Energy-efficient synchronization for body sensor network in the metaverse: an optimized connectivity approach

(2025) 2025:7 Hussain et al. J Wireless Com Network https://doi.org/10.1186/s13638-025-02433-4 RESEARCH EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking Open Access Energy‑efficient synchronization for body sensor network in the metaverse: an optimized connectivity approach Altaf Hussain1, Tariq Hussain2* , Razaz Waheeb Attar3, Ahmed Alhomoud4, Mrim M. Alnfiai5 and Reem Alsagri6 *Correspondence: 1 School of Computer Science and Technology, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China 2 School of Computer Science and Technology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China 3 Management Department, College of Business Administration, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, 11671 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 4 Department of Computer Science, College of Science, Northern Border University, 91911 Rafha, Saudi Arabia 5 Department of Information Technology, College of Computers and Information Technology, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, 21944 Taif, Saudi Arabia 6 Department of Software Engineering, College of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Hafr Al Batin, Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia Abstract Wireless body sensor networks (WBSNs), or wireless body area networks (WBANs), represent an advanced class of sensor networks where small sensor nodes are either implanted within or attached to the human body. When these networks are integrated with the Internet of Things (IoT) in the healthcare sector, they are collectively referred to as the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). Body sensor networks (BSNs) have become a pivotal technology in modern healthcare systems, enabling continuous and real-time monitoring of critical patient health metrics such as blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, body motion, and movement. WBSNs face numerous major challenges that impact their efficiency and performance. Energy consumption remains a critical issue, as sensor nodes operate on limited power sources, leading to reduced network longevity. Signal path loss, caused by body interference and environmental factors, weakens communication reliability. Additionally, dual synchronization is vital for maintaining seamless communication, but managing synchronization between multiple nodes increases complexity and energy demand. Data latency can occur due to transmission delays, impacting real-time monitoring. Scalability challenges arise as networks expand, straining energy and communication resources, while security and privacy concerns persist due to the sensitive nature of medical data, requiring robust protection mechanisms. These issues are the focus of ongoing research aimed at enhancing WBSN performance in healthcare applications. In this paper, we introduce a novel routing protocol, energy-efficient synchronization for body sensor networks (EESBSN), aimed at overcoming these challenges. The proposed EESBSN protocol incorporates a dual synchronization mechanism designed to minimize signal path loss and prevent rapid energy depletion in sensor nodes. Furthermore, it leverages multi-path communication strategies to optimize energy efficiency and extend the operational life span of the network. By utilizing intelligent transponder node selection, EESBSN ensures an even distribution of energy consumption across the network, thereby enhancing its overall stability. Simulation results demonstrate that EESBSN significantly outperforms existing protocols such as CRPBA, H-SAMER, HCEL, SEBA, WHOOPH, and TSFIS-GWO in terms of network stability and performance. These findings highlight the potential of EESBSN to enhance the effectiveness and reliability of BSN-based healthcare systems. © The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, which permits any non-commercial use, sharing, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if you modified the licensed material. You do not have permission under this licence to share adapted material derived from this article or parts of it. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. Hussain et al. J Wireless Com Network (2025) 2025:7 Keywords: Body sensor, Sensors in healthcare, Metaverse, Energy efficiency, Path loss, Dual sink, Energy-efficient synchronization for body sensor networks 1 Introduction In recent decade wireless communications is a rapidly evolving discipline employing systematic processes to handle vast amounts of data and identify significant relationships. Within this area, wireless body area networks (WBANs), a unique subset of wireless sensor network (WSN), have gained prominence since the 1990s. WBANs facilitate continuous monitoring and analysis of the human body, finding applications in healthcare, sports, astronaut space programs, animal tracking, and security-related fields [1]. These networks consist of lightweight, small sensors with low power requirements, capable of data transmission while being worn on the human body or externally attached. Integrating WBANs with advanced technologies such as blockchain and the metaverse offers a range of innovative possibilities. For instance, WBAN technology can monitor physiological data, providing personalized and immersive experiences in virtual healthcare applications. In sports and fitness training programs, WBANs gather real-time data on physical activity, offering immediate feedback and enhancing the virtual training environment. Blockchain technology can further ensure data security and privacy within WBANs, facilitating the efficient exchange of medical information among stakeholders. This integration fosters an interconnected, intelligent ecosystem that prioritizes user experience and data integrity [2, 3]. WBANs are composed of body area (BA) nodes or particles that capture vital physiological data from the human body. These particles are crucial in healthcare and non-medical applications, gathering real-time health metrics for transmission. In non-medical applications, sensors such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) assess environmental conditions, industrial settings, and animal movements. The power consumption of WBANs varies based on the specific application, with nodes embedded within the body typically having lower data rates and power consumption. In the metaverse, WBANs can be integrated for (...truncated)