Human Area Networks

By Sumanth S J 1st M.Tech SE RVCE

What Is Network?
A network is a group of two or more computer systems linked together. There are many types of computer networks, including: local-area networks (LANs) : The computers are geographically close together (that is, in the same building). wide-area networks (WANs) : The computers are farther apart and are connected by telephone lines or radio waves. metropolitan-area networks MANs): A data network designed for a town or city. personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for communication among computerized devices, including telephones and personal digital assistants.

Personal area network(PANs)

A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for communication among computerized devices, including telephones and personal digital assistants. PANs can be used for communication among the personal devices themselves (intrapersonal communication), or for connecting to a higher level network and the Internet . A wireless personal area network (WPAN) is a PAN carried over wireless network technologies such as
IrDA Wireless USB Bluetooth Z-Wave ZigBee Human Area Network

Infrared Data Association (IrDA)

The Infrared Data Association (IrDA) is an industry driven interest group that was founded in 1993 by around 50 companies. The main reason for using IrDA had been wireless data transfer over the last one meter using point and shoot principles. Thus, it has been implemented in portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, cameras, printers, medical devices and many more

Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short-wavelength radio transmissions in the ISM band from 24002480 MHz) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security. Created by telecom vendor Ericsson in 1994, it was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS-232 data cables. It can connect several devices, overcoming problems of synchronization.

ZigBee
ZigBee is new specification for a suite of high level communication protocols used to create personal area networks built from small, lowpower digital radios. ZigBee is based on an IEEE 802.15 standard. Though low-powered, ZigBee devices often transmit data over longer distances by passing data through intermediate devices to reach more distant ones, creating a mesh network.ZigBee is used in applications that require a low data rate, long battery life, and secure networking.

ZigBee working

Human area network

Human Area Networking is a technology that safely turns the surface of the human body into a data transmission path at speeds up to 10 Mbps between any two points on the body. Uses weak electric fields on the surface of the body as a transmission medium. The concept of intra-body communication was first proposed by IBM in 1996. This communication mechanism was later evaluated and reported by several research groups around the world.

 However, all those reported technologies had two limitations: The operating range through the body was limited to a few tens of centimeters The top communication speed was only 40 Kbit/s. These limitations arise from the use of an electrical sensor for the receiver. An electrical sensor requires two lines (a signal line and a ground line), whereas in intrabody communication there is essentially only one signal line, i.e., the body itself, which leads to an unbalanced transmission line, so the signal is not transmitted correctly. These limitations were overcome by NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation) located in Tokyo, Japan by using photonic electric field sensors.

Intra body communication methods

There are 2 basic methods:

Electric current method Electric field method( Red Tacton

 The electro-optic sensor has three key features: It can measure electric fields from a device under test (DUT) without contacting it, which minimizes measurement disturbance. Ultra wide-band measurement is possible It supports one-point contact measurement that is independent of the ground, which is the most significant feature in the present context. NTT utilized this third feature to fabricate an intrabody communication receiver for its human area networking technology, which is called RedTacton.

 RedTacton Technology was introduced by Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT). It is a technology that uses the surface of the human body as a safe, high speed network transmission. The study of Human Area Networking TACTON- meaning action triggered by touching RED -It is an auspicious color according to Japanese culture for warmth.

 RedTacton uses the minute electric field emitted on the surface of the human body. It is completely distinct from wireless and infrared. A transmission path is formed at a part of the human body which comes in contact with a RedTacton transceiver. Physically separating ends the contact and thus ends communication. Using RedTacton, communication starts when terminals carried by the user are linked in several combinations according to the user's natural, physical movements. Communication is possible using any body surfaces, such as the hands, fingers, feet, face, legs, skin or torso. Red Tacton works through shoes and clothing as well.

 RedTacton Technology has three main functional features: Touch: Touching, sitting, walking, stepping, gripping and other human movements can be the used as triggers for unlocking or locking, starting or stopping the equipment, or obtaining data. Broadband & Interactive: Bandwidth does not deteriorate even with duplex operations and also simultaneous access by many users. Duplex, interactive communication is possible at a maximum speed of 10Mbps. This is because the transmission path is on the surface of the body; transmission speed of red tacton does not deteriorate in congested areas Where many people can communicate at the same time. Any media: In addition to the human body, there are various conductors and dielectrics can also be used as transmission media. Conductors and dielectrics may also be used in combination.

Working
RedTacton takes a different technical approach. Instead of depending on electromagnetic waves or light waves to carry data. RedTacton using weak electric fields on the surface of the body as a transmission medium as shown in figure. The RedTacton transmitter induces a weak electric field on the surface of the body. The RedTacton receiver senses changes in the weak electric field on the surface of the body caused by the transmitter. RedTacton relies upon the principle that the optical properties of an electro-optic crystal can vary according to the changes of a weak electric field. RedTacton detects changes in the optical properties of an electro-optic crystal using a laser and converts the result to an electrical signal in a optical receiver circuit.

RedTacton Transceiver
Transmitter consists transmitter circuit that has electric fields towards the body and a data sense circuit which distinguishes transmitting and receiving modes by detecting both transmission and reception data and outputs control signals corresponding to the two modes to enable two way communication. Implementation of receive-first half-duplex communication scheme that sends only after checking to make sure that there is no data to receive in order to avoid packet collisions.

Block Diagram of Transceiver

Red Tacton transceiver

Mechanism of Communication
The naturally occurring electric field induced on the surface of the human body dissipates into the earth. Therefore, this electric field is exceptionally faint and unstable. The photonic electric field sensor developed by NTT enables weak electric fields to be measured by detecting changes in the optical properties of an electro-optic crystal with a laser beam.

Mechanism of Communication

System Safety
NO current flows into human body from red tacton devices. RedTacton uses the electric field that occurs naturally on the surface of the human body for communication. Transmitter and receiver electrodes are covered with an insulating films RedTacton is in conformity to the "Radiofrequency-exposure Protection standard (RCR STD-38)" issued by the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB).

Features of RedTacton

Features of RedTacton
Touch: Communication With Just a Touch Or Step Touching, gripping, sitting, walking, stepping and other human movements can be the triggers for unlocking or locking, starting or stopping equipment, or obtaining data. Using RedTacton, communication starts when terminals carried by the user or embedded in device sare linked in various combinations through physical contact according to the human's natural movements.

Features of RedTacton
Broadband & Interactive: Duplex, interactive communication is possible at a maximum speed of 10Mbps. Because the transmission path is on the surface of the body, transmission speed does not deteriorate in congested areas where many people are communicating at the same time. Taking advantage of this speed, device drivers can be downloaded instantly and execute programs can be sent

Features of RedTacton
Any Media: In addition to the human body, various conductors and dielectrics can be used as transmission media. Conductors and dielectrics may also be used in combination. A communication environment can be created easily and at low-cost by using items close at hand, such as desks, walls, and metal objects. But there is one limitation on the length of the conductor to be propagated, on installation locations, and on the thickness of the dielectric to be passed through.

 Red Tacton device has wide range of applications. Some of the existing and newly innovated applications are discussed below. APPLICATION FIELDS One to One Service Intuitive operations Personalization New Behavior Pattern

One to one services

Elimination of human error: RedTacton devices embedded medicine bottles transmit information on the medicines attributes. Whenever the user touches the wrong medicine, immediately an alarm will trigger on the terminal he is carrying. The alarm sounds only whenever the user actually touches the medicine bottle, it reduces false alarms common with passive wireless ID tags, which trigger simply by proximity. Avoidance of risk at construction sites. (An alarm sounds only if special equipment is handled by any one other than supervisors)

 Marketing Applications When a consumer stands in front of an advertising panel, information matching and advertising his or her attributes is automatically displayed. By standing in front of items they are interested in and also touching it, consumers can get more related information. Inside a shop, shoppers can view related information on their mobile terminals immediately after touching a product.

Intuitive Operations
Natural movements and actions are the trigger(touch). RedTacton transceivers embedded in two terminals can communicate not only data but also the control or configuration instructions needed to operate devices (broadband & interactive). Intuitive Operations: Print out where you want just by touching the desired printer with one hand and a PC or digital camera with the other hand to make the link. When user feel complicated, configurations are reduced by downloading device drivers at first touch. They can transfer songs to portable music players from notebook PCs with just a touch.

 Instant Private Data Exchange By shaking hands, personal profile data can be exchanged between mobile terminals on the user. (Electronic exchange of business cards) Communication can be kept private using authentication and encryption technologies. Group photos taken by digital cameras are instantly transferred to individual's mobile terminal. Diagrams drawn on white boards during meetings are transferred to individual's mobile terminals on the spot.

 Personalization Digital lifestyle can be instantly personalized with just a touch. A pre-recorded configuration script can be embedded in a mobile terminal with built-in RedTacton transceiver. When another device with RedTacton capabilities are touched, personalization data and configuration scripts can be downloaded automatically

 Personalization of Mobile Phones Just touching a phone, makes it your own. Your own phone number is allocated and billing commences. Automatic importing of personal address book and call history Examples of similar applications: Room temperature and lighting are customized when a switch in the living room is pressed.

 Personalization of Automobiles Just sitting on the seat riggers the car to load all its presets, just the way you like The seat position and steering wheel height adjust to match the driver just by sitting in the car. The driver's home is set as the destination in the car navigation system. The stereo plays the driver's favorite song.

 New Behavior Pattern Various conductors and dielectrics can be used as RedTacton communication media and this has the potential to create new behavior patterns. Walls and partitions can be used as communication media.

 Conference system Connect a network by just putting laptop on the table. An electrically conductive sheet is embedded in the table. A network connection is initiated simply by placing a lap-top on the table. Using different sheet patterns enables segmentation of the table into subnets.

 Wearable RedTacton can carry music or video between headsets, mobile devices, mobile phones, etc. Users can listen to music from a RedTacton player simply by putting on a headset or holding a viewer.

Security Applications
Automatic user authentication and log-in with just a touch. ID and privileges are recorded in a mobile RedTacton device. Corresponding RedTacton receivers are installed at security check points.

The system can provide authentication and record who touched the device, and when.

 User verification and lock management at entrance User verification & unlocking with just a touch. Carrying a mobile RedTacton-capable device in one's pocket, ID is verified and the door unlocked when the user holds the doorknob normally. Secure lock administration is possible by combining personal verification tools such as fingerprint ID or other biometric in the mobile terminal.

 Confidential document management Automatic access log for confidential document storage. A RedTacton receiver in a cabinet where important documents are stored enables lock administration and keeps a record of who accessed documents at what time.

Comparison with other Human communication methods

RedTacton does not require the With the electric amperage electrode to be in direct contact method, electrode must be in direct with the skin. contact with the skin.

Signal & Detection system

Ground line

Distance & speed

Contact status with the electrode

Amperage electric

Clear signal lines needed for body and earth ground

Elbow to fingertip at approx. 3kbps

The electrode must be in constant contact with the body to maintain good conductivity

Voltage electric

Capacity coupling between the earth ground and equipment

Wrist to fingertip at approx. 1kbps

Communication possible even when passing through thin insulators

Electric field photonics (RedTacton)

Capacity coupling between the earth ground and equipment

Anywhere on the body at up to 10Mbps

Communication possible even through shoes and clothing

Comparison with other network technologies

Evaluation criteria Wireless LAN Transfer speed (Can DVD-quality images be sent?) Infrared Red Tacton

Performance deterioration during periods of congestion (Simultaneous use by many people in small spaces)

Duplex data transfer (Interactive processing)

Comparison with other network technologies

RedTacton prototypes

Plans for Commercialization

It seems like there was a press release event where they demoed the technology. The first demo was a PDA medication assistant that shows instructions relevant to touched medicine bottles. The second was a museum guide PDA whose contents was fed from a floor-embedded transmitter through a users feet. NTT plans to develop transceivers with an emphasis on portability that are more compact and less power consumption. Through field testing, NTT will continue to investigate and improve the robustness of Human Area Networking and human body surface communication applications.

Conclusion

Red Tacton is an exciting new technology for Human Area Networking. For long term plans the size of the transceiver should be reduced. It supports personal devices like PDAs and notebooks.

ANY QUESTION?