Channel Modeling for UWB WBAN On-Off Body Communication Link with Finite Integration Technique

Comprehensive knowledge of the channel and accurate channel models are essential in the optimized system design. In the Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) applications, use of Ultra Wideband (UWB) transmission as well as close presence of human body, bring their own major challenges in the channel modeling. Several channel models have been proposed and numerous channel measurement campaigns have been performed for WBAN applications, but they are only approximations for certain situations. The main challenge in this field is to find a method to generate realistic channel models for new different purposes quickly and flexibly without excessive computational efforts. In this paper, applicability of Finite Integration Technique (FIT) is studied in the modeling the channel characteristics of WBAN on-off body communication link. The validity of the FIT-based channel modeling is verified by comparing the FIT simulation results with the measurement results using three different Ultra Wide Band (UWB) printed planar antennas. The analysis is performed both in frequency and time domains. It is shown that there is a clear agreement between the simulated and measured channel responses. Hence, FIT can be considered as a promising technique in the modeling of realistic on-off body communications channel characteristics for the cases where there is no analytical model available.