CodeBlue: An Ad Hoc Sensor Network Infrastructure for Emergency Medical Care

TLDR

Sensor devices with embedded processors, low‑power radios, and modest storage can enhance emergency medical care by enabling wearable vital‑sign sensors to monitor patient status and location while acting as active tags. The paper introduces CodeBlue, a wireless infrastructure that integrates low‑power vital‑sign sensors, PDAs, and PC‑class systems, and outlines the research challenges it addresses. CodeBlue is designed to scale to very dense networks of thousands of devices under volatile conditions, providing reliable ad‑hoc data delivery, a flexible naming and discovery scheme, and a decentralized security model. CodeBlue will enhance first responders’ ability to assess patients on scene, ensure seamless data transfer among caregivers, and facilitate efficient allocation of hospital resources.

Abstract

Sensor devices integrating embedded processors, low-power, lowbandwidth radios, and a modest amount of storage have the potential to enhance emergency medical care. Wearable vital sign sensors can track patient status and location, while simultaneously operating as active tags. We introduce CodeBlue, a wireless infrastructure intended for deployment in emergency medical care, integrating low-power, wireless vital sign sensors, PDAs, and PC-class systems. CodeBlue will enhance first responders’ ability to assess patients on scene, ensure seamless transfer of data among caregivers, and facilitate efficient allocation of hospital resources. Intended to scale to very dense networks with thousands of devices and extremely volatile network conditions, this infrastructure will support reliable, ad hoc data delivery, a flexible naming and discovery scheme, and a decentralized security model. This paper introduces our architecture and highlights research challenges being addressed by the CodeBlue