Abstract
The seamless integration of low-power, miniaturised, invasive/non-invasive lightweight sensor nodes have contributed to the development of a proactive and unobtrusive Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN). A WBAN provides long-term health monitoring of a patient without any constraint on his/her normal dailylife activities. This monitoring requires the low-power operation of invasive/non-invasive sensor nodes. In other words, a power-efficient Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol is required to satisfy the stringent WBAN requirements, including low-power consumption. In this paper, we first outline the WBAN requirements that are important for the design of a low-power MAC protocol. Then we study low-power MAC protocols proposed/investigated for a WBAN with emphasis on their strengths and weaknesses. We also review different power-efficient mechanisms for a WBAN. In addition, useful suggestions are given to help the MAC designers to develop a low-power MAC protocol that will satisfy the stringent requirements.
Highlights
A Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) allows the integration of intelligent, miniaturized, lowpower, invasive/non-invasive sensor nodes that monitor body functions and the surrounding environment
A comparative analysis of many power-efficient mechanisms such as Low-power Listening (LPL), scheduled-contention, and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) mechanisms is presented in the context of a WBAN
TDMA-based protocols can accommodate the heterogeneous WBAN traffic since they are adaptable to the traffic load, i.e., slots can be assigned according to the traffic volume
Summary
A Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) allows the integration of intelligent, miniaturized, lowpower, invasive/non-invasive sensor nodes that monitor body functions and the surrounding environment. If the channel is busy, the node defers its transmission until it becomes idle These protocols are scalable with no strict time synchronization constraint. Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocols, the channel is divided into time slots of fixed or variable duration These slots are assigned to nodes and each node transmits during its slot period. Since the duty cycle of radio is reduced, there is no contention, idle listening and overhearing problems A comparative analysis of many power-efficient mechanisms such as Low-power Listening (LPL), scheduled-contention, and TDMA mechanisms is presented in the context of a WBAN.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
