A more secure and reliable protocol for wireless patient monitoring system

IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308
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Volume: 03 Issue: 04 | Apr-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 715
A MORE SECURE AND RELIABLE PROTOCOL FOR WIRELESS
PATIENT MONITORING SYSTEM
Priya S. Wagh1
, Anagha P.Khedkar2
1
Dept. of Electronics and Telecommunication, Matoshri College of engineering and research center, University of Pune,
Nasik, India
2
Associate Prof. Dept. of IT, Matoshri College of engineering and research center, University of Pune, Nasik, India
Abstract
Hacking of Wireless network leading to insecure data is the main issue that needs to be attended. To achieve the goal of data security,
there is need of the new protocol development especially for medical applications using wireless communication. The conventional
system usually uses broadcast or multicast communication mode to increase the signal reliability; however, these modes lead to
network traffic and signal transmission delay. The proposed system includes a reliable protocol which is based on anycast
communication mode for wireless patient monitoring system and Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4) security algorithms to ensure data security.
On the basis of a reliable scheme, the proposed work is to design and implement this novel system using ZigBee device for patient
monitoring, which integrates fall detection, temperature, pulse rate monitoring. The result of reliable protocol implementation assures
the communication without fail mechanism, minimizes network traffic and transmission delay.
Keywords—Anycast, Rivest Cipher 4, Reliable Protocol, Zigbee.
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1. INTRODUCTION
In today’s world, medicine field has technologically updated
to a large extent to provide the excellent medical services at
less cost to the patients all over the world. But still there are
many limitations in the existing automated medical services
and systems. Main problem is security of data regarding
personal and bio signal information. There is possibility of
being abused and the personal information may be put to a bad
use. Therefore, it will be necessary to apply security
technology through which only the server and client point user
can read data correctly in the monitoring system also There
are many state of the art patient monitoring tools and sensors
which give precious information about the patient’s health, the
communication between patient and doctor, are still in its
primitive stages. Today in many hospitals the doctors have to
go for physical rounds for checking the patient data which is
highly uncomfortable for serious patients, besides the time
consumption and inefficiency. There is need of a reliable and
efficient wireless network topology in which the doctor can
access the patient’s data.
Therefore to satisfy limitations of existing system, in proposed
system, implementation of security system with the help of
RC4 and reliable protocol which contain co-operative
communication introduced.
2. LITERATURE SURVEY
Currently, a number of research works is going on with the
patient monitoring systems. Let us now briefly overview some
research of patient monitoring systems.
In 2000 Istepanian and Petrosian presented an method for data
compression, which helps to reach a maximum compression
ratio for a mobile telecardiology model [1]. In 2002 Jovanov
et al. presented wireless distributed system for data acquisition
to acquire collected data from monitors and synchronizes
recorded data with existing records [2]. In 2005 Varshney and
Sneha presented protocols for power management with
varying user densities, power levels, and multihop to support
device diversity. Their system provides a reliable message
delivery with reasonable transmitted power [3].
In 2006 Varshney et al. proposed a framework of patient
monitoring systems, framework in this system uses
communication modes as multicast, reliable multicast,
broadcast, and reliable broadcast [4]. Cypher et al. studied
previous work which is based on wireless communications of
healthcare networks. The researcher considers the case of one-
hop transmission method which results in an accumulated
delay [5]. In 2007 Wan-Young Chung et al. presented a Cell
Phone Based Health Monitoring System using Wireless
Sensor Network Technology in which to monitor the patient's
physiological signs from a wireless sensor they uses wireless
CDMA-based platform for hospital environment but again
network traffic increases which leads to degradation in the

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transmission of data signal[6]. F. W. Chong et al. works on An
Integrated Wrist-worn Routine Monitoring System using BSN
in which monitoring of ECG, BP etc. taking place for that they
uses WBAN technologies[7]. In 2009 Dusit Niyato et al.
provided eHealth service, which is used to collect and transfer
bio signal data from the patients to the eHealth service
provider with the help of Wi-Fi technology which provides
large transmission capacity in a small coverage area but it is
not suitable for multi hopping [8]. Cheng Ding et al. presented
Wireless Monitoring System for Patients using ZigBee but
they do not consider scheme which automatically selects the
closest data receiver [9]. In 2011 Liam Marnane et al.
described Monitoring vital signs and location of patients by
using ZigBee. They propose a WWBAN (Wearable Wireless
Body Area Network) technology for patients. Again they do
not consider anycast communication mode which is having
advantages of nearest or best server selection, Service
identification, improving system reliability [10]. In 2012 Shyr-
Kuen Chen et al. presented reliable transmission protocol for
patient monitoring system but, there is necessary to apply
security technology through which only the server and client
point user can read data correctly in the monitoring system
[11].
It is summarized that previous work tends to use broadcast or
multicast communication mode to achieve reliable message
delivery in a multihop wireless network. However, the traffic
network cost is also significantly increases. Therefore,
proposed system combines anycast communication mode with
a reliable signal transmission which improves transmission
efficiency.
3. PROPOSED SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Wireless Patient monitoring system consists of two modules
viz. security algorithm and reliable protocol. Security
algorithm uses RC 4. Reliable protocol uses co-operative
communication which is based on anycast communication
mode all the real time health information for multiple patients
efficiently displayed so healthcare personnel could handle
multiple patients at the same time. Also it contains patient
units with ZigBee device. Fig.1. shows network connection
between master and patient units which indicate wireless
communication via Zigbee takes place. Also it shows
communication between patient units when anyone is not in
the range of master so they cooperate to each other with the
help of reliable protocol.
Fig.1 Network connection between Master and patient units.
Fig.2. shows block diagram of patient monitoring system.
System consists of Zigbee network, sensors, server and patient
unit combination. The temperature, pulse rate sensors are
connected to one unit and ECG, temperature and
accelerometer sensor are connected to another unit. Each unit
consists of sensors, ZigBee Transreceiver, ARM 7 and LCD.
(a) Patient Unit 1
(b) Patient Unit 2
(c) Master Unit
Fig.2. Block Diagram of Patient Monitoring System
A main Server displays patient data and also monitors the
status of all the patients which covers the whole area.
Master
Unit
Patient Unit 1
Patient Unit 2

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3.1 Security System
A Patient monitoring system monitors biomedical
information; this information is being transmitted through
remote healthcare server through wireless network this
information can be relatively easy to be accessed due to the
wireless communication. This is susceptible to hacking.
Therefore, it will be necessary to apply security through which
only the server and end user can read data correctly in the
system. In the monitoring system uses RC4 which generates
pseudorandom bits, stream cipher symmetric key. RC4 uses
two array state and key. State table having size of 256 byte
and capability of using keys between 1 and 2048 bits. Security
algorithm contains two phases’ viz. Key setup and Ciphering.
Ciphering process comprises swapping of state and Xoring
method. Overall security algorithms contain Key scheduling
algorithm (KSA) and pseudo-random generation algorithm
(PRGA).
3.2 Co-operative Communication Protocol
Cooperative communication protocol consists of master
(Server) and Patient units (slaves) communication. This
concept gives the idea about shortest path selection which also
shorten the delay for the system communication and two or
more patient units transfer the vital information of the patient
with the help of cooperative mechanism therefore system
work without fail type of mechanism.
4. DESIGN OF PROPOSED SYSTEM
In the design process of patient unit (slave) and master unit
communication with Zigbee which follows reliable protocol
displayed flow chart for cooperative communication in Fig.4.
(a) Direct Communications
(b) Cooperative communication
Fig 3 Communications between master and slave
Fig 4 Flow chart for cooperative communication
Case 1: As shown in Fig. 3.If master is placed in the range of
patient unit 1(S1), patient unit 2(S2) and patient unit 3 (S3)
then direct communications takes place.
Case 2: If master is placed in the range of patient unit 1(S1)
but not in the range of Patient unit 2(S2), S1 and S2 both are
within the range of frame. In that case communication will
takes place with the help of S1 because S1 cooperate to S2
then data of S2 transfer via S1 to the master unit. Same case is
for the S3. All this communication follows anycast
communication mode.
4.1 Algorithm for the Cooperative Communication
Protocol
 Slave 1 sends the request to master
 Slave 1 ID check whether it is in the range of master
 If Slave 1 ID matches with master ID then it accept
the frame ID and Direct communication takes place
between master and slave1.
 If Slave 1 ID not match with master ID then it will
check for Slave 2 ID with Master ID if both are
matches then it accept the frame ID and cooperative
communication takes place between slave 2 and
master via slave1.
 If both slaves ID not matches then discard the frame.

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4.2 Hardware Requirements
ARM7 TDMI , Pulse rate sensor , ECG ,Body Temperature
sensors, accelerometer.
4.3 Software Requirements
Programming Tool: Visual Basic 6.0 and Keil3 compiler,
Operating System: Windows NT 4.0/2000/XP.
5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Patient monitoring system for Doctor (Master) and Patient
(Slave) communication is display the result presented below in
Fig. 5. This shows patient monitoring system with
Fig 5 Patient Monitoring System with Direct communication
protocol
Direct communication therefore it represent master and both
slaves in the range. Fig. 6. Displays the result for cooperative
communication in which slave 2 is not in the range of master
but slave 1 within the range of master so as to communicate
with each other. Therefore data of slave 2 is being transmitted
via Zigbee to slave 1 in that way slave 1 cooperates to slave 2
and successfully data of anyone slave is received to master
who’s not in the range of it.
Fig 6 Patient Monitoring System with Cooperative
communication protocol
6. CONCLUSIONS
It has been observed from the result that reliable protocol used
in the proposed system uses shortest path which also
represents nearest neighbor protocol scheme based on anycast
communication mode. Therefore, reliability of system
increases for patient monitoring system application which
minimizes the delay and system works without fail
mechanism. Implementation of security algorithm is in
progress which secures the biomedical information for
military medical services. Still there is scope of making the
system more reliable for patient monitoring system application
in the urgency level.
REFERENCES
[1] Robert S. H. Istepanian and Arthur A. Petrosian,
“Optimal Zonal Wavelet-Based ECG Data Compression
for a Mobile Telecardiology System,” VOL. 4, NO. 3,
September 2000.
[2] Emil Jovanov', Amanda O'Donnel', Andy Morgan3,
Brent Priddy', Rick Hormigo', “Prolonged telemetric
monitoring of Heart rate variability using wireless
intelligent sensors and a mobile gateway,” October 23-
26, 2002
[3] Varshney and Sweta Sneha, “Wireless Patient
Monitoring: Reliability and Power Management,”
2005 IEEE.
[4] Varshney, “Patient Monitoring Using Ad Hoc Wireless
Networks: Reliability and Power Management,” IEEE
Communications April 2006.

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[5] David Cypher, Nicolas Chevrollier, Nicolas
Montavont, and Nada Golmie, “Prevailing over Wires
in Healthcare Environments: Benefits and Challenges,”
IEEE Communications April 2006.
[6] Wan-Young Chung, Chiew-Lian Yau, Kwang-Sig
Shin, and ksto Myllyla, “A Cell Phone Based Health
Monitoring System with Self Analysis Processor using
Wireless Sensor Network Technology,” Proceedings of
the 29th Annual International Conference of the IEEE
EMBS August 23-26, 2007.
[7] L. Xu, Francis E. H. Tay*, D. G. Guo, L. M. Yu, M. N.
Nyan, F. W. Chong, K. L. Yap, B. Xu, “An Integrated
Wrist-worn Routine Monitoring System for the Elderly
using BSN,” 5th International Workshop on Wearable
and Implantable Body Sensor Networks Jun 1-3, 2008.
[8] Dusit Niyato, Ekram Hossain and Sergio Camorlinga,
“Remote Patient Monitoring Service using
Heterogeneous Wireless Access Networks:
Architecture and Optimization,” VOL. 27, NO. 4,
MAY 2009.
[9] Xiaoxin Xu Mingguang Wu, Cheng Ding, Bin Sun
Jiangwei Zhang,” Outdoor Wireless Healthcare
Monitoring System for Hospital Patients based on
ZigBee” 2010 IEEE.
[10] Liam Marnane, “Monitoring vital signs and location of
patients by using ZigBee wireless sensor networks”
2011 IEEE.
[11] Shyr-Kuen Chen, Tsair kao, Chai- Tai Chan, Chih-Ning
Huang, Chih-Yen Chiang, Chin-Yu Lai, ―A Reliable
Transmission Protocol for ZigBee Based Wireless
Patient Monitoring IEEE Trans Inf. Technol.
Biomed.,vol.16,No.1 JANUARY 2012.
[12] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RC4.

A more secure and reliable protocol for wireless patient monitoring system

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