Body area networks: Applications, architectures and challenges

Recent advances in wireless technology have led to the development of wireless body area networks (WBAN), where a set of communicating devices are located around the human body. IEEE 802.15 working group established a study group, body area network, to develop guideline for using wireless technologies for medical device communications in various healthcare services. There is a wide range of potential applications and user scenarios in hospital, home and gym. Wearable applications include body automation, healthcare, medical monitoring, entertainment, and body interaction and implantable applications cover medical implants, e.g. capsule endoscope and pacemaker. The architecture is optimized for maximum battery life: individual sensors communicate only with the personal server in a WBAN which communicates with the home server, typically already connected to the Internet, using Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). In IEEE 802.15.6, the operating scenarios are determined based on the location of the communicating nodes, i.e. implant, body surface and external. The system requirements include extremely low power operation, low weight, and small size, fault tolerant system operation. It should be capable of energy scavenging or battery-less operation with a small form factor for the whole radio, antenna, power supply system. The sensor should have the flexibility necessary to adapt to the user's state and changes in the environment.