Reliable communication in UWB body area networks using multiple hybrid relays

Body area networks (BANs) are wireless networks around the human body. Ultra-wideband (UWB) is one of the most preferred candidates for the physical layer of BAN. However, the attenuation due to human body tissues and the movement of body parts with respect to each other causes severe attenuation and limits the range of UWB. Hence, new and novel methods are required to improve communications in UWB BAN. The paper proposes, hybrid amplify forward and decode forward relays for communication in body area networks. Scenarios in the presence of multiple relays for both body surface and body surface to external models have been taken into consideration. The performance has been tested using IEEE 802.15 task group 6 designated channel models developed from real-time measurements. The findings from the analytical as well as simulation-based study indicate that hybrid relaying provides a versatile performance, and improves the reliability of the communication link by decreasing the bit error rate. The performance has been further validated by the transmission of medical magnetic resonance images. The results indicate that hybrid relaying has the best performance, and it can undoubtedly improve the reliability of the body area networks.