# Joint Source-Channel-Generation Coding: From Distortion-oriented Reconstruction to Semantic-consistent Generation

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.12808 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.12808/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 13 of its 21 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 19 Jan 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 13 of 13)

- [Denoising Diffusion Probabilistic Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.11239/) (2020)
- [The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Deep Features as a Perceptual Metric](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1801.03924/) (2018)
- [Score-Based Generative Modeling through Stochastic Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2011.13456/) (2020)
- [Flow Matching for Generative Modeling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.02747/) (2022)
- [DreamBooth: Fine Tuning Text-to-Image Diffusion Models for Subject-Driven Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2208.12242/) (2022)
- [Z-Image: An Efficient Image Generation Foundation Model with Single-Stream Diffusion Transformer](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.22699/) (2025)
- [Rethinking Lossy Compression: The Rate-Distortion-Perception Tradeoff](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1901.07821/) (2019)
- [Nonlinear Transform Source-Channel Coding for Semantic Communications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2112.10961/) (2021)
- [CDDM: Channel Denoising Diffusion Models for Wireless Semantic Communications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.08895/) (2023)
- [Wireless Deep Video Semantic Transmission](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.13129/) (2022)
- [Universal Rate-Distortion-Perception Representations for Lossy Compression](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.10311/) (2021)
- [Diffusion-Aided Joint Source Channel Coding For High Realism Wireless Image Transmission](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2404.17736/) (2024)
- [MambaJSCC: Adaptive Deep Joint Source-Channel Coding with Generalized State Space Model](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.16592/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [ReGenVC: End-to-End Real-Time Generative Video Coding at Ultra-Low Bitrate](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.28144/) (2026)
- [JSCGC: Joint Source-Channel-Generation Coding for Wireless Generative Communications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.12858/) (2026)
- [Generative Communications: Overview, Technologies, and Trends](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.09183/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Conventional communication systems, including both separation-based coding and AI-driven joint source-channel coding (JSCC), are largely guided by Shannon's rate-distortion theory. However, relying on generic distortion metrics fails to capture complex human visual perception, often resulting in blurred or unrealistic reconstructions. In this paper, we propose Joint Source-Channel-Generation Coding (JSCGC), a novel paradigm that shifts the focus from deterministic reconstruction to probabilistic generation. JSCGC leverages a generative model at the receiver as a generator rather than a conventional decoder to parameterize the data distribution, enabling direct maximization of mutual information under channel constraints while controlling stochastic sampling to produce outputs residing on the authentic data manifold with high fidelity. We further derive a theoretical lower bound on the maximum semantic inconsistency with given transmitted mutual information, elucidating the fundamental limits of communication in controlling the generative process. Extensive experiments on image transmission demonstrate that JSCGC substantially improves perceptual quality and semantic fidelity, significantly outperforming conventional distortion-oriented JSCC methods.