A framework for mobile healthcare applications over heterogeneous networks

Future healthcare applications will require operation over heterogeneous networks due to mobility of patient, caregiver and provisioning of healthcare services anytime anywhere. In contrast with applications using protocols for specific networking technologies, we propose to include a unified middleware to isolate applications from mobility management, client discovery and transport of multimedia traffic. We propose an all IP-based framework based on SIP protocol for the unified middleware. The architecture is described. We describe how handovers over heterogeneous networks could be implemented in this architecture which provide better QoS and low packet loss during transitions. A laboratory prototype to demonstrate the above concepts is presented.