Energy and delay aware datalink layer protocols for wireless body area network

A wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is a collection of smart bio sensors that are deployed wirelessly in, on or near the human body to perform data collection and data transmission. Each node in the network is embedded with limited battery, but it is almost very difficult to change or recharge batteries. Major sources of energy waste are idle listening, control packet overhead, over emitting, over hearing and collision. MAC protocols plays an essential role to control the operation of radio transceiver and significantly affect the energy consumption of the whole network. This paper investigates the energy efficient and delay aware MAC protocols for WBAN. The foremost benefits of MAC protocols along with their limitations are elaborated. Finally, the open research problems with respect to different techniques and feasible solutions for energy minimization, traffic control mechanisms for collision, and delay are summarized.