Recent developments and technological advancements in wireless communication, MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) technology and integrated circuits has enabled low-power, intelligent, miniaturized, invasive/non-invasive micro and nano-technology sensor nodes strategically placed in or around the human body to be used in various applications, such as personal health monitoring. This exciting new area of research is called Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) and leverages the emerging IEEE 802.15.6 and IEEE 802.15.4j standards, specifically standardized for medical WBANs. The aim of WBANs is to simplify and improve speed, accuracy, and reliability of communication of sensors/actuators within, on, and in the immediate proximity of a human body. The vast scope of challenges associated with WBANs has led to numerous publications. In this paper, we survey the current state-of-art of WBANs based on the latest standards and publications. Open issues and challenges within each area are also explored as a source of inspiration towards future developments in WBANs.

Wireless Body Area Networks: A Survey

The increasing use of wireless networks and the constant miniaturization of electrical devices has empowered the development of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs). In these networks various sensors are attached on clothing or on the body or even implanted under the skin. The wireless nature of the network and the wide variety of sensors offer numerous new, practical and innovative applications to improve health care and the Quality of Life. The sensors of a WBAN measure for example the heartbeat, the body temperature or record a prolonged electrocardiogram. Using a WBAN, the patient experiences a greater physical mobility and is no longer compelled to stay in the hospital. This paper offers a survey of the concept of Wireless Body Area Networks. First, we focus on some applications with special interest in patient monitoring. Then the communication in a WBAN and its positioning between the different technologies is discussed. An overview of the current research on the physical layer, existing MAC and network protocols is given. Further, cross layer and quality of service is discussed. As WBANs are placed on the human body and often transport private data, security is also considered. An overview of current and past projects is given. Finally, the open research issues and challenges are pointed out.

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A survey on wireless body area networks

Wireless sensor network (WSN) has emerged as one of the most promising technologies for the future. This has been enabled by advances in technology and availability of small, inexpensive, and smart sensors resulting in cost effective and easily deployable WSNs. However, researchers must address a variety of challenges to facilitate the widespread deployment of WSN technology in real-world domains. In this survey, we give an overview of wireless sensor networks and their application domains including the challenges that should be addressed in order to push the technology further. Then we review the recent technologies and testbeds for WSNs. Finally, we identify several open research issues that need to be investigated in future.

Our survey is different from existing surveys in that we focus on recent developments in wireless sensor network technologies. We review the leading research projects, standards and technologies, and platforms. Moreover, we highlight a recent phenomenon in WSN research that is to explore synergy between sensor networks and other technologies and explain how this can help sensor networks achieve their full potential. This paper intends to help new researchers entering the domain of WSNs by providing a comprehensive survey on recent developments.

Wireless sensor networks: a survey on recent developments and potential synergies

Recently, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have attracted lot of attention due to their pervasive nature and their wide deployment in Internet of Things, Cyber Physical Systems, and other emerging areas. The limited energy associated with WSNs is a major bottleneck of WSN technologies. To overcome this major limitation, the design and development of efficient and high performance energy harvesting systems for WSN environments are being explored. We present a comprehensive taxonomy of the various energy harvesting sources that can be used by WSNs. We also discuss various recently proposed energy prediction models that have the potential to maximize the energy harvested in WSNs. Finally, we identify some of the challenges that still need to be addressed to develop cost-effective, efficient, and reliable energy harvesting systems for the WSN environment.

Energy harvesting in wireless sensor networks: A comprehensive review

Life expectancy in most countries has been increasing continually over the several few decades thanks to significant improvements in medicine, public health, as well as personal and environmental hygiene. However, increased life expectancy combined with falling birth rates are expected to engender a large aging demographic in the near future that would impose significant burdens on the socio-economic structure of these countries. Therefore, it is essential to develop cost-effective, easy-to-use systems for the sake of elderly healthcare and well-being. Remote health monitoring, based on non-invasive and wearable sensors, actuators and modern communication and information technologies offers an efficient and cost-effective solution that allows the elderly to continue to live in their comfortable home environment instead of expensive healthcare facilities. These systems will also allow healthcare personnel to monitor important physiological signs of their patients in real time, assess health conditions and provide feedback from distant facilities. In this paper, we have presented and compared several low-cost and non-invasive health and activity monitoring systems that were reported in recent years. A survey on textile-based sensors that can potentially be used in wearable systems is also presented. Finally, compatibility of several communication technologies as well as future perspectives and research challenges in remote monitoring systems will be discussed.

Wearable Sensors for Remote Health Monitoring.

Recent advances in intelligent sensors, microelectronics and integrated circuit, system-on-chip design and low power wireless communication introduced the development of miniaturised and autonomous sensor nodes. These tiny sensor nodes can be deployed to develop a proactive Body Sensor Network (BSN). The rapid advancement in ultra low-power RF (radio frequency) technology enables invasive and non-invasive devices to communicate with a remote station. This communication revolutionizes healthcare system by enabling long term health monitoring of a patient and providing real time feedback to the medical experts. In this paper, we present In-body and On-body communication networks with a special focus on the methodologies of wireless communication between implanted medical devices with external monitoring equipment and recent technological growth in both areas. We also discuss open issues and challenges in a BSN.

A Study of Implanted and Wearable Body Sensor Networks

The performance of the implant inside a human body with polarisation, distance, and different power settings at the base-station is presented. In addition, the unslotted CSMA/CA protocol is studied for a heterogeneous WBAN.

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Evaluation of implant communication with polarisation and unslotted CSMA/CA protocol in wireless body area networks

A Body Senor Network (BSN) allows the integration of miniaturized, intelligent, low power, invasive, and non-invasive wireless sensor nodes to monitor body function and the surrounding environment. The inclusion of wireless sensor nodes within the body requires many more constraints to be met for safe and reliable operations. In this paper, we first study the possibility of Radio Frequency (RF) communication to an implanted device. Then we provide a simulation study of various multiple access protocols for a non-invasive BSN. For RF communication, we use a Perspex tank that mimics the electrical properties of the body at 400MHz. The results show that the implant reveals best performance at 3cm depth and not close to the surface of the skin. Furthermore, we analyze the performance of a Preamble-Based TDMA (PB-TDMA), S-MAC, and IEEE 802.15.4 protocols for a non-invasive BSN using NS-2. Simulation results show that IEEE 802.15.4, when configured in a beacon-enabled mode, performs better than S-MAC and PB-TDMA. Our results also suggest the design and implementation of a new lowpower multiple access protocol for invasive and noninvasive BSN.

Towards RF Communication and Multiple Access Protocols in a Body Sensor Network.

지능형 센서, 마이크로전자공학 및 집적회로, SoC(system-on-chip) 설계와 저전력 무선통신의 급속한 발달로 소형 지능형 센서노드의 개발을 촉진하여 왔다. 이러한 센서 노드는 인체센서네트워크(Body Sensor Network;BSN)의 개발에 초석이 되며, 향후 이 분야의 급속한 발전을 기대하게 된다. 초 저전력 RF 기술의 발전은 침투식 및 비침투식 장치들이 원격 단말과 데이터 전송을 가능케 하며, 환자를 장기간 모니터링하여 의료 전문가에게 실시간으로 피드백함으로써 건강관리 시스템의 일대 혁신을 일으키고 있다. 본 기고에서는 이식형 의료 장치들간의 무선통신 방법과 BSN 분야에서의 최근 기술적 발전동향에 주안점을 두어, 인체 내장형 및 인체 부착형 통신 네트워크 구조를 파악한 후, 이들 분야에서 미해결쟁점과 난제에 관하여 분석하였다.

Henry Higgins

Papers

A Study of Implanted and Wearable Body Sensor Networks

Evaluation of implant communication with polarisation and unslotted CSMA/CA protocol in wireless body area networks

Towards RF Communication and Multiple Access Protocols in a Body Sensor Network.

내장형 및 부착형 인체센서네트워크의 연구동향 및 이슈