International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887)
Volume 185 – No. 20, July 2023
Design and Implementation of an Intelligent based
Remote Health Monitoring System using Wireless
Sensor Network
Sophie Uwho Bourdillon O. Omijeh
Centre for Information and Telecommunication Centre for Information and Telecommunication
Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, Nigeria State, Nigeria
ABSTRACT muscles while also transporting pollutants from the cells away
For the human population, health coverage is a critical from the tissues. The rate of the heartbeat can change
requirement. With Internet of Things (IoT) becoming popular depending on the need of the muscles to take oxygen and expel
as technology advances medical resources have the chance to carbon dioxide, such as during exercise or sleep [2]. Specific
offer intelligent, reliable, and efficient medical services, either age groups have different heart rates. A healthy resting heart
within or outside the medical facilities. As a result, the focus of rate for a human adult of 18 years or older is up to 72 beats per
this work is on the physiological data of patients. Patient’s minute (bpm). When the patient is at rest, the heart's
temperature and pulse rate are monitored using sensors, and the functioning is said to be efficient if it has a minimal heart rate.
collected data is transmitted to the database using the WEMOS Babies have a considerably faster heart rate than adults,
D1 module. An email is issued to the doctor when a patient's approximately 120bpm, while teenage youths have a pulse rate
body vitals readings exceed the predetermined threshold. On about 90bpm [3].
the patients' smartphones, an Android application is installed, It is difficult for doctors to stay near to a patient’s bedside to
allowing them to report on their health state and set off an alarm check their health state these days, which makes it critical that
in case of an emergency. This allows the doctor to find the they have a management system that allows them to keep an
patients' current location. The doctor can obtain the patient's eye on their patients even in their absence. Body vitals are
physiological data and records remotely by seeing the patient's important when it comes to keeping track of a patient. To
information on the web page. With the use of this technology, guarantee that healthcare is always rendered on time, it is
the number of unpredictable events that regularly put the lives required to have a system that continually monitors a patient's
of thousands of people in risk due to poor medical care would vitals autonomously and then sends a notification when
significantly decrease. readings are out of range.
Keywords Understanding and testing the monitoring system is an
Android application, Database, Internet of Things (IoT), important component of Mobile Health innovation. With the
Physiological data, Sensors use of mobile phones and other communication devices, these
systems are used to administer medication and healthcare to an
1. INTRODUCTION extent. Patients Remote Health Monitoring System is a portable
Currently, the usage of technology being wireless is expanded device that monitors the patient’s body vitals anywhere.
to suit the requirement for telemetry systems. Health Sensors are used to measure the respective vitals, and data is
Monitoring is a software development methodology that transmitted via the internet using a Wi-Fi module. Patients'
collects and analyzes healthcare data in order to gain information is stored in a database for quick access and
understanding on large-scale, complicated health concerns. A reference. Such system is designed so it can be used
remote health monitoring system is a hospital medical system traditionally or/and remotely.
extension that allows a patient's vital bodily status to be
monitored remotely. Embedded technology is used in a patient
monitoring system to detect the body vitals. This technological
2. HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM
development is critical since many hospitalized patients are Health monitoring systema have gained importance as a study
dying from high fever, which is mostly caused by an increase area in recent years. Many institutions, including the military,
in body temperature and heart disorders such as cardiovascular homecare units, hospitals, sports training, and emergency
disease, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and heart defects. monitoring systems, have conducted research on health
Fever is the body's method of saying that something is wrong monitoring. Health Monitoring offers software services for
by shortly raising the body temperature. Body temperature collecting and analyzing healthcare data in order to shed light
refers to the ability of the body to create and expel heat. on complicated, large-scale health challenges. Remote patient
Average body temperature differs from one individual to the monitoring saves time for both patients and doctors by
next and varies during the day. The average body temperature providing vital medical knowledge on an outpatient basis.
is 37º Celsius (98.6º Fahrenheit). Temperatures low as 97° F Patient mobility is also becoming more popular. Remote
(36.1° C) early in the day and high as 99° F (37.2° C) in the patient monitoring devices use a secure connection to a wireless
afternoon are considered normal [1]. network to allow patients to leave the hospital sooner and avoid
The number of contractions and relaxations a heart makes in a the need of unnecessary electrical cables.
given amount of time is referred to as the heart rate (usually per
minute). The human heart beats to give oxygenated blood to the
2.1 IoT in Health Care System
The Internet of Things (IoT), often referred to as the internet of
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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887)
Volume 185 – No. 20, July 2023
Everything or the Industrial Internet, is a new technology WSNs are made up of geographically dispersed sensor-enabled
concept that anticipates a universal network of connected autonomy systems that monitor physical or environmental
devices and things. The Internet of Things (IoT) is widely factors and could interact with RFID systems to track the status
recognized among the most essential areas for further research of items including their location, temperature, and motions [8].
innovation, and it has gained the attention of a wide range of WSN can handle a wide range of distributed systems including
industries. Once coupled systems successfully communicate multi-hop interaction. Recent advances in low-power
among each other, the effectiveness of IoT for businesses may electronic components and mobile connectivity has aided
be completely realized. Integrating IoT into the medical progress of efficient, low-cost, low-power small devices for
surveilling application has given us a significant edge in the WSN technologies [9].
implementation of contemporary medical solution [4].
Systems are becoming more important and effective. as a result There are two parts to a typical wireless sensor network. Sensor
of persistent internet access. Patients are monitored Node and Network Architecture are the two terms used to
regularly via IoT-based health monitoring devices. The devices describe these two concepts.
create essential signals by evaluating statistical data at any time
when it is needed. Patients may be remotely monitored and 2.2.1 Sensor Node
appropriate actions taken in the event of an emergency since In a WSN, a Sensor Node is made up of four fundamental
IoT-based systems are always linked to the internet. As a result, components. Power Supply, Sensing Unit, Processing Unit, and
IoT-based devices may perform both detection and emergency Communication Unit are the components. The sensor gathers
response functions. The contrasts among traditional health analog signals from the surrounding, which an ADC
monitoring applications and IoT-based health monitoring subsequently converts to electronic information. The main
applications are considerable. processing unit, which is commonly a microprocessor or a
Gupta and Bisht [5] defines IoT as a catalyst for healthcare that microcontroller, handles data processing and manipulation
plays a prominent role in a variety of applications A system is intelligently. The communication unit comprises of an
proposed in which a microcontroller serves as a communication information transmitting and retrieving radio system, that is
gateway. This system offers a clever patient surveillance generally a limited radio range. The entire structure is carried
system that employs sensors to check patient's condition and out in a single CR-2032 battery since all of the components are
relies on the internet to alert family members or concerned limited. A Sensor Node, despite its name, contains not just the
medics in the case of an attack. The controller is also linked to sensing component but also other critical functions such as
a buzzer, which alerts the caregiver to any changes in detector processing, communication, and storage. With all these
output. To track the patient's state, the sensors are attached to a qualities, elements, and improvements, a Sensor Node is
microcontroller, which is then interfaced with an LCD display accountable for objects data collection, networking, data
and a wireless local area network connection to issue alarms. If matching, and integration of data from other instruments with
the system detects any changes in the patient's heart rate or its own data.
blood pressure, it automatically sends an IoT warning to the
doctor and displays patient data in real time through the cloud. 2.2.2 Network Architecture
An advanced sensing module is available, which uses a The networking of these sensor nodes is similarly critical when
cordless connection module to relay the gathered vital signs to a huge amount of sensor nodes is placed in a vast area to
numerous computers [6]. Also, there is a technology with a observe an external condition jointly. In a WSN, a sensor node
graphical platform that enables a physician to examine several employs wireless connectivity to communicate with other
sick people in real time utilizing long-term surveillance sensor nodes as well as a Base Station. The sensor nodes
information from various sensing devices, and it works with cooperate to execute the task after receiving directions from the
existing sensor data transmission protocols like IEEE 1451 and base station. After obtaining the necessary data, the sensor
ISO IEEE 11073 [7]. nodes send it back to the station. Via online platform, a base
station may link to other systems. A base station collects data
2.2 Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) in from sensor nodes and does basic data analysis before
Health Care System providing the modified data to the user through the internet.
Wireless Medical sensor networks (WMSNs) are the name
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in particular play a critical
given to wireless sensor network that are built for medical
part in monitoring system application, assisting in the early
purposes. The health care system has benefited greatly from
identification of irregular situations and the avoidance of
wireless medical sensor networks. Wireless medical detectors
significant repercussions.
are implanted on the body of a participant and could be utilized
The expansion of WSNs has been fueled by rapid
to track their physical health. These medical sensing devices
advancements in sensor design, information technology, and
track the patient's physical readings (temperature, heart rate,
wireless networks. A WSN comprises of a collection of
blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and so on) and send the
wireless-capable sensing units that collaborate to accomplish a
information to a remote site in real time. These sensor readings
common purpose. Data is collected from all sensing devices in
can be interpreted by a clinician to determine a patient's health
a WSN by one or more sinks (base stations). The interface via
condition. As a result, after being discharged from the hospital,
which the WSN communicates with the outside world is these
patients may benefit from long-term monitoring. Figure 1
sinks. The benefits of networked sensing over traditional
shows what a WMSN comprises of and how it is been
sensing may be summed up as enhanced accessibility,
implemented.
reliability, and efficiency at a potentially reduced cost.
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Volume 185 – No. 20, July 2023
Fig 1: Wireless medical (body) sensor network. (Body Sensor, n.d.)
A tele-health monitoring system was presented by Shallel and and body temperature monitoring system for safe health
Anooz [10] which comprises of three major modules: a data developed by Okubanjo et al [14] uses sensors to continuously
sensor unit, a data processor unit, and a data communication monitor the patient's heart rate and body temperature, then
unit. Changes in the vital signs are detected by the temperature sends the data to a cloud server for further analysis. Through a
sensor and the heartbeat sensor in the data sensor module. secure cloud-based data retrieval database administered by
Following that, the data is transferred to the PIC controller of medical specialists, the suggested framework incorporates
the data acquisition unit, where it is examined. Data is sent four-tier architectural elements to support data sensing, data
between a person and a piece of equipment through the processing, data transmission or communication, and output for
communication device. This includes essential components further analysis of the patient's health state. The sensors,
like as message, sender, receiver, mediator, and protocol, which microcontroller, and wireless communication device were
are used to convey messages to doctors via mobile phones. combined with a cloud-based server via an IoT platform in this
Khalifeh et al. [11] created and developed a patient fall study to improve patient-doctor contact and preserve real-time
detection system based on a collection of sensing devices and updates of patient information and medical specialist
an accurate controller that connects with the cloud via an responses. In addition, the developed system's integration of
Ethernet shield. This technology employs an accelerometer IoT and embedded systems considerably improved speedy
module to monitor patient movement and gives a warning if the medical care for patients in rural places by removing long
patient falls. This is achieved through the use of a three-axes- hospital lines and reducing manual patient record keeping. The
based algorithm. The system uses a cloud-based clever technology is, however, confined to emergency circumstances
algorithm to determine if the falling alarm is accurate or fake. and global positioning system location tracking.
In addition, the system uses cloud computing technologies to
keep track of the patient in real time. This system makes 3. DESIGN METHODOLOGY
advantage of cloud computing to provide a database as well as
The design and deployment of an intelligent remote
actual surveilling. Moreover, there are some drawbacks, such
monitoring system based on WSN proposed in this paper is
as the patient's limited mobility and the fact that the system
achieved through the following:
does not send an alert to medical personnel in the event of an
1) Designing a real-time temperature and heart beat
emergency.
detecting device to display data to web server.
Trivedi and Cheeran [12] suggested a smartphone controlled
2) Designing an application of Internet of Things (IoT)
Arduino-based health indicator surveillance system All of the
using wireless sensor network for online data
input collected by sensors is in raw format. The information is
transmission.
transmitted to the Arduino Microcontroller. The continuous
3) Implementing a mobile app to enable emergency
readings obtained are transformed to discrete using an
trigger using global positioning system (GPS) to
integrated analog to digital converter. Bluetooth is used to send
track patient’s location.
the data values to a smartphone. The application relied on a
4) Designing patient’s management system for data
Bluetooth module that only covered a small region. Mangu [13]
storage, analysis and referencing.
developed a system that continually monitors the patient's vital
Figure 2 shows the overview of the remote monitoring
signs and identifies anomalies by utilizing MQTT clients to
system which includes the temperature sensor, the heart beat
transport data from sensors to a cloud platform, where the
sensor, the wireless sensor module (communication gateway),
doctor or family members may monitor or follow the patient's
health using Android applications. the android app and the web database (cloud).
On the basis of the Internet of Things, a smart patient heartbeat
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Volume 185 – No. 20, July 2023
Fig 2: System design overview
The sensor captures the patients’ vital signs and transfer them
via the internet to a database via the communication gateway.
The patient can report on health status and alert the doctor in
the event of an emergency, as well as track the patient's
whereabouts, using an Android application on his or her phone.
The patient's data is saved in the cloud and accessible via a data
network link on a web page, giving the doctor remote access to
patient's physiological records and reports. The proposed
system consists of the hardware and the software.
3.1 Hardware Devices
The hardware device consists of the WEMO DI WIFI
module, the Heart beat sensor and the Temperature sensor
LM35. The device starts by confirming the sensors are
connected. The patient’s personal physiological parameters are
then taken and logged into the database on the web server. The
information can then be viewed by authorized user from their
devices. In a situation where the patient’s personal
physiological parameters go beyond a stipulated value, the
system alerts the doctor by sending an email via the web server
for immediate action. See Figure 3 for the flow diagram.
Fig 3: Hardware device flowchart diagram
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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887)
Volume 185 – No. 20, July 2023
3.2 Software Application a unique web address for doctors to access its features through
The software consists of the Android application and the web a web browser by logging in user ID. This application allows
application. doctors remotely obtain a wealth of information on patients
from anyplace, at any moment using peripheral devices like as
3.2.1 Android Application laptops and mobile phones, allowing them to monitor and
The Android application for this implementation requires that manage patients. The major web technologies used in this web
the patient is registered in the system database to be able to application are HTML 5, CSS, PHP, JavaScript and Java.
access the features of the Android App. The android packet kit
(APK) file will be sent to the patient’s smartphone to sign in 3.3 System Configuration
with his or her medical registration number after installation. The system is built on hardware and software as previously
An OTP (One Time Password) will be forwarded to the discussed. With the hardware connections, the physical pins are
patient’s mobile number to verify the patient is in the system used to link the heartbeat sensor and the body temperature
database to be able to logon to the Android App. The Android sensor to the WEMOS D1, as shown in Figure 4. The WEMOS
App is for patient to make a report about their health status and D1 is a processing unit with an analog-to-digital converter
to initiate an emergency when needed, this information will be (ADC) built in to convert sensor data to a digital signal. Both
stored in the database and reflect on the web page for the doctor sensors' VCC and GND are connected to the WEMOS D1's
to be notified and take immediate action. VCC and GND pins. The signal pin (OUT pin) of the heartbeat
3.2.2 Web Application Development sensor is connected to analog pin AO of the WEMOS D1, while
the data pin of the LM35 is connected to analog pin A0 of
The web application is an interactive computer program that
another WEMOS D1. The data from the sensors is then
uses web technologies to store and manipulate data, executing
analyzed and prepared for presentation on a compatible web
activities through the internet. This was created with the
page. To power the WEMOS D1 and other peripheral devices,
objective of collecting, conserving, and transmitting patients'
an 8A constant voltage module steeps down the DC voltage of
physiological parameters report, which needed to be transferred
19.5V power adapter to 5V constant voltage.
among medical doctors and displayed. The web application has
Fig 4: Circuit configuration of (a) Heartbeat sensor with WEMOS D1 (b) Temperature sensor with WEMOS D1
3.4 System Database connection is made.
System database is a logically ordered set of data that may be
accessed and stored electronically. This allows users to create, 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
update, and handle database information and records, making The system was built, having all applications been
it easy to create files and records, enter data, edit it, update it, implemented and tested guarantying it achieves its objectives.
and remark on it. It takes care of data protection, preservation, The hardware devices were tested and are working properly
and alerting, as well as multi-access control and privacy. as intended, both in reading patient’s body vitals and
The MySQL database was used to store all of the patient sensor transmitting the readings to the online database.
data and diagnostics in this design. The database was deployed The software testing of the system covers the functionality
on a different server than the web application due to the volume and graphical user interface of the Android app and the Web
of data that will be stored and requested from the system. This application. The Android app validates patient’s ID before
is done to ensure that the database is hosted on a cloud server granting access to the application features which includes
with sufficient storage capacity and data security, as the making a report and initialing an emergency to enable tracking
information supplied to the database is vital. The web their current location, see Figure 5.
application's Backend facilitates the interaction between the The designed web application presents a user-friendly
web application and its database. The backend is the phase of interactive graphical user interface for navigating through
web application development that deals with the application's various pages, entering, modifying, deleting and viewing of
performance and operation; it is where application's database patients’ records and current location. This can be accessed on
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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887)
Volume 185 – No. 20, July 2023
smart phones and laptops through a web browser by providing Table 1. System Test Scenarios
logging on username and password to verify authorization. See
Figure 6 for GPS patient location displayed on the web page. PRECON ENTRY EXPECTED POST
DITIONS DATA RESULTS CONDI
TIONS
(PASS/F
AIL)
Patient Confirm Device detects Pass
wants to sensors are and sends
check vital connected readings to the
signs web server
Patient Sign in with Display Home Pass
wants to patient ID. page.
access the
Android Make a System sends
app report or report or trigger
trigger an to the web
emergency server
Doctor Enter valid Display Home Pass
wants to login details page
access the and click
web login
application
Doctor Clicks on Directs to Pass
wants to Location link google map
track on page
patient’s Emergency
location page
The user User clicks Directs to Pass
Fig. 5: Report/Emergency page of the Android App.
wants to on patient Patient report
view report on service page
patient’s home page
reports
Patient’s Vital values System sends Pass
vital email alert
exceeds immediately to
above or doctor and
below indicates
required emergency
condition events on the
web page
5. CONCLUSION
Temperature and pulse rate for a vital sign monitoring system
and wireless connection for data transmission have been
described and assessed in this study. The experimental result
demonstrates that the chosen sensors are appropriate for the
proposed system. The body temperature and heartbeat of a
patient's condition has been measured using the preferred
sensors.
During this time, the wireless communication module
(WEMOS D1) was put to the test by sending data from the
sensor to a web server. The result demonstrates that the sensor
can provide enough information for vital sign monitoring.
Based on the results of the trial, the wireless communication
module was designed to provide an automatic messaging
capability via e-mail to send information on patient’s
physiological readings to the doctor when abnormality is been
detected.
With the Android application patients makes report on health
Fig. 6: The GPS location of patient. status and also alert doctor when help is needed by using the
emergency feature which also indicates their current location.
To ensure compliance with certain requirements such as data The built Android application allows the doctor to track a
entry, preconditions, expected results, and postconditions, test patient's current location via a web page if the patient's Android
case scenarios are used to identify the system functionality, see phone's GPS location is turned on.
Table 1. The Web Application is built to ensure that the graphical user
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Volume 185 – No. 20, July 2023
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