No abstract

In this paper, we theoretically analyze the performance of a multiplexing and error control scheme for body area networks. In our previous work, we proposed a quality of service (QoS) control optimization method that achieves optimal QoS control by introducing a multiplexing scheme over the media access control (MAC) layer. This multiplexing scheme combines Weldon-based hybrid automatic repeat request (ARQ) with a decomposable error-correcting code. In this paper, we present a theoretical analysis of our proposed scheme as an extension of our previous work. In this proposed system, the decomposable code which has simpler structure is utilized. We then show that our proposed multiplexing layer can achieve optimal performance at E s /N 0 = 3, 5, and 6 dB in the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel and at E s /N 0 = 8, 11, and 14 dB in the Rayleigh fading channel by arbitrarily selecting parameters for the error-correcting code and hybrid ARQ. Then, we show that the proposed system obtains over 1.2 dB gain in the AWGN channel and over 4.2 dB gain in the Rayleigh fading channel than IEEE802.15.6 in the optional pattern.

This paper presents a comprehensive performance evaluation of an error control scheme using decomposable codes while satisfying quality of service (QoS) requirements in a multiple‐wireless body area network (WBAN) environment. Our QoS control scheme comprises a multiplexing layer and decomposable error control coding used to adapt the communication parameters and satisfy the different performance requirements of different types of WBAN data traffic. Using mathematical analysis and simulations, it has been shown in previous studies that this method has a better residual bit error ratio (RBER) and throughput performance than that of an IEEE 802.15.6‐based solution. The energy efficiency of the proposed method was recently evaluated for an additive white Gaussian noise case. In this work, this performance evaluation IS complemented by simulating the RBER performance under a defined worst case scenario. The energy efficiency is compared with that of the IEEE 802.15.6 solution using a realistic WBAN channel model and accounting for the interference from neighboring WBANs. Results from the previous studies and the new results are given to provide a complete description of the performance of our method. The results demonstrate that an error control scheme based on decomposable codes satisfies the QoS requirements of different data types and provides a more flexible and energy efficient QoS control than that of the IEEE 802.15.6 solution. The scheme is also shown to guarantee communication performance in the worst case scenario, whereas the IEEE 802.15.6 solution fails to do so. © 2017 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Wireless body area networks (WBANs) are attracting attention as a very important technology for realizing an Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). IEEE 802.15.6 is well known as one of the international standards for WBANs for the IoMT. This article proposes the combination of the IEEE 802.15.6 ultra-wideband (UWB) physical layer (PHY) with a super orthogonal convolutional code (SOOC) and evaluates its performance as a dependable WBAN. Numerical results show that sufficient dependability cannot be obtained with the error-correcting code specified in IEEE 802.15.6 when applying the single pulse option, while both high energy efficiency and dependability can be obtained by applying an SOCC. In addition, it is confirmed that higher dependability can be obtained by combining an SOCC with a Reed–Solomon (RS) code with a coding rate that is almost the same as the error correction code specified in the standard. Furthermore, the results indicate that high dependability and energy efficiency can be obtained by adjusting the SOCC coding rate and UWB PHY parameters, even in the burst pulse option. The SOCC-applied UWB PHY of this research satisfies the high requirements of the IoMT.

Recently, studies on medical and health monitoring systems using wireless communications have been actively conducted. In the field of health monitoring systems, Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is one of the key technologies and its standardization activities have also been extensively carried out. As our previous work, we proposed an optimal QoS control scheme employing a multiplexing layer and a decomposable error control coding scheme [1]. However, in our past work, we did not assume a situation where several WBANs are coexistent and give interference each other. Besides, the error correction capacity of our decomposable code was not sufficient. In this paper, we improve dependability of our scheme by extending code rates of the decomposable code. We also evaluate the performances comparing with IEEE 802.15.6 in a multiple WBAN environment by computer simulations.