Spatial Correlation Analysis of On-Body Radio Channels Considering Statistical Significance

On-body radio channel modeling and measurement has been studied extensively. However, the spatial correlation properties of channel parameters and the reliability of on-body channel measurements remain poorly understood. In this letter, a K-weight-based spatial autocorrelation model and corresponding Z-score is used to investigate the spatial correlation of on-body radio propagation and the degree of confidence in measurement results. It is demonstrated that, due to rich multipath scattering in an indoor environment, both the spatial autocorrelation and corresponding confidence level are higher compared to those in the chamber environment. These findings have the profound implication that, for less scattered environments, the locations of transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) need to be very accurate in order to achieve high repeatability in on-body channel measurements.