Channel model for on body communication along and around the human torso at 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz

A new trend in developing wireless sensors consists in using wearable wireless sensors to monitor human vital parameters, activities and movements. Characterizing the radio channel is an important issue to design a suitable communication system, especially when the propagating medium is the human body. To address this problem, on body measurements along and around the torso were performed. Two path loss models were analyzed considering the propagation channel characterization between two wearable devices placed on a human body, and operating at 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz. Wearable wireless low-cost commercial modules and low profile annular ring slot antennas were used as transceivers Measurement results were compared with CST Microwave Studio simulations using simplified body models like spherical and ellipsoidal geometries. ©2010 IEEE.