Study on low-power transmission protocols for ZigBee wireless network-based remote biosignal monitoring systems

Abstract

This study uses low-power, low-speed ZigBee sensors with defined network and application layers based on the media access and physical layers of Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN). ZigBee sensor nodes were connected to Personal Health Devices (PHD), which measure the biosignals of patients, to form a wireless network. We do not apply generalized ad-hoc routing protocols or tree structures but instead are proposing modified hop-count routing protocols using the WBSS characteristic of IEEE 802.11p. This is because sensor nodes operate from fixed positions and smartphones, which play the gateway role, has the characteristic of constantly shifting location, from the patient's hand and ears to neraby desks. We used 3 PHDs (ECG, pulse and blood pressure) and connected ZigBee modules using external batteries to confirm whether normal service was being performed. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media.