Transmit power control for wireless body area networks using novel channel prediction

Abstract

We present a predictor for real Body-Area-Network (BAN) channels that is accurate for up to 2 seconds, even with a nominal channel coherence time of 500 ms. The predictor utilizes the partial-periodicity of measured BAN channels using the previous 4 seconds of channel gain values. We demonstrate use of this predictor for power control with open-access and private channel measurements. When used under a realistic setting for IEEE 802.15.6, with packet loss less than 10%, we show that the accurate channel predictor does not translate into substantial reduction in packet loss or power usage over a simple sample-and-hold method, even though it is a more accurate predictor than sample-and-hold.