1,045 research outputs found
Radio channel characterisation and system-level modelling for ultra wideband body-centric wireless communications
PhDThe next generation of wireless communication is evolving towards user-centric networks,
where constant and reliable connectivity and services are essential. Bodycentric
wireless network (BCWN) is the most exciting and emerging 4G technology
for short (1-5 m) and very short (below 1 m) range communication systems. It has
got numerous applications including healthcare, entertainment, surveillance, emergency,
sports and military. The major difference between the BCWN and conventional
wireless systems is the radio channel over which the communication takes place. The
human body is a hostile medium from the radio propagation perspective and it is
therefore important to understand and characterise the effect of the human body on
the antenna elements, the radio propagation channel parameters and hence the system
performance. In addition, fading is another concern that affects the reliability and
quality of the wireless link, which needs to be taken into account for a low cost and
reliable wireless communication system for body-centric networks.
The complex nature of the BCWN requires operating wireless devices to provide
low power requirements, less complexity, low cost and compactness in size. Apart
from these characteristics, scalable data rates and robust performance in most fading
conditions and jamming environment, even at low signal to noise ratio (SNR) is
needed. Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is one of the most promising candidate for
BCWN as it tends to fulfill most of these requirements. The thesis focuses on the characterisation
of ultra wideband body-centric radio propagation channel using single
and multiple antenna techniques. Apart from channel characterisation, system level
modelling of potential UWB radio transceivers for body-centric wireless network is
also proposed. Channel models with respect to large scale and delay analysis are derived
from measured parameters. Results and analyses highlight the consequences
of static and dynamic environments in addition to the antenna positions on the performance
of body-centric wireless communication channels. Extensive measurement
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campaigns are performed to analyse the significance of antenna diversity to combat
the channel fading in body-centric wireless networks. Various diversity combining
techniques are considered in this process. Measurement data are also used to predict
the performance of potential UWB systems in the body-centric wireless networks.
The study supports the significance of single and multiple antenna channel characterisation
and modelling in producing suitable wireless systems for ultra low power
body-centric wireless networks.University of Engineering and Technology Lahore Pakista
A Holistic Investigation on Terahertz Propagation and Channel Modeling Toward Vertical Heterogeneous Networks
User-centric and low latency communications can be enabled not only by small
cells but also through ubiquitous connectivity. Recently, the vertical
heterogeneous network (V-HetNet) architecture is proposed to backhaul/fronthaul
a large number of small cells. Like an orchestra, the V-HetNet is a polyphony
of different communication ensembles, including geostationary orbit (GEO), and
low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites (e.g., CubeSats), and networked flying
platforms (NFPs) along with terrestrial communication links. In this study, we
propose the Terahertz (THz) communications to enable the elements of V-HetNets
to function in harmony. As THz links offer a large bandwidth, leading to
ultra-high data rates, it is suitable for backhauling and fronthauling small
cells. Furthermore, THz communications can support numerous applications from
inter-satellite links to in-vivo nanonetworks. However, to savor this harmony,
we need accurate channel models. In this paper, the insights obtained through
our measurement campaigns are highlighted, to reveal the true potential of THz
communications in V-HetNets.Comment: It has been accepted for the publication in IEEE Communications
Magazin
Indoor off-body wireless communication: static beamforming versus space-time coding
The performance of beamforming versus space-time coding using a body-worn textile antenna array is experimentally evaluated for an indoor environment, where a walking rescue worker transmits data in the 2.45 GHz ISM band, relying on a vertical textile four-antenna array integrated into his garment. The two transmission scenarios considered are static beamforming at low-elevation angles and space-time code based transmit diversity. Signals are received by a base station equipped with a horizontal array of four dipole antennas providing spatial receive diversity through maximum-ratio combining. Signal-to-noise ratios, bit error rate characteristics, and signal correlation properties are assessed for both off-body transmission scenarios. Without receiver diversity, the performance of space-time coding is generally better. In case of fourth-order receiver diversity, beamforming is superior in line-of-sight conditions. For non-line-of-sight propagation, the space-time codes perform better as soon as bit error rates are low enough for a reliable data link
Antenna and radio channel characterisation for low‐power personal and body area networks
PhDThe continuous miniaturisation of sensors, as well as the progression in wearable electronics,
embedded software, digital signal processing and biomedical technologies, have led to new usercentric
networks, where devices can be carried in the user’s pockets, attached to the user’s body.
Body-centric wireless communications (BCWCs) is a central point in the development of fourth
generation mobile communications. Body-centric wireless networks take their place within the
personal area networks, body area networks and sensor networks which are all emerging
technologies that have a wide range of applications (such as, healthcare, entertainment,
surveillance, emergency, sports and military). The major difference between BCWC and
conventional wireless systems is the radio channels over which the communication takes place.
The human body is a hostile environment from a radio propagation perspective and it is therefore
important to understand and characterise the effects of the human body on the antenna elements,
the radio channel parameters and, hence, system performance. This thesis focuses on the study of
body-worn antennas and on-body radio propagation channels.
The performance parameters of five different narrowband (2.45 GHz) and four UWB (3.1-
10.6 GHz) body-worn antennas in the presence of human body are investigated and compared.
This was performed through a combination of numerical simulations and measurement
campaigns. Parametric studies and statistical analysis, addressing the human body effects on the
performance parameters of different types of narrowband and UWB antennas have been
presented. The aim of this study is to understand the human body effects on the antenna
parameters and specify the suitable antenna in BCWCs at both 2.45 GHz and UWB frequencies.
Extensive experimental investigations are carried out to study the effects of various antenna
types on the on-body radio propagation channels as well. Results and analysis emphasize the best
body-worn antenna for reliable and power-efficient on-body communications. Based on the
results and analysis, a novel dual-band and dual-mode antenna is proposed for power-efficient
and reliable on-body and off-body communications. The on-body performance of the DBDM
antenna at 2.45 GHz is compared with other five narrowband antennas. Based on the results and
analysis of six narrowband and four UWB antennas, antenna specifications and design guidelines
are provided that will help in selecting the best body-worn antenna for both narrowband and
UWB systems to be applied in body-centric wireless networks (BCWNs). A comparison between
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the narrowband and UWB antenna parameters are also provided. At the end of the thesis, the
subject-specificity of the on-body radio propagation channel at 2.45 GHz and 3-10 GHz was
experimentally investigated by considering eight real human test subjects of different shapes,
heights and sizes. The subject-specificity of the on-body radio propagation channels was
compared between the narrowband and UWB systems as well
Modelling and characterisation of antennas and propagation for body-centric wireless communication
PhDBody-Centric Wireless Communication (BCWC) is a central point in the development
of fourth generation mobile communications. The continuous miniaturisation of sensors,
in addition to the advancement in wearable electronics, embedded software, digital
signal processing and biomedical technologies, have led to a new concept of usercentric
networks, where devices can be carried in the user’s pockets, attached to the
user’s body or even implanted.
Body-centric wireless networks take their place within the personal area networks,
body area networks and body sensor networks which are all emerging technologies
that have a broad range of applications such as healthcare and personal entertainment.
The major difference between BCWC and conventional wireless systems is the
radio channel over which the communication takes place. The human body is a hostile
environment from radio propagation perspective and it is therefore important to understand
and characterise the effect of the human body on the antenna elements, the
radio channel parameters and hence the system performance. This is presented and
highlighted in the thesis through a combination of experimental and electromagnetic
numerical investigations, with a particular emphasis to the numerical analysis based
on the finite-difference time-domain technique.
The presented research work encapsulates the characteristics of the narrowband
(2.4 GHz) and ultra wide-band (3-10 GHz) on-body radio channels with respect to
different digital phantoms, body postures, and antenna types hence highlighting the
effect of subject-specific modelling, static and dynamic environments and antenna performance
on the overall body-centric network. The investigations covered extend further
to include in-body communications where the radio channel for telemetry with
medical implants is also analysed by considering the effect of different digital phantoms
on the radio channel characteristics. The study supports the significance of developing
powerful and reliable numerical modelling to be used in conjunction with measurement campaigns for a comprehensive understanding of the radio channel in
body-centric wireless communication. It also emphasises the importance of considering
subject-specific electromagnetic modelling to provide a reliable prediction of the
network performance
Multi-hop and channel modelling for wireless body area networks at 60 GHz
This thesis presents work on antennas and propagation for WBANs at 60 GHz. First, a compact, wearable Vivaldi antenna and Vivaldi antenna array covering the whole unlicensed band from 57 to 64 GHz are proposed to overcome the shadowing due to human movements. Second, multi-hop channels for on-body communication at 60 GHz are investigated through applying the proposed antennas, and it is found that multi-hop wireless network adaption can increase reliability when the separation between sensors exceeds 40 cm compared to single-hop. Radiation pattern diversity is selected among different diversity techniques for providing stable links for 60 GHz WBANs. Results show that radiation pattern diversity enlarges the signal coverage area on the human body, which compensates for the narrow beamwidth antenna, thus more stable links can be established. Finally, a representative channel model for 60 GHz on-body network with an appropriate power control method is presented. With this model and power control method, it has been proved in this thesis that a multi-hop method for on-body communication at 60 GHz is feasible to establish a stable network for different applications
Interaction of antenna systems with human body
The research investigates the influence on the human body on a communication system. To understand this, the effect of hands free kit (HFK) on energy absorption in the body was investigated when operating a smart phone at 2G. Findings on the research are given in the thesis report. Also, the influence of the way in which a phone is held on a phone s received power was investigated. The result was compared to that obtained using a hand phantom acquired from SPEAG. This was to check if the hand phantom best represents the human hand when using it in experiments. The setup for the experiment was in an anechoic chamber at Loughborough University. The mobile phone transmitted in the 2G system. In further experiments carried out on the body, two antennas were attached to the body in six different orientations to receive power from a source creating a Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO) system. The antennas used were monopoles mounted on a circular ground plane. These antennas were designed and constructed with the influence of the body taken into consideration. The use of diversity techniques to improve transmission to an on-body system is investigated with the antennas on the body. For each alignment, the transmission to the on-body was compared with the transmission to the corresponding off-body (free space). Experiments for this work were carried out in three environments
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