Mobile communication technologies have significant potential for enhancing patient care in the eHealth sector. Compared to other domains, eHealth has more critical network requirements due to its mission-critical applications and life-risking scenarios. Deterministic low-latency and high stable throughput are crucial for remote surgeries, smart ambulances, remote proctoring, and telemedicine in disaster relief. Furthermore, security and trustworthiness are of utmost importance when it comes to communicating medical data.
Within this context, Focused project 6G SALUS focuses on the scientific and technological impact of implementing communication and cloud technologies in healthcare. It seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies across various use cases and application scenarios, leveraging the expertise of healthcare providers and telecommunication researchers.
6G SALUS is part of Spoke 5 – Industrial and Digital Transition Networks
Project PI: Paola Iovanna
During the first two years of the project, major progress was made in the 6G SALUS project in the context of WP1, WP2 and WP3. Four main topics have been explored and the respective results and achievements are reported in the planned deliverables.
Specifically:
Topic 1 - Preliminary definition of significant eHealth Use Cases – M07
Additionally, 6G SALUS has also cooperated with Mission 7 for the communication campaign on social media in May 2024.
Specifically:
Topic 1 - Preliminary definition of significant eHealth Use Cases – M07
- D1.1 provided initial definitions of eHealth use cases (UCs) and related KPIs.
- D1.2: expanded on D1.1 by exploring eHealth use cases from a 6G perspective and identifying potential advancements expected with 6G.
- D1.3 focused on translating UCs needs, i.e. service requirements, in network requirement.
- D2.1 offered insights on AR and VR technologies and their applications in eHealth.
- D3.1 provided a comprehensive analysis of requirements for radio, transport, and cloud layers; compared public and private 5G networks; explored cloud-based networking functions.
- D3.2 detailed the characteristics of a simulation environment designed to emulate network infrastructure for validating use cases. Published in Journal, ack RESTART.
Additionally, 6G SALUS has also cooperated with Mission 7 for the communication campaign on social media in May 2024.
In the initial phase of the 6G SALUS project, efforts have been concentrated on establishing a foundational definition and characterization of use cases within the connected healthcare sector.
The identified use cases have been categorized into three main areas: "Remote Patient Monitoring and Consultation," "Proctoring and Surgery," and "Emergency," each encompassing specific scenarios. For each of these areas, 6G SALUS has identified and detailed the relevant connectivity requirements and KPIs. The primary goal has been to provide a comprehensive overview of eHealth use cases and their associated requirements, which can be effectively supported by cellular networks in combination with AR, VR, and MR technologies. This information will be pivotal in guiding the design and deployment of future eHealth services, ensuring their utility and effectiveness.
This groundwork lays the basis for crucial and challenging scenarios that require 6G cellular connectivity support. At this scope, a network simulator has been developed during the second year of project activity. Results from its testing phase have already shown significant savings in network resources and enhanced traffic offloading. The simulator is now actively being used to validate the key use cases defined in the project's first phase, taking into account enabling technologies such as AR, VR, and MR.
Preliminary results have been published in the article "Intent based AI model in packet-optical networks towards 6G" authored by P.Iovanna, M.Puleri, G.Bottari, F.Cavaliere and published on Journal of Optical Communication and Technologies. It reports techniques to address vertical requirements, among which the specific on healthcare ones, over a radio/transport network. This paper reports a specific acknowledge on RESTART funding.
Paper:
P. Iovanna, M. Puleri, G. Bottari and F. Cavaliere, "Intent-based AI system in packet-optical networks towards 6G [Invited]," in Journal of Optical Communications and Networking, vol. 16, no. 7, pp. C31-C42, July 2024, doi: 10.1364/JOCN.514890.
The identified use cases have been categorized into three main areas: "Remote Patient Monitoring and Consultation," "Proctoring and Surgery," and "Emergency," each encompassing specific scenarios. For each of these areas, 6G SALUS has identified and detailed the relevant connectivity requirements and KPIs. The primary goal has been to provide a comprehensive overview of eHealth use cases and their associated requirements, which can be effectively supported by cellular networks in combination with AR, VR, and MR technologies. This information will be pivotal in guiding the design and deployment of future eHealth services, ensuring their utility and effectiveness.
This groundwork lays the basis for crucial and challenging scenarios that require 6G cellular connectivity support. At this scope, a network simulator has been developed during the second year of project activity. Results from its testing phase have already shown significant savings in network resources and enhanced traffic offloading. The simulator is now actively being used to validate the key use cases defined in the project's first phase, taking into account enabling technologies such as AR, VR, and MR.
Preliminary results have been published in the article "Intent based AI model in packet-optical networks towards 6G" authored by P.Iovanna, M.Puleri, G.Bottari, F.Cavaliere and published on Journal of Optical Communication and Technologies. It reports techniques to address vertical requirements, among which the specific on healthcare ones, over a radio/transport network. This paper reports a specific acknowledge on RESTART funding.
Paper:
P. Iovanna, M. Puleri, G. Bottari and F. Cavaliere, "Intent-based AI system in packet-optical networks towards 6G [Invited]," in Journal of Optical Communications and Networking, vol. 16, no. 7, pp. C31-C42, July 2024, doi: 10.1364/JOCN.514890.
6G SALUS will identify potential innovations over the course of the project that may present exploitation opportunities by utilizing the “Innovation and technology transfer” process provided by Mission 3. Mission 3 facilitate the identification of potential industrial receivers for the innovations.
Program partners:
In the realm of healthcare, mobile communication technologies like 5G and the anticipated 6G are about to play a pivotal role. The eHealth sector has some of the most demanding network requirements because it deals with mission-critical applications where improvements in network performance can mean the difference between life and death.
Stable latency and throughput are essential for remote surgeries, managing emergency situations with smart ambulances, and supporting critical telemedicine services during disaster relief. With the right programmable transport infrastructure, 5G and 6G technologies are set to enhance existing eHealth services and enable new ones.
These topic are in the focus of 6G SALUS that has so far explored the most important use cases in the field of connected healtcare, studying their requirements and their connectivity needs.
Stable latency and throughput are essential for remote surgeries, managing emergency situations with smart ambulances, and supporting critical telemedicine services during disaster relief. With the right programmable transport infrastructure, 5G and 6G technologies are set to enhance existing eHealth services and enable new ones.
These topic are in the focus of 6G SALUS that has so far explored the most important use cases in the field of connected healtcare, studying their requirements and their connectivity needs.
- KPI 1 - Scientific Impact - The degree of scientific value and collaboration resulting from the partnership between academic leaders and a world-leading telecommunications company with a highly structured research group investigating 6G cellular technologies. Measurement: A qualitative assessment of the depth and impact of the collaboration, considering the quality of research output, technological advancements, and their potential contributions to the field of connected healtcare. - Expected
- KPI 2 - Technological Impact - The extent to which the project showcases the practical integration of various IoT, cloud, edge, and computing environments at the architectural and design level, leveraging future-proof cellular technologies for connectivity. Measurement: A quantitative assessment based on the comprehensiveness, effectiveness, and innovation in demonstrating the integration of IoT, cloud, edge, and computing technologies within the project.
- KPI 3 - Sustainability Impact - The project's ability to contribute to sustainability by addressing use cases that reduce the need for medical staff travel, decrease CO2 emissions, and optimize resource utilization in healthcare networks. Measurement: A qualitative assessment of the project's effectiveness in reducing the environmental impact, enhancing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable healthcare practices.
- KPI 4 - Societal Benefits - The project's ability to contribute to achieving "Health for All" goal by expanding primary healthcare coverage, strengthening health systems, reducing costs, enhancing the quality of care, and empowering individuals to take control of their health outcomes, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 "Good Health and Well-being". Measurement: A quantitative assessment of the project's impact on the key components of "Health for All" and its alignment with the specific targets and indicators outlined in SDG 3.
Publications
P.Iovanna, M.Puleri, G.Bottari, F.Cavaliere "Intent based AI model in packet-optical networks towards 6G" published on Journal of Optical Communication and Technologies reporting techniques to address vertical requirements (among which the specific on healtcare ones) over a radio/transport network (this paper reports a specific acknoledge on RESTART funding)
P. Iovanna, M. Puleri, G. Bottari and F. Cavaliere, "Intent-based AI system in packet-optical networks towards 6G [Invited]," in Journal of Optical Communications and Networking, vol. 16, no. 7, pp. C31-C42, July 2024, doi: 10.1364/JOCN.514890.
Dissemination Events
Participation of the RESTART Future Visions Camp in Milan (October 2024)
Project Meetings
Monthly face-to-face meetings between Ericsson and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna for coordination and alignment on the project progresses. Meeting of PI with Spoke 5.
- Milestone 1 - Definition and characterization of eHealth UCs (M07) - Accompished
- Milestone 2 - Identification of requirements at UC (T1.2), supporting technologies, (T2.1), and network levels (T3.1) (M14) - Accompished
- Milestone 3 - Theoretical validation of the overall immersive system (M34) - Expected
- Milestone 4 - Assessment of UC in the identified network scenario (M36) - Expected
Researchers involved: Ericsson, two allocated persons. Total 48 PPM. SSSA, one allocated person. Total 9 PPM.
Collaboration proposals:
For any proposal of collaboration within the project please contact the project PI.