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A Review on IEEE 802.15.4- Standard for Wireless Body Network

Abstract

This paper presents a study on IEEE 802.15.4 and its application in Wireless Body Area Network. A WBAN is one of the rapid advancements of wireless communications which is designed to operate autonomously that connects various sensor nodes within a wireless network. The sensors may be located inside or outside the human body. The IEEE 802.15.4 is fully categorized by FFD(full function devices) and RFD(reduced function devices). The FFD have an ability to connect itself to the existing wireless personal area network or establishes its own. An IEEE 802.15.4 cluster tree format is shown for its reference which totally depends on network co-ordinator. The co-ordinator periodically broadcast broadcasts beacon frames which are used to inform neighbor devices about its existence or synchronize itself with other members of same network. An IEEE 802.15.4 MAC layer is adopted globally. For this a MAC overview, its protocol architecture, topologies is described. A physical layer comparison is given. Finally, a functional overview of a superframe structure is described that uses beacon frame. The co-ordinator uses this structure to transmit the data. Its duration in terms of CAP(contention access period),CFP(contention free period) and beacon interval is provided. This paper discusses the wireless network with various standards and configurations which is developed by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (IEEE). These standards explain the need and use of wireless connectivity speed ranging from 11Mbps to 54 Mbps. Lastly, we give a functional overview about the Superframe structure, its duration, beacon interval. One of the practical applications of IEEE 802.15.4 in health monitoring has been reviewed. The paper’s focus is WLAN & its Applications for various implementations.

S. A. Desai, P. H. Zope, S. R. Suralkar

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