Analytical Investigation of Body-Centric Communication Links Based on Path Loss in Indoor Environment

Abstract

In this paper, a detailed analysis has been carried out related to body-to-body communication links in an indoor office environment using compact ultra-wideband wearable antennas. The links have been analysed on the basis of path loss magnitude variation and statistical information which are dependent on the orientation and distance. Four orientations of the transmitter and receiver are chosen, namely facing front, back, side right, and side left. The distance between the links is varied up to 5 m to consider the effect of separation between the Tx and Rx. The path loss magnitude has been classified into three ranges, which mainly represent direct path propagation (R1:40–55 dB), partially obstructed/high multipath links (R2:55–60 dB), and totally obstructed links (R3 > 60 dB). The presence of path loss in the range R1 is highest (35%) for the case when the Tx is facing front for B-to-B links due to the high chance of direct line-of-sight propagation between the Tx and Rx. The percentage of occurrence of PL (>60 dB) is highest (95 %) for the scenario in which the Tx is facing back for B-to-B links which is due to the obstruction caused for all the orientations of the receiver. The difference in PL statistics and modelling is observed for various B-to-B links that are attributed to the fact of the presence of two human subjects and the corresponding orientations. This leads to variation in the antenna radiation pattern which in turn affects the propagation characteristics and the channel parameters.

KEYWORDS:

• Channel characterization and classification
• Line-of-sight
• Non-line-of-sight
• Path loss
• Ultra-wideband technology
• Wearable antennas

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richa Bharadwaj

Richa Bharadwaj is currently working as a CSIR-Senior Research Associate at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India. She has authored/co-authored two book chapters, one state-of-the-art book and a number of research publications in leading international journals and peer-reviewed conferences. She is a reviewer for several leading transactions and journals in the field of antennas and propagation, wireless communication, and sensors. Her research interests include ultra-wideband communication, 3-D localization, wireless sensor networks, body area networks, radio propagation characterization and modelling, miniaturized antenna design, and flexible electronics.

Shiban K. Koul

Shiban K Koul is an Emeritus Professor with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi since 2019 and Mentor Deputy Director (Strategy & Planning) with IIT Jammu, J&K, India since 2018. His research interests include RF MEMS, high-frequency wireless communication, microwave passive and active circuits, device modelling, millimetre and sub-millimetre wave IC design, body area networks, flexible and wearable antennas, medical applications of sub-terahertz waves, and reconfigurable microwave circuits. He has authored/co-authored 547 research papers, 16 state-of-the-art books, 4 book chapters, and 2 e-books. Prof Koul is a Life Fellow of IEEE and Fellow of INAE and IETE.Email: [email protected].