Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) 6137-Algorithms in Network Theory 2013

Based on A Survey on Wireless Body Area Networks, B. Latré, P. Braem, T.Moerman, C. Blondier, P. Demeester Available on Moodle 2

What WBANs are Small intelligent devices Attached or implanted in the body Capable of wireless communication 3

Type of Devices Sensor measuring temperature, heartbeat, ECG, etc. Actuator delivering medication, electric signals, etc. PDA preprocessing and transmitting data 4

Motivation NASA/Military (government) Health monitoring and prevention (industry) 5

Characteristics of devices/systems Limited energy resources No redundant devices (yet) Low transmission power Wave attenuation in the body Body in motion – topology challenges Medical information – high reliability/low delay Security concerns 6

Non-medical Monitoring Applications Level of toxics Training athletes MP3 player Head mounted computer Camera Paraplegics Neural interfaces, etc. 7

Improve the Quality of Life 8

Heterogeneous Devices Sensor nodes Actuator nodes Personal devices wireless nodes considered 9

Energy Sensing Communication Data processing Energy scavenging Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) 10

QoS and Reliability End-to-end/per link Guaranteed delivery of data In-order delivery In-time (reasonable) delivery 11

Usability Self-configuring network Self-maintaining Addressing, reconfiguration 12

Security and Privacy Data confidentiality Data authenticity Data integrity Data freshness 13

Communication Intra-body 1-2 m, less researched Extra-body WPAN: Bluetooth or IEEE (ZigBee) WLAN: IEEE (WiFi) WMAN: IEEE (WiMax) 14

WSN and WBAN (1/4) WBANWSNChallenge cm/mm/kmScale Less, limited in spaceMore, for wide area coverage Node number Through node accuracy and robustness Through node redundancyResult accuracy MultipleMostly dedicated taskNode tasks 15

WSN and WBAN (2/4) WBANWSNChallenge Small essentialSmall preferredNode size More variable due to body movement Mostly fixed and staticNetwork topology Non-homogenousHomogenousData rates DifficultEasyNode replacement 16

WSN and WBAN (3/4) WBANWSNChallenge MoreYears/monthNode Lifetime Generally InaccessibleMay be accessiblePower supply LowerLargePower demand Motion (vibration), thermal (heat) Solar, windEnergy scavenging source 17

WSN and WBAN (3/4) WBANWSNChallenge A mustNot importantBiocompatibility HigherLowerSecurity level More significantCompensated by redundant nodes Impact of data loss Low power technology required Bluetooth, ZigBee, GPRS, WLAN… Wireless technology 18

Other Communication Methods Capacitive coupling Galvanic coupling (BCC – body-coupled communication) 19

Characteristics at other Layers MAC Network Transport Application Cross – layer protocols 20

Existing Projects Later Together with relevant technologies 21

להתראות בשבוע הבא 22