Systems and methods for medical body area network frequency band switching

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to provide improved, dynamic medical body area network communication among available frequency bands in a healthcare environment are disclosed and described. An example apparatus includes at least one processor to determine, based on a plurality of control messages indicating availability of a second frequency spectrum and timing of receipt of the plurality of control messages, a first mode or a second mode for medical body area network (MBAN) communication, the first mode specifying MBAN communication in a first frequency spectrum and the second mode specifying MBAN communication in the first frequency spectrum and the second frequency spectrum. The example apparatus includes at least one communication interface to receive the control messages and transmit an indication of a missed control message.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controller apparatus comprising:
 memory to store instructions;   at least one communication interface to receive and transmit messages; and   at least one processor to execute the instructions to coordinate the messages and control of one or more medical body area networks (MBANs) by at least:
 receiving an MBAN spectrum status message from a frequency coordinator, the MBAN spectrum status message including frequency spectrum information; 
 transforming the spectrum information into a first control message for an MBAN hub, the first control message indicating availability of an MBAN frequency spectrum for communication by the MBAN hub; 
 transmitting the first control message to the MBAN hub at a first period; and 
 adjusting, based on a feedback message from the MBAN hub, transmission of a second control message to the MBAN hub to a second period. 
   
     
     
         2 . The controller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first control message indicates a first mode or a second mode, the first mode specifying MBAN communication in a first frequency spectrum and the second mode specifying MBAN communication in the first frequency spectrum and the second frequency spectrum. 
     
     
         3 . The controller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the MBAN spectrum status message is to be received from an MBAN frequency coordinator. 
     
     
         4 . The controller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first control message includes a parameter to enable or disable use of an MBAN frequency spectrum. 
     
     
         5 . The controller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first control message includes available MBAN channel information. 
     
     
         6 . The controller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first control message includes a time window in which the MBAN hub is to count a number of received control messages and a threshold representing a maximum number of control messages to be missed in the time window before triggering a change in mode. 
     
     
         7 . The controller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first control message includes a channel number identifying an available MBAN channel. 
     
     
         8 . The controller apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is to publish the first control message to one or more subscribing MBAN hubs. 
     
     
         9 . At least one computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, when executed, cause at least one processor to at least:
 receive a medical body area network (MBAN) spectrum status message from a frequency coordinator, the MBAN spectrum status message including frequency spectrum information;   transform the spectrum information into a first control message for an MBAN hub, the first control message indicating availability of an MBAN frequency spectrum for communication by the MBAN hub;   transmit the first control message to the MBAN hub at a first period; and   adjust, based on a feedback message from the MBAN hub, transmission of a second control message to the MBAN hub to a second period.   
     
     
         10 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the first control message indicates a first mode or a second mode, the first mode specifying MBAN communication in a first frequency spectrum and the second mode specifying MBAN communication in the first frequency spectrum and the second frequency spectrum. 
     
     
         11 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the MBAN spectrum status message is to be received from an MBAN frequency coordinator. 
     
     
         12 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the first control message includes a parameter to enable or disable use of an MBAN frequency spectrum. 
     
     
         13 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the first control message includes available MBAN channel information. 
     
     
         14 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the first control message includes a time window in which the MBAN hub is to count a number of received control messages and a threshold representing a maximum number of control messages to be missed in the time window before triggering a change in mode. 
     
     
         15 . The at least one computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the first control message includes a channel number identifying an available MBAN channel. 
     
     
         16 . A method to coordinate the messages and control of one or more medical body area networks (MBANs), the method comprising:
 receiving an MBAN spectrum status message from a frequency coordinator, the MBAN spectrum status message including frequency spectrum information;   transforming the spectrum information into a first control message for an MBAN hub, the first control message indicating availability of an MBAN frequency spectrum for communication by the MBAN hub;   transmitting the first control message to the MBAN hub at a first period; and   adjusting, based on a feedback message from the MBAN hub, transmission of a second control message to the MBAN hub to a second period.   
     
     
         17 . The controller apparatus of  claim 16 , further including specifying a first mode or a second mode using the first control message, the first mode specifying MBAN communication in a first frequency spectrum and the second mode specifying MBAN communication in the first frequency spectrum and the second frequency spectrum. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further including providing, using the first control message, at least one of: a) a parameter to enable or disable use of an MBAN frequency spectrum; (b) available MBAN channel information; or c) a channel number identifying an available MBAN channel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further including providing, using the first control message, a time window in which the MBAN hub is to count a number of received control messages and a threshold representing a maximum number of control messages to be missed in the time window before triggering a change in mode. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further including publishing the first control message to one or more subscribing MBAN hubs.