Wireless body area networks numerical, experimental and approximate characterization

For the numerical design of on-body communication components, accurate and reliable models of a communication channel of a wireless body area network (WBAN) are needed. Whereas numerical models (volume-pixel ones, layered ones) can be very detailed, experimental models consist of a single layer of an agar gelatin usually. In the paper, an analytical model based on Norton surface waves is used to describe the surface wave propagating along the interface between the agar phantom and environment. For the frequency band of interest, electrical parameters of the analytical model of the agar phantom are optimized so that the propagation properties of the phantom can agree with properties computed by numerical layered models, volume-pixel models, or experiments.