Mobile Healthcare Networks (2007-11)

Title: Multi-radio architectures for robust mobile monitoring applications

Research Engineer: Tom Feist
Sponsor: Mobile Healthcare Networks, Edinburgh
Academic Supervision: Prof Tughrul Arslan, University of Edinburgh
Industrial Supervision: James Hanlon, Director, Mobile Healthcare Networks

The rise of low cost wireless communications technology has had a significant impact on many business sectors. Applications which were previously constrained by communication and power cabling may now be implemented wirelessly, increasing productivity and permitting entirely new functionality.

The problem with moving from a static wired infrastructure to a mobile wireless platform is twofold: communication, and power. Wireless communication is a mature technology, but continues to progress with improvements in power consumption, range, and bandwidth. A number of open issues still remain, however, such as effective methods of ensuring reliable data transmission, security, and scalability.

One approach to the power/bandwidth problem is the use of a multiple heterogenous radio architecture, with a high duty cycle, low power control channel, supporting the creation and management of short-term point to point high bandwidth links on demand.

Removing permanently wired power sources from the platform is also a significant technical challenge. It requires low power design and construction techniques, application profiling for battery requirements, and investigation of suitable charging methods. Alternative power sources such as inductive coupling may also be considered.

The main aim of this project is the development of a prototype wireless platform suitable for medical monitoring applications.

A literature and existing work survey will attempt to discover novel and unapplied algorithms for network MAC, mesh routing, and transport layers, and existing verified cryptographic security will be incorporated at the higher levels.

Designs will then be considered, based initially around the OSI stack model, and developed in simulation. Successful simulations will then lead to the development of a physical prototype implemention for further testing.