Update: Body network spars with Bluetooth

An emerging body area network (BAN) technology is gearing up to compete with Bluetooth Low Energy across a broad range of medical and consumer applications. The competition comes as medical devices are increasingly adopting a growing set of wireless network technologies including Wi-Fi and Zigbee.

Backers of the IEEE 802.15.6 effort say the standard could be completed this year and products based on it could ship in 2012. The specification promises a range of implementations roughly on par with Bluetooth bandwidth and range but at much lower power consumption and less interference.

GE aims to use the technology in a broad range of hospital patient monitors. Since 2008, it has lobbied the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to open up spectrum in the 2.4 GHz band for such devices, replacing today's expensive and cumbersome wired links.

"Cables, cables, cables are what we see in the hospital today tethering patients to beds and machines and generating motion artifacts and false alarms," said David Davenport, an engineer in GE's labs, speaking at an evening session at the International Solid State Circuits Conference here.

The FCC could rule on the spectrum use this year, opening the door to products in 2012. "The future looks very bright for smart bandages," said Davenport.