A Survey on M2M Systems for mHealth: A Wireless Communications Perspective

Sensors

Elli Kartsakli¹  Aris S. Lalos¹  Angelos Antonopoulos¹  Stefano Tennina²  Marco Di Renzo³  Luis Alonso¹ 

[1]Department of Signal Theory and Communications (TSC), Technical University of Catalonia (UPC-BarcelonaTECH), C./ Esteve Terradas 7, Castelldefels 08860, Barcelona, Spain

[2] E-Mails:

[3]WEST Aquila slr, Via Giovanni Gronchi 18, L'Aquila 67100, Italy

[4] E-Mail:

[5]Laboratory of Signals and Systems (L2S), CNRS - SUPELEC - Univ. Paris-Sud XI, 3 Rue Joliot-Curie, 91192 Gif sur Yvette, France

[6] E-Mail:

关键词: Machine-to-machine (M2M);    mHealth;    eHealth;    healthcare;    WBAN;    end-to-end communications;    IEEE 802.15.6;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s141018009

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In the new era of connectivity, marked by the explosive number of wireless electronic devices and the need for smart and pervasive applications, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications are an emerging technology that enables the seamless device interconnection without the need of human interaction. The use of M2M technology can bring to life a wide range of mHealth applications, with considerable benefits for both patients and healthcare providers. Many technological challenges have to be met, however, to ensure the widespread adoption of mHealth solutions in the future. In this context, we aim to provide a comprehensive survey on M2M systems for mHealth applications from a wireless communication perspective. An end-to-end holistic approach is adopted, focusing on different communication aspects of the M2M architecture. Hence, we first provide a systematic review of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs), which constitute the enabling technology at the patient's side, and then discuss end-to-end solutions that involve the design and implementation of practical mHealth applications. We close the survey by identifying challenges and open research issues, thus paving the way for future research opportunities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.