“Internet of Things”, an RFID - IPv6 Scenario in a Healthcare Environment

Abstract

In recent years, increasing costs in Health Care have directed efforts for more effective resource management in hospitals. “Internet of Things” is a very important step towards an increased networking state of hospital inventory. The use of RFID and IPv6 allows for a low cost, low maintenance solution. The above combination also helps to develop a transparent information infrastructure that serves the health professional and the patient alike. Apart from the obvious advantages of IPv6 such as larger address space (128 bits long), better header format, provision for extension, resource allocation support (Flow Label) and security features and the RFID’s no line of sight requirement, long read range, real-time tracking, multiple tag read/write and database portability, the combination of the two and our proposed Virtual MAC Address Generator can provide a unique tracking, low-cost, low power tool in a multi-sensor hospital environment.