Enabling design and development of wireless BANs using 802.15.x standards

Abstract

In recent years, the wireless Body Area Network (BAN) technology has made significant advances. There is a tremendous need for the development of this technology. However, wireless BANs require much higher reliability than other similar types of networks as they need to operate at lower levels of user interaction and impose much stricter compliance to various regulatory requirements and technical standards. The aim is to discuss differences and reasoning behind the distinction of the two main types of sensor network tchnologies. The use of new wireless technologies and open standards can greatly extend and improve the functionality of BANs leading to new type of applications. This article, covers a number of issues related to the adaption of the wireless BAN technology in pervasive healthcare. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.