This patent describes a system and method for using biosensors and a Body Area Network (BAN) to monitor and manage physiological activity within the human body. In the invention, biosensors collect biological signals such as heart activity, muscle signals, and other physiological data. These signals are transmitted through the Body Area Network to a processing device that analyzes the information and can communicate it to external communication networks. The system enables continuous health monitoring, data analysis, and the potential for medical intervention or feedback by routing biological signals between the body, computing systems, and communication infrastructure in real time. Two specific lines in the patent reveal it’s not just monitoring—but also routing signals back into the body..
Provided below is a section-by-section overview of the patent:
"Routing policies for biological hosts"
https://patents.google.com/patent/US10163055B2/enCurrent Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property | LP
1. Abstract
The patent introduces a system that creates interfaces between biological networks inside the body and external digital communication networks.
• It describes intrahost networks (networks inside the body such as neural or biological signaling systems).
• It also describes interhost networks (external digital networks like the internet or communication systems).
• The system performs "neuroregional" and "bioregional" translations to route signals between these biological networks and external communication networks.
Simple meaning:
The invention treats parts of the body and brain like network nodes that can send and receive signals through a communication system.
2. Background
This section explains the reasoning behind the invention.
Main ideas:
• The brain already functions as a network of interconnected neural pathways.
• Biological systems transmit electrical signals throughout the body.
• Modern networking technology can help interface with these biological signaling systems.
The patent suggests that if biological signals are treated like data packets, they could be integrated into communication networks.
Simple meaning:
Because the brain and body already use electrical signaling, the patent proposes applying computer networking concepts to biological signals.
3. Brief Description of the Drawings
This section lists diagrams that explain the invention.
Examples of diagrams include:
• System architecture connecting body networks to communication networks
• Routing of neurological signals
• Routing of biological signals
• Translation between biological regions and network addresses
• Flowcharts showing algorithms for routing signals
These drawings show how signals travel between the body and external networks.
4. System Environment / Architecture
The patent then explains the overall system design.
Key components
Biological Host:
The organism (human or animal).
Neurological Area Network (NAN):
A network representing brain signaling pathways.
Body Area Network (BAN):
A network representing biological signals throughout the body (organs, tissues, cells).
Communication Device:
A device that acts as an interface between the body networks and an external communication network.
External Communication Network:
Examples could include:
• telecommunications networks
• internet
• wireless communication systems
Together these create a biological-digital interface system.
5. Types of Biological Signals
The patent explains that many physiological signals could be used.
Examples include:
• ECG - heart signals
• EMG - muscle signals
• HRV - heart rate variability
• GSR - galvanic skin response
These signals can be captured and routed through the interface system.
6. Routing Neurological Signals
This section describes how signals from the brain are handled.
The system:
1. Detects neurological signals.
2. Converts them into a format compatible with digital networks.
3. Routes them to external systems.
In networking terms, the brain signals become transmittable communication data.
7. Routing Biological Signals
This section describes routing signals from the body's biological systems.
Examples include signals from:
• organs
• tissues
• nervous system
• physiological monitoring sensors
The interface identifies the signal and determines where it should be sent in the communication network.
8. Neuroregional Translation
This is one of the core concepts.
The system assigns addresses to different regions of the brain.
Example idea:
• Each neurological region could have a network address.
• Signals could be routed to specific brain regions.
This is similar to how IP addresses route data packets in computer networks.
9. Bioregional Translation
Similar to the previous concept, but for the body instead of the brain.
The patent proposes assigning network addresses to biological regions such as:
• organs
• tissues
• physiological subsystems
Each region becomes an addressable node in a body area network.
10. Receiving Communications from External Networks
The patent also describes communication in the opposite direction.
External networks can send signals to the body or brain.
Possible routing process:
1. External communication is received.
2. The system reads the destination address.
3. The message is routed to the correct biological region.
This could occur through methods such as wired or wireless electrodes or other interfaces.
11. Biological Subnets ("Bio-Subnets")
The patent introduces a concept similar to subnetworks in computer networking.
Examples:
• Brain subnet
• Organ subnet
• Nervous system subnet
These allow groups of biological regions to be organized into hierarchical networks.
12. Interhost Translation
This section explains communication between different biological hosts.
Example scenario:
• Person A's biological network communicates with Person B's network.
• Signals are translated between their respective biological network structures.
This could enable biological signal exchange between individuals via communication networks.
13. Machine Translation
The system can translate between:
• biological signals
• machine-readable data
• digital communication formats
This translation allows biological signals to interact with computing systems.
14. Algorithms and Flowcharts
The patent includes flowcharts describing
processes such as:
• detecting biological signals
• determining their origin
• translating them into network addresses
• routing them to the appropriate destination
These algorithms form the software logic of the system.
15. Claims (Legal Protection Section)
The claims define what the patent legally protects.
Key protected concepts include:
• Systems that interface biological networks with digital communication networks
• Routing policies that map biological regions to network addresses
• Translation methods between biological signals and communication networks
• Devices that send or receive signals to/from specific brain or body regions
Simple Overall Summary
This patent proposes a system that treats the human body and brain as networked communication systems. By assigning addresses to biological regions and translating biological signals into digital formats, the system could allow signals to be routed between body networks and external communication networks, similar to how data moves across the internet.
Here are three of the most important technical ideas in the patent that often get overlooked. These concepts are what make the invention more than just a basic biosensor system—they describe a network architecture for biological communication systems...👇
1. The "Biological Addressing System"
One of the core ideas in the patent is that parts of the body can be assigned network addresses, similar to how computers on the internet have IP addresses.
How it works
The system defines bioregions and neuroregions, which are mapped to addresses.
Examples might include:
• specific brain regions
• organs (heart, liver, lungs)
• tissues or muscle groups
• sensor nodes on/in the body
Each region becomes a network node.
The interface device can then:
1. Detect a signal from a specific biological region.
2. Assign it an address.
3. Route the signal through a communication network.
Why this matters:
Instead of just collecting health data, the system treats the body as a structured communication network.
That means signals can theoretically be:
• routed
• addressed
• translated
• sent to specific biological destinations
This is similar to how data packets travel through routers on the internet.
2. "Bio-Subnets" (Biological Subnetworks)
The patent borrows another concept from computer networking: subnets.
A subnet is a group of nodes within a larger network.
In the body this could mean
Example biological subnets:
Neurological subnet
• brain regions
• spinal cord
Cardiovascular subnet
• heart signals
• blood flow monitoring
• Musculoskeletal subnet
• muscle activity signals
• EMG sensors
Autonomic nervous system subnet
• respiration
• heart rate
• stress response signals
Each subnet can be monitored or controlled separately.
Why this matters:
This allows the body to be modeled as a hierarchical network system.
Example structure:
• Biological Host
• Brain network
• Organ networks
• Tissue networks
• Cellular signals
This architecture is similar to network layers used in telecommunications.
3. Interhost Biological Networking
One of the more unusual ideas in the patent is communication between different biological hosts.
In networking language:
• A host is a device connected to a network.
• In this patent, a biological host means a person or animal.
The system proposes that:
Biological host A
⬇️
interface device
⬇️
communication network
⬇️
interface device
⬇️
biological host B
Signals could theoretically be translated and transmitted between hosts.
Possible uses mentioned or implied
Examples might include:
• remote health monitoring
• brain-computer communication systems
• biological data sharing between devices
• medical telecommunication systems
This concept basically treats people as nodes in a communication network.
How These Three Ideas Fit Together:
The patent is essentially describing a network architecture for biological communication.
Step-by-step concept:
1. Biological signals are detected (brain, organs, sensors).
2. The signals are mapped to biological addresses.
3. Those addresses exist inside biological subnets.
4. Signals can be routed across external communication networks.
5. Other devices-or even other biological hosts-can receive the signals.
So the body becomes something like a biological communication network connected to digital infrastructure.
Important Context
Although the patent describes this architecture in detail, the system still depends on actual sensing hardware such as:
• electrodes
• wearable/in-body biosensors
• body-area network devices
• neural interfaces
The patent mainly focuses on network architecture and signal routing logic, rather than a specific implant or sensor technology.
When you look at the patent family around US10163055B2, it becomes clearer that this invention is part of a larger architecture for networking biological signals. Patent families are groups of related patents built from the same original invention and priority filing.
