Evaluation of multiple coexisting Body Area Networks based on realistic on-body and Body-to-Body channel models

Several interference mitigation schemes have been recently proposed in literature to cope with multiple collocated Body Area Networks. Nevertheless, an in-depth analysis of the underlying coexistence issues and challenges is still needed so as to support and guide even more efficient system design. In this paper, we rely on realistic Body-to-Body channel models, to valuate the impact of mutual interference on intra-BAN communications while using several access strategies, including unslotted and beacon-enabled slotted Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) or using Guaranteed Time Slots, along with different acknowledgement and retransmission policies. Protocol simulations using an adequate Physical layer abstraction show that GTS communications experience severe degradation and have relatively low resilience against the most harmful interference conditions. On the contrary, unslotted CSMA/CA enjoys the best Packet Reception Rate by avoiding collision of each single communication independently, but requires higher energy consumption as a result of its 100% duty cycle.