Challenges | Wireless Sensor Network | Wireless Body Area Sensor Network |
Scale | Monitored environment (meters/kilometers) | Human body (centimeters/meters) |
Node Number | Many redundant nodes for wide area coverage | Fewer, limited in space |
Result accuracy | Through node redundancy | Through node accuracy and robustness |
Node Tasks | Node performs a dedicated task | Node performs multiple tasks |
Node Size | Small is preferred, but not important | Small is essential |
Network Topology | Very likely to be fixed or static | More variable due to body movement |
Data Rates | Most often homogeneous | Most often heterogeneous |
Node Replacement | Performed easily, nodes even disposable | Replacement of implanted nodes difficult |
Node Lifetime | Several years/months | Several years/months, smaller battery capacity |
Power Supply | Accessible and likely to be replaced more easily and frequently | Inaccessible and difficult to replace in an implantable setting |
Power Demand | Likely to be large, energy supply easier | Likely to be lower, energy supply more difficult |
Energy Scavenging Source | Most likely solar and wind power | Most likely motion (vibration) and thermal (body heat) |
Biocompatibility | Not a consideration in most applications | A must for implants and some external sensors |
Security Level | Lower | Higher, to protect patient information |
Impact of Data Loss | Likely to be compensated by redundant nodes | More significant, may require additional measures to ensure QoS and real-time data delivery. |
Wireless Technology | Bluetooth, ZigBee, GPRS, WLAN, . . . | Low power technology required |
Node Tasks | Node performs a dedicated task | Node performs multiple tasks |
Node Size | Small is preferred, but not important | Small is essential |
Network Topology | Very likely to be fixed or static | More variable due to body movement |