Packet-Level System Performance of a Lightweight Consensus Cryptographic Protocol in Wireless Body Area Networks

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) play a critical role in healthcare by enabling real-time monitoring through wearable devices. Blockchain technology improves data integrity and security in WBANs, but introduces significant transmission and energy challenges due to the constrained nature of these networks. This study evaluates a lightweight consensus protocol that uses Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) principles, tailored to WBAN requirements, which is stated in [2]. Our study considers the main dynamics of the system, such as activation and deactivation rates, as well as packet generation rates and transmission durations. Through packet-level system simulations, the reliability and efficiency of the protocol are analyzed. This work provides actionable insights into optimizing blockchain-based WBAN systems, highlighting the trade-offs between node activation rates and network stability.