Secure and efficient coding of biomedical signals, periodic measurements and contextual data in body area networks

This paper proposes a cryptosteganographic coding for signals (e.g. ECGs), periodic measurements (e.g. oxygen in blood, body temperature) and contextual data (e.g. allergies, medication of the user) gathered in body area networks. This information is acquired by a device with multiple interfaces and sensors connected to it. The acquiring device compresses the signals with the SPIHT coder; protects the measurements and the data; and embeds them within the signals in the compressed domain. Next, it performs partial encryption on the signals. Finally, the resulting encoded information is forwarded to one or several devices for its visualization. The access to the signals, the measurements and the data is limited according to the professional role of the consulting user. Tested with ECG stress tests, this coding compresses the transmission bandwidth/storage space typ. by 2.8-7.8, and its architecture operates in real-time with overall delays of 2-2.7s. Finally, this coding is also suitable for networks acquiring other signals, such as EEG or PPG.