Paper #1

A Review of Energy Efficiency in Wireless Body Area/Sensor Networks, With Emphasis on MAC Protocol

Ogheneochuko Ubrurhe, Nigel Houlden and Peter S. Excell

Abstract: The increasing use of wireless communication and the continuous miniaturisation of electronics devices have brought about the concept of Wireless Body Area Network (WBANs). In these types of networks, the sensor node operates in close proximity to the body and also the wireless nature of the system presents various novel, real-time and new methods to improve health care delivery. The sensor is capable of measuring any parameter which it has been designed to read, for example the heartrate and the body temperature. This paper presents a review of the concept of WBANs with a focus on the mechanism of data communication over the wireless medium. Further, it examines ways to power such devices, in particular focusing on minimisation of energy requirements, thereby reducing maintenance demands and contributing to making the environment ‘greener’.

Keywords: Energy efficiency; Healthcare delivery; MAC protocol; Sensor networks; Wireless body area network.