Volume 16, Number 2

A Novel Medium Access Control Strategy for Heterogeneous Traffic in Wireless Body Area Networks

  Authors

Nabila Azdad and Mohamed Elboukhari, Mohammed First University, Morocco

  Abstract

So far, Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) have played a pivotal role in driving the development of intelligent healthcare systems with broad applicability across various domains. Each WBAN consists of one or more types of sensors that can be embedded in clothing, attached directly to the body, or even implanted beneath an individual's skin. These sensors typically serve asingle application. However, the traffic generated by each sensor may have distinct requirements. This diversity necessitates a dual approach: tailored treatment based on the specific needs of each traffic typeand the fulfillment of application requirements, such asreliability and timeliness. Never the less, the presence of energy constraints and the unreliable nature of wireless communications make QoS provisioning under such networks a non-trivial task. In this context, the current paper introduces a novel Medium AccessControl (MAC) strategy for the regular traffic applications of WBANs, designed to significantly enhance efficiency when compared to the established MAC protocols IEEE 802.15.4 and IEEE 802.15.6, with a particular focus on improving reliability, timeliness, and energy efficiency.

  Keywords

WBAN, Requirements, tailored treatment, MACstrategy, enhanced efficiency.