A fuzzy AHP-based relay node selection protocol for Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN)

Wireless Body Area Networks are highly localized wireless networks which include sensors that may be placed in the human body or surface mounted on the body in particular places. This type of network can potentially support a variety of medical applications from tracking vital signs to monitoring the functioning of implants as well as providing electronic services. It faces numerous challenges like of frequent link loss due to postural body movement, size and complexity of the sensors, channel condition and power consumption. In this paper we deal with such type of two-hop star topology extension of IEEE 802.15.6 (WBAN) which supports multiple relays where relay node selection becomes an interesting area of concern. Many existing research works emphasized the problem but none of them considered the fuzziness of the decision makers. This paper provides a Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) based relay node selection scheme that prioritizes the vagueness of the decision makers during the relay node selection procedure. The proposed scheme can intensively meet both of the requirements of WBAN i.e. enhanced reliability of the communication systems and optimum consumption of power.