Multi-layer architectures for remote health monitoring

Abstract

Remote health monitoring and delivery through mobile devices and wireless networks offers unique challenges related to performance, reliability, data size, power management, and analytical complexity. We present a multi-layered architecture that matches communication performance to medical importance of data being monitored. The priority of vital data and the context of sensing are used to select the communication medium and the power management policies. Further smartness is introduced into data summarization by employing a severity level quantizer, followed by a consensus abnormality motif discovery and an alert mechanism that prioritizes doctors' consultative time. We also present our successful implementation of the above multi-layered architecture in a system developed to remotely monitor cardiac patients.