined.