AlarmNet

The AlarmNet system integrates heterogeneous devices, some wearable on the patient and some placed inside the living space.  Together they perform a health-mission specified by a healthcare provider.  Data is collected, aggregated, pre-processed, stored, and acted upon, according to the needs and condition of the residents.

Illustration of a smart assisted-living space, instrumented with sensors and devices.

Figure 1 graphically depicts the variety of sensors and devices in the architecture. Multiple body networks may be present in a single system. Traditional healthcare provider networks may connect to the system by a gateway, or directly to its database.

Some elements of the network are mobile, while others are stationary.  Some can use line power, but others depend on batteries.  If any fixed computing or communication infrastructure is present it can be used, but the system can be deployed into existing structures without the need to retrofit.

Figure 2: System architecture, showing roles of components from front-end to back-end, and physical associations among them.

Figure 2 shows the components of the architecture, dividing devices into strata based on their roles and physical interconnect.  Each piece of the architecture is described on the pages below:

• Emplaced Sensor Network
• Mobile Body Networks
• “AlarmGate” Gateways
• User Interfaces
• Back-end Database and Analysis Programs

These components are enhanced and extended by ongoing research projects that use the physical facilities of AlarmNet as a testbed.