A deep joint source-channel coding scheme for hybrid mobile multi-hop networks
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Bian, Chenghong
Shao, Yulin
Gunduz, Deniz
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Efficient data transmission across mobile multi-hop networks that connect edge devices to core servers presents significant challenges, particularly due to the variability in link qualities between wireless and wired segments. This variability necessitates a robust transmission scheme that transcends the limitations of existing deep joint source-channel coding (Deep-JSCC) strategies, which often struggle at the intersection of analog and digital methods. Addressing this need, this paper introduces a novel hybrid DeepJSCC framework, h-DJSCC, tailored for effective image transmission from edge devices through a network architecture that includes initial wireless transmission followed by multiple wired hops. Our approach harnesses the strengths of DeepJSCC for the initial, variable-quality wireless link to avoid the cliff effect inherent in purely digital schemes. For the subsequent wired hops, which feature more stable and high-capacity connections, we implement digital compression and forwarding techniques to prevent noise accumulation. This dual-mode strategy is adaptable even in scenarios with limited knowledge of the image distribution, enhancing the framework’s robustness and utility. Extensive numerical simulations demonstrate that our hybrid solution outperforms traditional fully digital approaches by effectively managing transitions between different network segments and optimizing for variable signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). We also introduce a fully adaptive h-DJSCC architecture with both SNR-adaptive (SA) and rate-adaptive (RA) modules capable of adjusting to different network conditions and achieving diverse rate-distortion objectives, thereby reducing the memory requirements on network nodes.
Date Issued
2025-07-01
Date Acceptance
2025-04-01
Citation
IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, 2025, 43 (7), pp.2543-2559
ISSN
0733-8716
Publisher
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Start Page
2543
End Page
2559
Journal / Book Title
IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications
Volume
43
Issue
7
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2025 IEEE. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2025-04-09