Wireless Networks for Biomedical Applications

EE4395 Special Topics CRN 26258

CS4390 Special Topics CRN 25442

CS5390 Special Topics CRN 25938

Dr. Virgilio Gonzalez and Dr.  Eric Freudenthal

General Objective

The objective of this course is to familiarize the students with the networking techniques that can be used to acquire biomedical data in a network; and also how to transfer and process the information in a secure and reliable way.

The course methodology involves a lot of practice by configuring and programming several devices to perform the required tasks.

For further details please contact Dr. Virgilio Gonzalez (vgonzalez3@utep.edu) ph 747-6622. Or Dr. Eric Freudenthal (efreudenthal@utep.edu) 747-6954

Prerequisites

Programming background (C language or equivalent). Microcontroller or Microprocessor programming experience. (CS3432 or EE3376)&nbsp

Key outcomes

• Student shall be able to operate, configure, program and test relevant communication & processing systems for wireless networking.
• Student shall be able to identify characteristics of signal acquisition, monitoring, control; and apply them in the design of biomedical systems.
• Student shall be able to identify the characteristics of wireless communications and apply major protocols (wired, networked, ad-hoc, point-to-point, and epidemic)
• Student shall be able to identify security, reliability, and legal issues in wireless communications for biomed.

Proposed structure

• 12 weekly modules with major content Each module is three hours
• 1 Introduction module
• 1 Project presentation module
• 3 Tracks alternating "System configuration", "Communications" and "Biomedical" signals
• Each module will dedicate approximately two hours for the content and one hour to work on the projects.

Work items for grading

• Weekly projects.
• Exams.
• Class participation
• Research reports.
• Team collaboration.

Proposed Module List

1. Introduction. Basic outline of course. Relationship between human body functions, signals and communications.
   1. Course policies and outline
   2. Modern Biomedical environment.
   3. Chain Human à Signals à Sensors à Acquisition à Preprocessing à Communications à Storage and Processing.
   4. Principles of networking

1. System Configuration 1: Principles of operating systems, installation and VMware.
   1. Allocation of equipment, teams
   2. Intro to virtualization, unix/linux, x-windows, ssh, sshd, scp
   3. First assignment
      1. Install x server (xming encouraged) on guest
      2. Setup vmware, begin gentoo installation through booting & install of xterm, emacs, sshd
      3. Be able to start and use xterm running on guest displaying on host
      4. Emacs tutorial

1. System Configuration 2: Customization of target systems.
   1. quiz on previous week's assignment
   2. devices under linux and needed support
   3. building a custom kernel
   4. arm (cross) tools
   5. intro to python
   6. dfu-util (cannot be virtualized)
   7. second assignment: (3 weeks)
      1. build kernel with appropriate support
      2. ssh into phone
      3. python tutorial

1. Communications 1: Introduction to communication protocols
   1. Types of networks and layers
   2. Layer 2 communications, (Serial ports, IEEE802 and others).
   3. Basic configuration and applications

1. Biomed 1: Principles of anatomy and body functions.

1. Communications 2: Internet Protocol.
   1. IP packets and addressing,
   2. Subnets, network and local communications
   3. Transport layer(TCP, UDP, RTP)

1. Biomed 2: Signal acquisition techniques.

1. System Configuration 3: Design of interactive applications.

1. Communications 3: Routing, circuits and other performance considerations.
   1. Point to Point methods
   2. Broadcast
   3. Spanning Tree
   4. Circuit switched routing
   5. Packet routing

1. Biomed 3: Biomedical signal processing.

1. System Configuration 4: Programming topics

1. Communications 4: Physical links and transmission considerations.

1. Biomed 4: Biomedical selected topics.

1. Project presentations and Conclusions