Communication Networks and Services
Bernard Fong, Alvis C. M. Fong, C.K. Li · 2010
Communication networks provide support for a very wide range of healthcare and medical services. This chapter explains the fundamentals of telecommunication technology, with an emphasis on wireless networking, since most telemedicine applications require the flexibilities that wireless networking provides. Some commonly used networks in telemedicine applications are introduced and explained why they are suitable for specific situations. One of the potential issues with wireless communications that may cause delays is Doppler Spread in which fluctuations are caused by the movement of the transmitter, receiver, or the many physical objects between them. Radio frequency identification (RFID) is capable of more than acting as an identifier; it is also a very small and economical implantable object that supports short range wireless communications. It is so versatile that its application area is virtually unlimited; it is certainly an important tool for telemedicine. Controlled Vocabulary Terms radiofrequency identification; telecommunication networks; telemedicine; wireless networks