Hub, relay node, and node for reconfiguring active state position in wireless body area network (wban), and communication method thereof

Abstract

Provided are a hub, a relay node, and a node for reconfiguring an active time position of a node in a WBAN. An active time position of the node may be reconfigured based on information associated with an active time position of a candidate relay node that the node desires to use as a relay node.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication method of a hub in a wireless body area network(WBAN) comprising the hub, a relay node, and a node that communicates with the hub via the relay node, the method comprising:
 transmitting information associated with an active time position of a candidate relay node to the relay node;   receiving, from the node via the relay node, a connection request signal requesting connection with the candidate relay node; and   transmitting a connection assignment signal assigning the connection with the candidate relay node, in response to the connection request signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein information associated with the active time position of the candidate relay node comprises information associated with a transmission point in time of a signal indicating whether an operational state of the candidate relay node is in an active state. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hub stores information associated with an active time position and a wake-up period of each of the relay node, the node, and the candidate relay node. 
     
     
         4 . A hub in a wireless body area network(WBAN) comprising the hub, a relay node, and a node that communicates with the hub via the relay node, the hub comprising:
 a receiver to receive, from the node via the relay node, a connection request signal requesting connection with the candidate relay node; and   a transmitter to transmit information associated with the active time position of the candidate relay node to the relay node, and to transmit a connection assignment signal assigning the connection with the candidate relay node, in response to the connection request signal.   
     
     
         5 . The hub of  claim 4 , wherein information associated with the active time position of the candidate relay node comprises information associated with a transmission point in time of a signal indicating whether an operational state of the candidate relay node is in an active state. 
     
     
         6 . The hub of  claim 4 , wherein the hub stores information associated with an active time position and a wake-up period of each of the relay node, the node, and the candidate relay node. 
     
     
         7 . A terminal that communicates with a node via a relay node included in a wireless body area network (WBAN), the terminal comprising:
 a receiver to receive active time information of one or more neighboring nodes included in the WBAN; and   a transmitter to transmit active time information of the one or more neighboring nodes to the node that is currently using the relay node to communicate with the terminal.   
     
     
         8 . The terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter transmits the active time information of the neighboring nodes to the node via the currently used relay node. 
     
     
         9 . The terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the receiver receives a request from the node to replace the currently used relay node with a neighboring node, and the transmitter transmits a connection assignment signal assigning a connection between the node and the neighboring node which enables the node to reconfigure an active time position of the node to match the active time position of the neighboring node. 
     
     
         10 . The terminal of  claim 7 , wherein the terminal comprises one of a computer and a mobile phone, and the node comprises a sensor that performs sensing of at least one of medical applications, mobile healthcare, and chemical/biological features of a patient.