Impact of Wireless Impact of Wireless Technologies on Health, Life Technologies on Health, Life

and Social Sciencesand Social Sciences

Mahasweta SarkarMahasweta Sarkar

Assistant ProfessorAssistant ProfessorDepartment of Electrical and Computer EngineeringDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering

San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University

Background & Research InterestsBackground & Research Interests

Ph.D. from UCSD in December 2005.Ph.D. from UCSD in December 2005.

Research Scientist at SPAWAR (Jan 2006-August 2006)Research Scientist at SPAWAR (Jan 2006-August 2006)

Assistant Professor in the department of Electrical and Assistant Professor in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at SDSU in August 2006. Computer Engineering at SDSU in August 2006.

Research interest lies in the area of Research interest lies in the area of wireless data networks. .

Instrumental in setting up the Instrumental in setting up the Wireless Multimedia Wireless Multimedia Communications and Networks LabCommunications and Networks Lab in her department. The in her department. The lab is equipped with various state-of-the-art wireless lab is equipped with various state-of-the-art wireless network test beds, such as Cognitive Radio Networks, network test beds, such as Cognitive Radio Networks, Wireless Sensor Networks, ZigBee and WLANs. Wireless Sensor Networks, ZigBee and WLANs.

Current Research ProjectsCurrent Research Projects Optimization of Optimization of packet delay and energy consumptionpacket delay and energy consumption in in

wireless nodeswireless nodes

Directional AntennasDirectional Antennas : neighbor discovery and topology control : neighbor discovery and topology control issuesissues

QoS issuesQoS issues in wireless and ad hoc networks (especially for in wireless and ad hoc networks (especially for multimedia traffic)multimedia traffic)

Scheduling algorithmsScheduling algorithms for Wi-Max networks (802.16) for Wi-Max networks (802.16)

Smart Smart channel access schemeschannel access schemes for sensor networks and for sensor networks and 802.11e802.11e

MAC layer channel scheduling schemes for MAC layer channel scheduling schemes for dynamic spectrum dynamic spectrum allocationallocation in the PHY layer (Multi-channel issues) in the PHY layer (Multi-channel issues)

Impact of Wireless Technology on Health Impact of Wireless Technology on Health and Life Sciencesand Life Sciences

What is BAN ?What is BAN ?

Tiny wireless sensors strategically placed on human body create WBAN Tiny wireless sensors strategically placed on human body create WBAN that monitors various vital signs providing real time feedback to user that monitors various vital signs providing real time feedback to user /medical professional./medical professional.

Challenges: size, operating time, precision, reliabilityChallenges: size, operating time, precision, reliability

Utility :Utility : WBAN systems that monitor vital signs provide affordable health WBAN systems that monitor vital signs provide affordable health

monitoring monitoring It will allow a dramatic shift in the way people think and manage their It will allow a dramatic shift in the way people think and manage their

healthhealth The shift towards more proactive preventive health care will not only The shift towards more proactive preventive health care will not only

improve quality of life but also health care costs.improve quality of life but also health care costs.

Application Space : Application Space : CustomizableCustomizable

cardiologycardiology diabetesdiabetes sleepsleep asthmaasthma epilepsyepilepsy EEG/EMGEEG/EMG SIDSSIDS elderlyelderly

The Overall ArchitectureThe Overall Architecture

Slide Courtesy: U. Huntsville

Slide Courtesy: U. Slide Courtesy: U. HuntsvilleHuntsville

3-tier Hierarchical Organization3-tier Hierarchical Organization

MotivationMotivation Goal: ubiquitous and affordable healthcareGoal: ubiquitous and affordable healthcare Solution: 3-tier ubiquitous monitoring systemSolution: 3-tier ubiquitous monitoring system

• Tier 1: Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN)Tier 1: Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN)• Tier 2: Personal ServerTier 2: Personal Server• Tier 3: Healthcare Provider ServersTier 3: Healthcare Provider Servers

Opportunities:Opportunities: • Ambulatory health monitoringAmbulatory health monitoring• Computer-assisted rehabilitationComputer-assisted rehabilitation• Augmented reality systemsAugmented reality systems

Long-term benefits:Long-term benefits:• Promote healthy lifestylePromote healthy lifestyle• Seamless integration of data into personal medical Seamless integration of data into personal medical

records and research databases records and research databases • Knowledge discovery through data miningKnowledge discovery through data mining

System Criteria and ConcernsSystem Criteria and ConcernsSensor and node size and valueSensor and node size and valueSensor nodes must be small enough to be implanted in the body. This is more of hardware oriented issue Sensor nodes must be small enough to be implanted in the body. This is more of hardware oriented issue

SafetySafety Wearable and implanted sensors will need to be biocompatible and unobtrusive to prevent harm to Wearable and implanted sensors will need to be biocompatible and unobtrusive to prevent harm to

the user.the user. Safety-critical applications must have fault-tolerant operationSafety-critical applications must have fault-tolerant operation

SecuritySecurityUnauthorized access or manipulation of system function could have severe consequences. Security Unauthorized access or manipulation of system function could have severe consequences. Security

measures such as user authentication will prevent such consequencemeasures such as user authentication will prevent such consequence

PrivacyPrivacyBASNs will be entrusted with potentially sensitive information about people. Protecting user privacy willBASNs will be entrusted with potentially sensitive information about people. Protecting user privacy will

require both technical and nontechnical solutionsrequire both technical and nontechnical solutions

Quick and efficient data Quick and efficient data processing within the nodeprocessing within the node

We can concentrate on power/energy efficient methods of data processing. We can also work on We can concentrate on power/energy efficient methods of data processing. We can also work on fast data processing for critical monitoring systems.fast data processing for critical monitoring systems.

System Criteria and ConcernSystem Criteria and Concern

Power Consumption for transmitting Power Consumption for transmitting and receiving information from or to a and receiving information from or to a nodenode

Maximum research going on in this areaMaximum research going on in this area

Energy HarvestingEnergy HarvestingTapping energy from surrounding environment to recharge node batteries.Tapping energy from surrounding environment to recharge node batteries.

Signal & Path Loss Performance Signal & Path Loss Performance Signal and path loss inside the human body is drastically different than the rules in plain space. Signal and path loss inside the human body is drastically different than the rules in plain space.

Researchers have been able to model signal loss throughout the human body, however the more Researchers have been able to model signal loss throughout the human body, however the more interesting research involves using the human body as a transmission medium for electrical signalsinteresting research involves using the human body as a transmission medium for electrical signals

What is IEEE saying?What is IEEE saying?(Interest Group on BAN in 802.15)(Interest Group on BAN in 802.15)

There is no specific standard for BANThere is no specific standard for BAN• Current standards come close for specific use Current standards come close for specific use

cases, not broad enoughcases, not broad enough• Issues: power consumption, discovery, QoSIssues: power consumption, discovery, QoS

support for very low power devicessupport for very low power devices Target less than 10% power consumption Target less than 10% power consumption

for communications compared to total for communications compared to total devicedevice

Have single standard with broad range of Have single standard with broad range of supported data rate - scalabilitysupported data rate - scalability

IEEE Requirements : DraftIEEE Requirements : Draft DistanceDistance : 2 m std, 5 m special : 2 m std, 5 m special Piconet densityPiconet density : 2 - 4 nets / m : 2 - 4 nets / m22 Devices per networkDevices per network : max. 100 : max. 100 Net network throughputNet network throughput:100 Mbit/s:100 Mbit/s Power consumptionPower consumption:~ 1mW / Mbps:~ 1mW / Mbps

(@ 1 m distance)(@ 1 m distance) Startup timeStartup time : < 100 us, or : < 100 us, or

< 10% of TX slot < 10% of TX slot Latency (end to end)Latency (end to end): 10 ms : 10 ms Network setup timeNetwork setup time : < 1 sec: < 1 sec

(after initial setup, per device)(after initial setup, per device)

Research Issues : Research Issues : InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary

• Utilize common off-the-shelf components, Utilize common off-the-shelf components, capable of seamless integration into a WBAN capable of seamless integration into a WBAN (Mech Eng)(Mech Eng)

• Standardization of sensors Standardization of sensors (EE)(EE)(specificity, range, precision, type)(specificity, range, precision, type)

• Rules of engagement and sensor placement Rules of engagement and sensor placement (Medical)(Medical)• Sensor calibration & customization Sensor calibration & customization (Medical + EE/ME)(Medical + EE/ME)• Integration of data into medical databases Integration of data into medical databases (CS)(CS)• Privacy and security Privacy and security (CS)(CS)• Social impact Social impact (Psychology)(Psychology)• Business opportunities Business opportunities (Business)(Business)

Impact of Wireless Technology on Impact of Wireless Technology on Social Sciences (Networking)Social Sciences (Networking)

The Big PictureThe Big Picture

Simple message exchanges among small, low-Simple message exchanges among small, low-cost, personal wireless devices (preferably cost, personal wireless devices (preferably wearable). wearable).

These devices are intended to be used as smart These devices are intended to be used as smart cards at large conferences or other gatherings of cards at large conferences or other gatherings of people possibly sharing common interests. people possibly sharing common interests.

The idea is that two individuals coming into a The idea is that two individuals coming into a physical proximity, e.g., shaking hands or simply physical proximity, e.g., shaking hands or simply passing close to one another, may want to passing close to one another, may want to exchange some information, e.g., corresponding exchange some information, e.g., corresponding to the contents of a generalized business card, to the contents of a generalized business card, via their smart cards. via their smart cards.

Let’s Get Fancier Than That…Let’s Get Fancier Than That…

What if my Card can…What if my Card can…a)a) talk to my Twitter followers and tell them my current status talk to my Twitter followers and tell them my current status

(I am giving a talk at SDSC)(I am giving a talk at SDSC)

b)b) update my status message on my facebook (Sweta is update my status message on my facebook (Sweta is having fun discussing future facebook appshaving fun discussing future facebook apps))

c)c) alert me in case of an emergency (Mumbai blast victims alert me in case of an emergency (Mumbai blast victims were reported to Twitter each other constantly)were reported to Twitter each other constantly)

d)d) find me my soul-mate or just a dinner-date tonight (Social find me my soul-mate or just a dinner-date tonight (Social Profile)Profile)

e)e) find me a research collaborator (Business Profile)find me a research collaborator (Business Profile)

f)f) find me a kayaking buddy (Special Interest Profile)find me a kayaking buddy (Special Interest Profile)

Smart Card

InternetServer

Smart Card

Smart Card

Smart Card

PC

The System Architecture

Smart Card

InternetServer

Smart Card

Smart Card

Smart Card

PC

Wireless/Wired Technology Integration

WPANWPAN

WLANWLANCellularCellular

Wired TCP/IPWired TCP/IP

DeliverablesDeliverables

The Smart CardThe Smart Card Inter Smart-Card CommunicationInter Smart-Card Communication Smart Card – Cell Phone Smart Card – Cell Phone

Communication (Cell phone app)Communication (Cell phone app) Cell Phone – Internet CommunicationCell Phone – Internet Communication Facebook/Twitter Applications for Facebook/Twitter Applications for

automatic message/status updatesautomatic message/status updates

Design Considerations Design Considerations - Slow moving low-cost & low-power mobile nodes

- Message sizes short (few bytes – few KB)- Message sizes short (few bytes – few KB)- 2 types of messages (Profile & Description)- 2 types of messages (Profile & Description)

- Single shared radio channel- Single shared radio channel- Short range of transmission (Approx 5m)- Short range of transmission (Approx 5m)

- Traffic type: Intermittent data - Traffic type: Intermittent data (Application/External Stimulus defined)(Application/External Stimulus defined)

- Application is not QoS specific and is - Application is not QoS specific and is moderately latency tolerantmoderately latency tolerant

What is a smart card?What is a smart card?•Processor cards (and therefore memory too)

•Credit card size•With or without contacts.

•Cards have an operating system too.•The OS provides

•A standard way of interchanging information•An interpretation of the commands and data.

•Cards must interface to a computer or terminal through a standard card reader.

What’s in a card?What’s in a card?

Radio

Network Protocol StackAntenna

My Profiles

Profile Matching Logic

I/O

Database of people I met

Operating System

Typical Smart Card Typical Smart Card ConfigurationsConfigurations

256 bytes to 4KB RAM.

8KB to 32KB ROM.

1KB to 32KB EEPROM.

Crypto-coprocessors (implementing 3DES, RSA etc., in hardware) are optional.8-bit to 16-bit CPU. 8051 based designs are common.

The price of a mid-level chip when produced in bulk is less than US$1.

Smart Card ReadersSmart Card Readers

Computer based readers connect through USB or COM (Serial) ports

Security MechanismsSecurity Mechanisms

PasswordCard holder’s protection

Cryptographic challenge ResponseEntity authentication

Biometric informationPerson’s identification

A combination of one or more

Data StorageData StorageData is stored in smart cards in E2PROM

Card OS provides a file structure mechanism

MF

DF DF

DF

EF EF

EF

EF EF

File types

Binary file (unstructured)

Fixed size record file

Variable size record file

Data Mining/ Data aggregation/Making Data Mining/ Data aggregation/Making sense of the datasense of the data

Interesting things to study:Interesting things to study:

a)a) How many fruitful collaborations How many fruitful collaborations were actually made via Smart Cardwere actually made via Smart Card

b)b) The speed of message propagation The speed of message propagation through Smart Card (status msg, through Smart Card (status msg, twitter msg, emergency msg)twitter msg, emergency msg)

c)c) Pros and Cons of random information Pros and Cons of random information disseminationdissemination

Issues and ChallengesIssues and Challenges

Network Issues:•Power Efficiency•Reliable data delivery•Node density issues•Mobility issues

Data Management:• What to throw out, when to throw out• Putting information to good use

Social Issues : • Protecting oneself from malicious users

Integration of several communication techniques

““Things that think…Things that think…don’t make sense unless they don’t make sense unless they

link.”link.”

- Nicholas Negroponte, MIT Media - Nicholas Negroponte, MIT Media LaboratoryLaboratory