MEDICAL BODY AREA NETWORK (MBAN) WITH KEY-BASED CONTROL OF SPECTRUM USAGE

A medical body area network (MBAN) system (10) comprises network nodes (12, 14) intercommunicating via short range wireless communication. A primary user database (46) contains information pertaining to usage of a restricted spectrum by primary users wherein the MBAN systems are secondary users of the restricted spectrum. An electronic key generation engine (44) comprises a digital processing device configured to generate an electronic key (E-key) (50) indicative of whether the MBAN system is allowed to use the restricted spectrum based on content of the primary users database. An MBAN application server (40) is configured to distribute the E-key to the MBAN system. The MBAN system includes a spectrum control sub-module (52) comprising a digital processor configured to select an operating channel or frequency for the short range wireless communication based at least in part on whether the E-key authorizes the MBAN system to use the restricted spectrum.