Base Stations
ITIV Telematic Platform: Base Stations
Overview
The central communication component which closes the gap between the Bluetooth™ based Body Area Network (BAN) and other networks (GSM, Internet, Intranet ) is the device called base station or personal Health assistant (PHA) . It connects the local sensor to the electronic patient file respectively to the medical service provider. Depending on the required functionality and the environment there are different possible realizations. Usually a mobile information device including a Bluetooth™ interface like a PDA or a mobile phone of smart phone will be used. On the other hand it is also possible to use Bluetooth™ Access Points or a common personal computer which enable data communication for home monitoring or clinical applications.
Selection criteria are costs , desired functionality and complexity of measurement task . Depending on the functionality required (user interface, data pre-processing, visualisation, emergence detection) various base stations can be used starting at the simple Bluetooth™ mobile phone to smart phones or PDAs.
Mobile Base Stations
Bluetooth ™ Mobile Phone
- simple, inexpensive
- easy integration
- no (or very simple) user interface
- few sensors
- data transfer via SMS or continuously through a secure access point of the medical service provider
Smart Phone
- complex applications possible
- user interface & visualization possible
- possible data pre-processing & analysis
- many sensors usable
- data transfer via SMS or continuously through a secure access point of the medical service provider or via mobile, secure internet connection
- currently supported systems: Symbian ™, Java
PDA with Mobile Phone
- integration of many different sensors possible
- extensive functionality and user interface possible
- online visualization of all acquired vital parameters
- extensive data pre-processing and analysis possible
- mobile data communication using an integrated GPS module of via a standard Bluetooth™ mobile phone
- currently supported systems: PocketPC ™, Linux
Fixed Base Stations / Access Points
Bluetooth™ Access Point (BAP)
- simple integration of intelligent Bluetooth™-sensors
- integration in existing networks (internet, Intranet)
- no data processing in base station possible, but direct link to a centralized data base / electronic patient file
- use of standard Access Points possible
Personal Computer (PC)
- mostly stationary system
- simple integration by using standard inexpensive Bluetooth™ Dongles
- very complex applications possible
- very extensive user interface possible
- very powerful data processing and data visualization possible
- inexpensive data communication via existing networks (Internet, Intranet)
- pure software solutions possible