Body Area Networks: A Survey (original) (raw)

Body area networks (BAN)

2011

Body Area Network (BAN) technology emerged in recent years as a subcategory of Wireless Sensor Network technology targeted at monitoring physiological and ambient conditions surrounding human beings and animals. However, BAN technology also introduces a number of challenges seldom seen before due to the scarcity of hardware and radio communications resources under which they operate. In this chapter, we review the foundations of BANs along with the most relevant aspects relating to their design and deployment. We introduce current, state-of-the-art applications of BAN, as well as the most challenging aspects concerning to their adoption and gradual deployment. We also discuss issues pertaining to sensor node communications, tradeoffs, and interfacing with external infrastructure, in addition to important aspects relating to wearable sensor technology, enabling software and hardware, as well as future trends and open research issues in BANs.

WIRELESS BODY AREA NETWORKS PRINCIPLES ARCHITECTURE APPLICATIONS AND CHALLENGES

A Body Area Network (BAN) aka a Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) or a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is a system of wearable computing devices. BAN devices may be surface-mounted on the body or embedded inside the body or may be fashioned as portable or wearable objects carried by the user. In BAN device sensors, actuators and signal processing units play a very important role. Sensors collect information about the user or the environment and send it to a remotely/locally located signal processing unit where the data is analyzed and decisions are either made or the data is stored for further processing. BANs have evolved out of sensor network technology and biomedical engineering. In this paper we discuss various aspects of BANs. Introduction section deals with various concepts associated with computer networks and some supporting technologies for WBANs. Section 2 deals with the various definitions of BANs. Section 3 lists out some different types of sensors used in WBANs followed by the types of BAN in section 4 and system architecture in section 5. Section 6 gives the draft guidelines by IEEE 802.15.6 task group for a communications standard for BAN, the next two sections list out the applications and current research trends followed by the conclusion.

Wireless Body Area Networks: Architecture, Standards, Challenges, and Applications

2020

The increase in the use of wireless networks and pervasive computing have given rise to research on Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN). WBAN is a collection of sensors in, on, or around the human body, which is connected through a wireless network. This WBAN has many applications ranging from healthcare to human-computer interaction. Here in this article, we present a review of the past fifteen years to discuss various aspects of WBANs such as WBAN enabling technologies, architecture, and topology, design challenges, energy harvesting techniques, security and finally the applications.

A Comprehensive Survey of Wireless Body Area Networks

Journal of Medical Systems

Recent advances in microelectronics and integrated circuits, system-on-chip design, wireless communication and intelligent low-power sensors have allowed the realization of a Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN). A WBAN is a collection of low-power, miniaturized, invasive/non-invasive lightweight wireless sensor nodes that monitor the human body functions and the surrounding environment. In addition, it supports a number of innovative and interesting applications such as ubiquitous healthcare, entertainment, interactive gaming, and military applications. In this paper, the fundamental mechanisms of WBAN including architecture and topology, wireless implant communication, low-power Medium Access Control (MAC) and routing protocols are reviewed. A comprehensive study of the proposed technologies for WBAN at Physical (PHY), MAC, and Network layers is presented and many useful solutions are discussed for each layer. Finally, numerous WBAN applications are highlighted.

Body Area Networks in Healthcare: A Brief State of the Art

Applied Sciences

A body area network (BAN) comprises a set of devices that sense their surroundings, activate and communicate with each other when an event is detected in its environment. Although BAN technology was developed more than 20 years ago, in recent years, its popularity has greatly increased. The reason is the availability of smaller and more powerful devices, more efficient communication protocols and improved duration of portable batteries. BANs are applied in many fields, healthcare being one of the most important through gathering information about patients and their surroundings. A continuous stream of information may help physicians with making well-informed decisions about a patient’s treatment. Based on recent literature, the authors review BAN architectures, network topologies, energy sources, sensor types, applications, as well as their main challenges. In addition, the paper focuses on the principal requirements of safety, security, and sustainability. In addition, future resea...

Challenges and Applications of Wireless Body Area Networks

International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering

Modified low-power, ultra-slim, light in weight, intelligent devices are the result of recent advances in technology. Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is a replacement technology that can be used to incorporate these devices…