INTERNET OF M-HEALTH THINGS “m-IOT”

Robert S .H. Istepanian, Ala Sungoor, Ali Faisal, Nada Philip

Mobile Information & Network Technologies Centre (MINT), Kingston University London,UK

Keywords: m-health, Internet of Things, chronic disease
management, Wireless Sensor Network
Abstract
Internet of Things (IoT) is a new and evolving concept that
provides connectivity to the Internet via sensing devices to
achieve intelligent identification and management in a
heterogeneous connectivity environment. From the assisted
living perspective, this emerging concept will enable new
communication connectivity routes between elderly disabled
patient and care services through innovative networking
architectures in AAL environments. M-health is defined as
“mobile computing, medical sensor, and communications
technologies for health care” [1]. This evolutionary concept
provides both mobility and ‘always connected’ functionalities
for different healthcare applications.
In this paper we introduce a new amalgamated concept of
Internet of m-health Things (m-IoT). m-IoT is a new concept
that matches the functionalities of m-health and IoT for a new
and innovative future (4G health) applications. In principle
m-IoT introduce a new healthcare connectivity paradigm that
interconnects IP-based communication technologies such as
6LoWPAN with emerging 4G networks for future Internet
based healthcare services. In this paper we will present a
general m-IoT architecture based on 6LoWPAN technology
for measurement of body temperature as an example for
healthcare application.
1 Introduction
this important domain. m-IoT is a new concept that matches
the functionalities of m-health and IoT for a new and
innovative future (4G health) applications. In principle m-IoT
introduce a new healthcare connectivity paradigm that
interconnects IP-based communication technologies such as
6LoWPAN with emerging 4G networks for future Internet
based healthcare services. In this paper we will introduce a
general m-IoT architecture based on 6LoWPAN technology
for measurement of body temperature as an example for this
application domain.
2 m-IoT System Architecture
Fig. (1) shows a general m-IoT architecture based on IPV6
architecture using 6LoWPAN technology. In this
configuration, the sensors are located in elderly or patients
home and linked via IPv6 connectivity to care home or
hospital. Thereby, physicians and nurses are able to check
remotely patient´s health status (e.g. blood pressure, pulse,
blood glucose evolution etc.). The Fundamental role in the
architecture is the 6LoWPAN protocol enabling wireless
sensor devices for an all IP based wireless nodes based on
IEEE 802.15.4 standard.
For example, diabetes patients can measure specifically the
relevant clinical data, e.g. glucose level, blood pressure,
weight etc. These data are measured using short range IoT
communication links compatible with IEEE 802.15.4
standard. An access point at home will send the clinical data
to an IP-based connected healthcare centre. Data is gathered
both periodically or event-driven.

Internet of Things is one of the major communication

advances in recent years that links the internet with everyday
sensors and working devices for an all –IP based architecture
[2]. Extensive research on using this concept in different
applications has been recently reported works in this area
[3,4]. RFID technology represent one of the key enabling
technologies of Internet of Things (IoT)[4]. Some healthcare
RFID based examples include the potential of exploiting
information stored in RFID tags, supported by an NFC
platform to improve data management in a care centre and
keep up-to-date with elderly people’s evolution, through a
Web2.0 social service [5].
However, this ubiquitous IPv6 based connectivity concept has
not been investigated extensively from the mobile healthcare
perspective. In recent years there has been major initiatives
and work in the area of assisted living using wireless
networks and communication technologies [6,7]. However to- Figure 1. General m-IoT architecture for home monitoring
date no work has been addressing the application of IoT in
 the successful implementation of the developed m-IoT
A GUI software interface can also be developed to provide system.
easy access to patient data by the specialist using any IP
based mobile terminal.
Fig. (2) shows the general m-IoT architecture based on
6LoWPAN protocol. This model is based on five layers
illustrating the combined functionalities of typical IOT layer
architecture with 6LoWPAN functionalities.

Fig 3 Experimental m-IoT system based on 6LoWPAN nodes

Figure 2 6LoWPAN based IoT architecture [9]

In this work, the communication interface of the clinical data

protocol and clinical sensor node is accomplished by using
messaging based protocol over IPv6 connectivity
communication layer. Fig (1) illustrates an example of the
developed 6LoWPAN system using the layered architecture
and implemented using the TelosB sensor motes[8]. This
platform was selected for its low power microprocessor
(MSP430) and simple USB connectivity issues.
In this platform, the sensor uses IPv6 and 6LoWPAN to
establish health data packet transmission over the IEEE
802.15.4 protocol, as well as application specific components
that uses proper sockets to interact with the clinical sensor
nodes as shown in Fig. (1). These data messages with relevant
clinical measurements are responded back by the sensor Figure 4 Sample of body temperature data
nodes using the UDP protocol in the Transport layer as shown
in Fig (2).
4 Conclusion and future work
3 Implementation and Evaluation In this paper was introduced the new concept of internet of m-
health Things (m-IOT). This new concept matches the
The experimental 6LoWPAN based system is shown in functionalities of m-health and IoT for a new and innovative
Fig.(3). The application is implemented using JAVA 4G-health applications based on IPV6 connectivity. An
programming platform. The current evaluation system uses experimental test-bed based on 6LoWPAN and IPv6
the TelosB mote as the medical sensor node used for body protocols was implemented to test the successful functionality
temperature measurement. Practically, each node representing of the system in real time environments. Ongoing work is
relevant medical sensor can have its own IPv6 address for currently underway to test the system using different medical
Internet connectivity. The sensors sent information to a sensors for chronic disease management using the proposed
central access point where data is collected to special IP configuration. Security challenges are also being considered
linked medical server centre for web access and analysis. as part of these studies.
The temperature sensor embedded in the TelosB sensor node
was tested experimentally. Fig. (4) shows a typical sample of
the acquired body temperature variations. The results show
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