A real-time streaming control for quality-of-service coexisting wireless body area networks

Abstract

Wireless body area networks (WBAN) are an emerging form of technology which provides a base for various implantable and wearable sensors. This paper presents a quality-of-service (QoS) resource allocation method to share limited bandwidth among multiple WBANs. In the coexistent WBAN model, the traffic stream of each WBAN is parameterized using a fluid twin token bucket model. We propose a resource allocation method called Superframe Overlapping Scheduling (SOS) based on beacon shifting and active superframe interleaving techniques in IEEE 802.15.6 standard. Initially, the required service rate and maximum packet inter-arrival time for each WBAN are parameterized and derived from the fluid twin token bucket model. Then inter-arrival times of WBAN packets regarded as periodic tasks are then transformed to avoid scheduling jitters, thus increasing predictability and reducing packet collisions. Finally, based on the IEEE 802.15.6 standard, SOS uses the proposed streaming information and scheduling to improve bandwidth utilization and guarantee QoS as quantified according to individual WBAN task deadlines.