Non-Medical Applications of Body Area Networks (BANs)

1. Project: IEEE P802.15 Working Group for Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) Submission Title: [Non-medical Applications of BANs] Date Submitted: [24 March, 2008] Source: [Marco Hernandez, Ryuji Kohno] Company: [NICT] Address: [3-4 Hikarino-oka, Yokosuka, 239-0847, Japan] Voice:[+81 46 8475439], Fax:[+81 46 8475431], Email:[Marco@nict.go.jp] Re: [] Abstract: [Presentation draws potential no-medical applications of BANs.] Purpose: [For discussion by the Group in order to identify potential non-medical applications appealing to both consumers and companies.] Notice: This document has been prepared to assist the IEEE P802.15. It is offered as a basis for discussion and is not binding on the contributing individual(s) or organization(s). The material in this document is subject to change in form and content after further study. The contributor(s) reserve(s) the right to add, amend or withdraw material contained herein. Release: The contributor acknowledges and accepts that this contribution becomes the property of IEEE and may be made publicly available by P802.15. Marco Hernandez, NICT

2. Non-Medical Applications of BANs NICT, Japan Marco Hernandez, NICT

3. Aim • The primary and main objective of BANs is for medical applications (in Japan). • Although, non-medical applications (adds-on) might be appealing for consumer electronics. Marco Hernandez, NICT

4. Requirements • BANs for medical applications impact the PHY/MAC design: • BANs have to be highly: reliable (robust), QoS, secure (integrated); short range, scalable data rate, long lifetime, low risk of human tissue heating. • The last two impose severe constrains in power consumption (processing, radiation/absorption). Marco Hernandez, NICT

5. Requirements • The efforts of this TG are towards best design/trade-offs and specifications. • On the other hand, relaxing some requirements might lead to non-medical applications, which can represent an attractive market. Marco Hernandez, NICT

6. Requirements • In order to avoid conflicts, we need to think of applications-coexistence into the standard (even if they have different requirements). • A possibility can be 2 modes operation BAN (medical and non-medical), one highly reliable, the other one less highly reliable. • Both modes must satisfy FCC and FDA regulations. Marco Hernandez, NICT

7. 2 modes operation • Non-medical mode: relaxing dependability in terms of QoS and reliability (BER, packet loss, etc.); protocol stack, power consumption. • But keeping limits on power emission and absorption and compatibility with medical mode. Marco Hernandez, NICT

8. 2 modes operation • For medical and non-medical applications, PHY/MAC should allow scalability in terms of data rate, sensors in a BAN (number and type), and integration/coexistence with other networks, while keeping limits on power emissions and radiation. Marco Hernandez, NICT

9. Non-medical BAN • It ranges from novel solutions to the merging/integration of known solutions in order to increase convenience and to offer improvements. • Obviously, medical BAN is guaranteed. Marco Hernandez, NICT

10. Some examples: Sports • Professional: • Athletes monitoring during training and races (cycling, marathon, track and field). • Extreme sports: • climbing, scuba diving safety (novel). • Regular practice: • Training monitoring. Marco Hernandez, NICT

11. Diet/exercise monitoring • Regular practice: • Tracking fitness and wellness through data mining (overweight) (novel). • Aim to improve quality of life. Marco Hernandez, NICT

12. Residential • Restrict access: • BAN users can transmit password, authentication (biometrics) to access buildings, home, car, etc. • Commanding • by voice/movements for lighting, hitting, remote control for TV/DVD/stereo. Marco Hernandez, NICT

13. Residential • Babies (new born) monitoring. • Known solutions are provided by different entities. BANs would resume all into 1 standard increasing convenience for consumers. • Consumers can obtain a BAN with broad variety of applications. Marco Hernandez, NICT

14. Gaming • Movement analysis and monitoring Wii-like manner (broad variety of games). • BANs would increase convenience for consumers • As 1 BAN would be use for many applications. Marco Hernandez, NICT

15. Transportation • Electronic fare management in public transportation. • Video on demand to special glasses (commuters). • Pedestrian navigation, location • Mind-machine-interface for disable people (blind). Marco Hernandez, NICT

16. Working place • Restrict access to buildings, work offices, labs. • Industrial control: • automatic identification, data capture. • assets management, process control. Marco Hernandez, NICT

17. Preliminary conclusions • BANs might interact with other networks in close proximity. • Integration with other networks 3G/4G, internet, WSN, broadens the possibility of non-medical applications. • Coexistence between medical and non-medical applications is a concerned (different requirements). • Possible solution: 2 modes operation. Marco Hernandez, NICT

18. Preliminary conclusions • Many attractive applications of BANs are promising, but medical and non-medical applications must comply with both FCC and FDA (healthcare) regulations. • That is, non-medical BANs are constrained for safety regulations, and so compliance with the intended BAN standard. • Non-medical BAN is certainly appealing to consumer electronics. Marco Hernandez, NICT