An Overview of Applications, Standards and Challenges in Futuristic Wireless Body Area Networks
Recent technical advancements in low-power integrated circuits, ultra low-power RF (radio frequency) technology, wireless communications and micro sensors allowed the realization of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs). It is one of the latest technologies in health care diagnosis and management. A body area network wirelessly connects independent nodes (e.g. medical devices, earphones, sensors, actuators) attached to the body surface, implanted into tissues/body, or dispersed in the clothing for applications in home/health care, sports, entertainment, defense, ambient intelligence, pervasive computing and many other areas. These sensors offer promising applications in areas such as real time health monitoring, interactive gaming and consumer electronics. WBAN does not compel the patient to stay in the hospital thereby giving much physical mobility. Thus it greatly increases the efficiency of a health care system. This paper presents an overview on the various aspects of WBAN including sensors used, applications, power efficiency, communication protocols, security requirements, existing projects in WBANs and challenges faced in wireless body area networks.
Keywords: Wireless body area network, WBAN, body area network, real time health monitoring, bio sensor networks, wearable sensors.
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Ragesh G K
Ragesh G K obtained his B.E degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India in 2005 and his M.E degree in Communication systems in 2008 from Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Currently he is a Research scholar in Department of computer science and engineering at Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. His research interests include Bio sensor networks, wireless sensor networks, Mobile ad hoc networks and Network security.
Baskaran K
Dr.K.Baskaran is a member of the IEEE and ISTE, obtained his PhD degree from Anna University, Chennai. Tamil Nadu, India. He is having 18 years of teaching experience and got several awards including Best System Paper Award from IETE in 2010.Currently he is working as an Associate Professor in Department of computer science and engineering at Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. His research interests include MANETs, Wireless sensor networks, Cloud Computing, Wireless Body Area Networks and Network security.
Ragesh G K
Ragesh G K obtained his B.E degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India in 2005 and his M.E degree in Communication systems in 2008 from Anna University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Currently he is a Research scholar in Department of computer science and engineering at Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. His research interests include Bio sensor networks, wireless sensor networks, Mobile ad hoc networks and Network security.
Baskaran K
Dr.K.Baskaran is a member of the IEEE and ISTE, obtained his PhD degree from Anna University, Chennai. Tamil Nadu, India. He is having 18 years of teaching experience and got several awards including Best System Paper Award from IETE in 2010.Currently he is working as an Associate Professor in Department of computer science and engineering at Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. His research interests include MANETs, Wireless sensor networks, Cloud Computing, Wireless Body Area Networks and Network security.
