IEEE 802 Standards for Supporting Everyday Healthcare

Abstract

Nowadays, a variety of vital sensing devices have been able to be easily and inexpensively connected to any smart phones by means of wireless technologies. Typical examples of such wireless tools are Bluetooth, Zigbee, WiFi and WiSUN, which are all based on the IEEE 802 standard families. This paper shows the current status of the IEEE 802 standardization activities related to the support of everyday healthcare and medicine, such as the working groups of the IEEE 802.15.1, 802.11, and 802.15.4g. In addition, it introduces the IEEE 802.15.6 standards for supporting highly reliable wireless communications, which is required for providing medical and healthcare services.