Empirical modeling of intra-ban ranging errors based on ir-uwb toa estimation

In this paper we present a model accounting for dynamic intra-Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) ranging errors based on Impulse Radio-Ultra Wideband (IR-UWB) Time Of Arrival (TOA) estimation in the [3.1, 5.1]GHz and [3.75, 4.25]GHz frequency bands. The latter is compliant with one mandatory band imposed by the IEEE 802.15.6 stan-dardization group. Relying on time-variant on-body chan-nel measurements, we draw our ranging error model as a mixture-based conditional probability density function, tak-ing into account i) dynamic Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) variations and ii) channel obstruction conditions, i.e. Line Of Sight (LOS) vs. Non Line Of Sight (NLOS), experienced over representative on-body links while walking. The den-sity parameters evolution is thus characterized as a function of the previous channel and SNR configurations, illustrat-ing e.g. missed/false path detection effects under low SNR. Ultimately this self-contained model could be incorporated within realistic simulations for motion capture and/or local-ization based on the IR-UWB WBAN technology