Channel Allocation in WBAN: Dynamic TDMA-FDMA with Mobility Consideration

The need of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) has raised due to technological advancements, cost-effective medical services, and the rising prevalence of diseases that require real-time health monitoring systems. The sensors involved in WBANs are affordable and portable, but resource-constrained. Sensors in WBANs for real health monitoring experience mobility along the body during activity, while some are implanted in the body to collect data, handling sensitive human medical information. Therefore, reliability and energy efficiency are critical performance metrics. Medium Access Protocol plays an important role in conserving energy and enhancing reliability in the dynamic environment of WBAN. Challenges of the WBAN in the MAC layer include static allocation, unfair channel allocation, and inefficient channel utilisation. We proposed a Dynamic TDMA-FDMA Channel Allocation protocol for a dynamic WBAN environment. The mobility of nodes, data rate, and data availability are factors in deciding on the channel allocation, helping to reduce idle waiting time and collisions. Highly mobile sensor nodes with unstable connections will access the channel frequently to maintain reliability. In terms of delay, reliability, and energy efficiency, the proposed MAC protocol outstrips the existing protocols.