An algorithm to predict received power in a wireless body
area network was presented. It makes the predictions from
periodic human motion such as physical therapy, and it is
based on modeling the motion as a Markov process so that
given the current body position in the movement, the next
position is predicted. Given that different positions cause
different levels of received power due to shadowing of the
transmitted signals, the power can be predicted. The technique
was evaluated on a periodic arm movement. The accuracy
of the predictions was evaluated by comparing them with
measurements of the received power. The error was found
to be periodic with root mean square error of 3:7 dB which
corresponds to 4:2% of the average received power.
Future work includes movements that involve more complex
trajectories and other body parts. Also, a distributed version
of the proposed algorithm will be considered. Finally, the
proposed algorithm will be evaluated on link-scheduling and
transmission-power-control in BANs