A BAN (i.e. Body Area Network) is used to monitor the health status of an indivi

Question

A BAN (i.e. Body Area Network) is used to monitor the health status of an individual (i.e. temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, movement, O_2 levels, etc.). Data from the sensors goes to a wearable microcontroller that routinely records the data and compares it with an accepted range of norms for each parameter. Data is then uploaded to a doctor's office once a day or sent immediately if the data is outside certain parameters (i.e. a fall is detected, blood pressure spikes, etc.). a. If the data from the sensors is analog, describe how it would be collected by the microcontroller. List any assumptions that you make. b. Describe the communications "path" between the sensors, microcontroller, and doctor's office. c Describe how privacy and security of the system could be maintained.

Explanation / Answer

2.a) If the microcontroller can accept analog values, we can directly give the analog output from the sensors after the required scaling to make the signal amplitude in the acceptable range of microcontroller input. I mean to say that, if the ampitude of output of the sensor is outside the acceptable values of the microcontroller, we can use circuits (preferrably Op-amp circuits) to scale the amplitude of sensor output to the desired level that the microcontroller can safely handle.
Now if the microcontroller cannot accept analog signals, then we have to employ suitable analog to digital converter ADC (preferrably Op-amp circuits) to get proper amplitude levels which is in the safe limits of the microcontroller.

Note: Op-amp circuits are preffered because of its high efficiency and low power consumption.

2.b) The communication path between the sensors and microcontroller can be a wired channel or simply a wire as it is mentioned that the microcntroller is wearable. Also, the sensors will not be inside the body. So, the distance between the sensors and microcontrollers are very less and hence wired channel can be used.
But this is not the case with the communication between microcontroller and the doctor's office. There will be considerable distance between them and hence wired channel is not a good idea. Also, it is mentioned that the data have to be sent immediately. So fastest means of wireless communication has to choosen for this purpose. Thus radio waves can be choosen to communicate with the doctor if the distance is too long. If the distance is very less (in the range less than 1 mile), Xbee technology can be used. If radio waves are used, then we have to design all the equipments required for modulation and demodulation of the data signal including encryptor and decryptor to ensure security of the data.

2.c) The privacy and security of the data transmission can be ensured by encoding or encrypting the data before sending the data by using an encoder/encryptor and then by using a decoder/decryptor, the data can be extracted at the recieving end. For this, an efficient encryption logic has to be developed and implemented. Also, for an enhanced system security, it is a good thought to add password protection. A good understanding in the analog as well as digital circuits and communication systems with good skills in circuit design will be sufficient to design and implement the above system.

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