IEC 63240-1:2024

Active assisted living (AAL) reference architecture and architecture model - Part 1: Reference architecture

IEC 63240-1:2024 specifies the AAL reference architecture. This document defines concepts and introduces terminology. It provides generic rules for designers of AAL systems and services with the aim to facilitate systems design and enable interoperability between components. This document identifies safety, security, privacy, and other requirements for AAL systems such as usability, accessibility, and trustworthiness (reliability, resilience) and sets up a process to identify the needs on the body area network (BAN), edge and cloud computing in the architecture perspective.
IEC 63240-1:2024 cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2020. This edition constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous edition:
a) clarifying the Introduction;
b) new terms and definitions have been added in 3.1;
c) adaption of terms according to the IEV in the whole document;
d) reference to ethical considerations of AI when applied in the AAL context has been added in Clause 5;
e) clarifying the description of AAL reference architecture in 6.3.1;
f) process to identify the needs on BAN, edge and cloud computing in the architecture perspective has been added in 6.3.2 and 6.3.3;
g) new figures have been added in 6.3.2 and 6.3.3;
h) reference to standards inventory has been added in 7.1;
i) clarification of 7.5;
j) Annex A has been added;
k) updated bibliography.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 07-Nov-2024
• ICS: 11.020.99 - Other standards related to health care in general
• ICS: 11.180 - Aids for disabled or handicapped persons
• Technical Committee: SyC AAL - Active Assisted Living
• Drafting Committee: WG 2 - SyC AAL/WG 2
• Current Stage: PPUB - Publication issued
• Start Date: 08-Nov-2024
• Completion Date: 25-Nov-2024

Relations

• Revises: IEC 63240-1:2020 - Active assisted living (AAL) reference architecture and architecture model - Part 1: Reference architecture
• Effective Date: 05-Sep-2023

Overview - IEC 63240-1:2024 (AAL reference architecture)

IEC 63240-1:2024 specifies the Active Assisted Living (AAL) reference architecture. It defines core concepts, terminology and generic rules for designers of AAL systems and services to promote interoperability, consistent systems design and consideration of non‑functional requirements. This second edition cancels and replaces the 2020 edition and is a technical revision that clarifies the introduction and architecture descriptions, adds new terms, addresses ethical considerations for AI in AAL, and formalizes a process to identify needs for body area networks (BAN), edge computing and cloud computing.

Key technical topics and requirements

• Concepts and terminology: Standardized definitions for AAL devices, gateways, backend systems and architecture elements to support consistent implementation and documentation.
• Reference architecture description: A conceptual model that maps components from BAN → edge → cloud and shows how AAL services are architected for home, edge and cloud deployments.
• BAN, edge and cloud needs: Process guidance for identifying functional and deployment needs at the body area network, edge nodes and cloud layers (new in this edition).
• Security, privacy and trustworthiness: Identification of safety, security and privacy requirements alongside trustworthiness attributes such as reliability and resilience.
• Usability and accessibility: Guidance to ensure AAL systems include usability and accessibility from early design phases.
• AI and ethics: Explicit reference to ethical considerations when applying AI/ML in AAL contexts (added in Clause 5).
• Standards inventory and normative alignment: References to related standards and adaptation of terminology to the International Electrotechnical Vocabulary (IEV).

Practical applications and who uses this standard

IEC 63240-1:2024 is intended for:

• System architects and software engineers designing interoperable AAL platforms and services.
• Device manufacturers of wearables, sensors and gateways who need interface and integration guidance.
• Service providers and operators implementing home- and cloud-based AAL services with attention to security, privacy and accessibility.
• Regulators and procurement teams creating specifications, conformity requirements or regulatory frameworks for AAL deployments.
• Researchers and integrators assessing BAN-to-cloud system topologies, edge offloading strategies, and ethical AI usage in assisted living.

Practical uses include designing BAN topologies for wearables, specifying edge/cloud split for latency-sensitive services, defining security/privacy controls across the architecture, and ensuring accessibility and usability are baked into product requirements.

Related standards and resources

• IEC 63240 series - Part 2: Architecture model (companion document).
• IEC TS 63134 (referenced in Annex A examples) and the IEV / Electropedia for standardized vocabulary.
• Consult the IEC standards inventory and bibliography in Clause 7 and Annex A for cross‑references and implementation resources.

Keywords: IEC 63240-1:2024, AAL reference architecture, active assisted living, BAN, edge computing, cloud computing, security, privacy, usability, accessibility, AI ethics.

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Active assisted living (AAL) reference architecture and architecture model –
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IEC 63240-1 ®
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INTERNATIONAL
STANDARD
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Active assisted living (AAL) reference architecture and architecture model –

Part 1: Reference architecture

INTERNATIONAL
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COMMISSION
ICS 11.020.99; 11.180 ISBN 978-2-8322-9900-5

– 2 – IEC 63240-1:2024 © IEC 2024
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms . 7
3.1 Terms and definitions . 7
3.2 Abbreviated terms . 12
4 General . 12
5 Relationship between IoT and AAL . 12
6 AAL reference architecture . 13
6.1 Purpose of AAL reference architecture . 13
6.2 Users of AAL reference architecture . 13
6.3 Description of AAL reference architecture . 14
6.3.1 Description of conceptual AAL reference architecture . 14
6.3.2 Cloud and edge computing . 15
6.3.3 Body area network (BAN) . 19
7 Security requirements in the context of AAL . 20
7.1 General . 20
7.2 Privacy requirements . 21
7.3 Security requirements . 21
7.4 Areas relating to AAL security for consideration . 21
7.5 Use of AI for cyberthreats . 21
7.6 AAL privacy risk examples . 22
7.6.1 Monitoring location . 22
7.6.2 Monitoring health and well-being . 22
7.6.3 IoT . 22
7.6.4 Frame risks for the AAL system . 22
Annex A (informative) Examples referring to the conceptual level of AAL reference
architecture . 23
A.1 Personal health check with wearable sensors (Use case 1:
IEC TS 63134:2020 and IEC TS 63134:2020/AMD1:2022) and with
smartphone support . 23
A.2 Personal trainer (Use case 8: IEC TS 63134:2020 and
IEC TS 63134:2020/AMD1:2022) without smartphone support . 23
Bibliography . 24

Figure 1 – Conceptual AAL reference architecture . 14
Figure 2 – Cloud and edge computing (conceptual) . 15
Figure 3 – AAL reference architecture: Home computing . 16
Figure 4 – AAL reference architecture: Cloud computing . 16
Figure 5 – AAL reference architecture: Edge computing . 17
Figure 6 – Cross-domain solution. 18
Figure 7 – Scalability and potential for savings . 18
Figure 8 – Example of a BAN system (cloud computing at home) . 19
Figure 9 – Example of a BAN system (cloud computing outside the home environment,
e.g., in the neighbourhood) . 20

Figure 10 – Security process within the context of AAL standards . 21

– 4 – IEC 63240-1:2024 © IEC 2024
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
ACTIVE ASSISTED LIVING (AAL) REFERENCE
ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHITECTURE MODEL –

Part 1: Reference architecture

FOREWORD
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IEC 63240-1 has been prepared by IEC systems committee AAL: Active Assisted Living. It is
an International Standard.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition published in 2020. This edition
constitutes a technical revision.
This edition includes the following significant technical changes with respect to the previous
edition:
a) clarifying the Introduction;
b) new terms and definitions have been added in 3.1;
c) adaption of terms according to the IEV in the whole document;

d) reference to ethical considerations of AI when applied in the AAL context has been added
in Clause 5;
e) clarifying the description of AAL reference architecture in 6.3.1;
f) process to identify the needs on BAN, edge and cloud computing in the architecture
perspective has been added in 6.3.2 and 6.3.3;
g) new figures have been added in 6.3.2 and 6.3.3;
h) reference to standards inventory has been added in 7.1;
i) clarification of 7.5;
j) Annex A has been added;
k) updated bibliography.
The text of this International Standard is based on the following documents:
Draft Report on voting
SyCAAL/322/CDV SyCAAL/362A/RVC

Full information on the voting for its approval can be found in the report on voting indicated in
the above table.
The language used for the development of this International Standard is English.
This document was drafted in accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2, and developed in
accordance with ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1 and ISO/IEC Directives, IEC Supplement, available
at www.iec.ch/members_experts/refdocs. The main document types developed by IEC are
described in greater detail at www.iec.ch/publications.
A list of all parts in the IEC 63240 series, published under the general title Active assisted living
reference architecture and architecture model, can be found on the IEC website.
The committee has decided that the contents of this document will remain unchanged until the
stability date indicated on the IEC website under webstore.iec.ch in the data related to the
specific document. At this date, the document will be
• reconfirmed,
• withdrawn, or
• revised.
IMPORTANT – The "colour inside" logo on the cover page of this document indicates
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– 6 – IEC 63240-1:2024 © IEC 2024
INTRODUCTION
IEC Systems Committee for Active Assisted Living (SyC AAL) is developing an architecture
model and a reference architecture for AAL to guide the development and deployment of AAL
services and technologies. IEC 63240 consists of the following parts, under the general title
Active assisted living (AAL) reference architecture and architecture model:
• Part 1: Reference architecture;
• Part 2: Architecture model.
This document provides information to ensure usability and accessibility from the earliest stages
of design and provides guidance to developers on how to incorporate these requirements.
Additional requirements such as security, privacy, and trustworthiness are introduced and
considered.
The first edition of IEC 63240-1 was published in 2020. Since the publication of
IEC 63240-1:2020, IEC SyC AAL has been collecting issues from a variety of sources including
comments from IEC National Committees. At the September 2021 online meeting of IEC SyC
AAL, it was decided to set up a process to identify the needs of body area network (BAN), edge
and cloud computing in the architecture perspective. These items are considered in this
document.
The target audience for this document includes the following stakeholders who have an interest
in the AAL system:
• AAL users and service provider personnel who can learn about AAL user needs and how to
operate AAL systems;
• consumer electronics and information and communication technology device manufacturers
who want to understand AAL device interface and interoperability requirements;
• stakeholders who are interested in the usability, accessibility and performance of the AAL
system as well as AAL operators who need to understand the system requirements;
• regulators who are responsible for developing and supervising AAL systems and the related
regulations.
ACTIVE ASSISTED LIVING (AAL) REFERENCE
ARCHITECTURE AND ARCHITECTURE MODEL –

Part 1: Reference architecture

1 Scope
This document specifies the AAL reference architecture.
This document defines concepts and introduces terminology. It provides generic rules for
designers of AAL systems and services with the aim to facilitate systems design and enable
interoperability between components.
This document identifies safety, security, privacy, and other requirements for AAL systems such
as usability, accessibility, and trustworthiness (reliability, resilience) and sets up a process to
identify the needs on the body area network (BAN), edge and cloud computing in the
architecture perspective.
2 Normative references
There are no normative references in this document.
3 Terms, definitions and abbreviated terms
3.1 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following
addresses:
• IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
• ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
3.1.1
AAL device
device (IEV 151-11-20) used in an AAL system
EXAMPLE Examples are sensors and actuators that contain one or more components (functionality).
Note 1 to entry: External conditions and events include measurements of temperature, motion, and electrical
conditions.
Note 2 to entry: There are 1) medical devices (IEV 871-06-06), as defined by regulatory agencies, 2) personal
health devices and sensors (IEV 871-04-29) for fitness, wellbeing, personal comfort, and personal security and 3)
devices that can serve as aggregators of personal data produced by the user of the device.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-871:2023, 871-07-01]

– 8 – IEC 63240-1:2024 © IEC 2024
3.1.2
AAL gateway
functional unit that connects two computer networks with different network architectures and
protocols used in an AAL service (IEV 871-01-04)
Note 1 to entry: The computer networks may be local area networks, wide area networks, or other types of networks.
Note 2 to entry: Examples of gateways are a LAN gateway, a mail gateway used in an AAL service.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-732:2010, 732-01-17, modified – The term "gateway" has been replaced
by "AAL gateway". In the definition and in Note 2 to entry, "used in an AAL service" has been
added.]
3.1.3
AAL platform backend system
AAL backend system
system that houses a number of components (and functionalities) in order to collect the data
from AAL gateways or AAL devices directly over a wide area network connection, and that can
also implement components for the remote management of the AAL gateways or AAL devices
(e.g. firmware update) and components for interfacing with AAL information systems or
other- information systems
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-871:2023, 871-07-04]
3.1.4
AAL application
AAL application and services
program or application that interacts with the AAL users or within the network infrastructure to
transmit or exchange data and information in the network
[SOURCE: IEC 61907:2009, 3.1.13, modified – The term in the source entry is "(network)
service function". In the definition, "network users" has been replaced by "AAL users" and the
note to entry has been omitted.]
3.1.5
AAL user
active assisted living user
person who uses or benefits from, or uses and benefits from, AAL devices, systems or services
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-871:2018, 871-02-05]
3.1.6
AAL service
active assisted living service
action or function of an AAL system creating an added value for customers
EXAMPLE An AAL service could comprise, for example
– configuration and maintenance of AAL systems,
– assistant systems to support the home environment.
Note 1 to entry: An AAL service can consist of several individual services.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-871:2018, 871-01-04]

3.1.7
AAL information system
collection of technical and human resources that provide the storage, computing, distribution,
and communication for the information required by an AAL service (IEV 871-01-04)
Note 1 to entry: An AAL information system can contain various types of personal information.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-871:2023, 871-07-02]
3.1.8
consumer electronics, pl
CE
electronic devices designed to be purchased and used by end users or consumers for daily and
non-commercial/non-professional purposes
Note 1 to entry: Consumer electronics are among the most commonly used form of electronic, computing and
communication devices.
3.1.9
information and communication technology
ICT
technology that comprises all devices, networking components, applications and systems that
combined allow people and organizations to interact in the digital world
3.1.10
network connection
connection that comprises both local and wide area networks
EXAMPLE Network connection can comprise, for example LAN or internet.
3.1.11
interface
boundary between two functional units, defined by functional characteristics, signal
characteristics, or other characteristics as appropriate
Note 1 to entry: This concept includes the specification of the connection of two devices having different functions.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-871:2018, 871-04-18]
3.1.12
other-information system
collection of technical and human resources that provide the storage, computing,
distribution, and communication for the information not specific to AAL services (IEV 871-01-04)
Note 1 to entry: An other-information system can include in part a health information system (HIS), of which
examples include:
• electronic health records (IEV 871-06-01);
• primary care practice electronic medical records (EMRs);
• pharmacy systems; or
• laboratory information systems.
Note 2 to entry: It is possible that AAL care recipients' data need be shared with these systems. For example, in
the context of an AAL care recipient who is suffering from chronic diseases and is monitored at home by a
telemonitoring system, it is possible that a vital signs summary report need be shared with the primary care
physician's EMRs.
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-871:2023, 871-05-12]

– 10 – IEC 63240-1:2024 © IEC 2024
3.1.13
edge computing
distributed computing (3.1.14) in which processing and storage takes place at or near the edge
(3.1.15) where the nearness is defined by the system's requirements
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC TR 23188:2020, 3.1.3]
3.1.14
distributed computing
model of computing in which a set of nodes (3.1.16) coordinates its activities by means of digital
messages passed between the nodes (3.1.16)
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC TR 23188:2020, 3.1.1]
3.1.15
edge
boundary between pertinent digital and physical entities, delineated by networked sensors and
actuators
Note 1 to entry: Pertinent digital entities means that the digital entities which need to be considered can vary
depending on the system under consideration and the context in which those entities are used.
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC TR 23188:2020, 3.1.2]
3.1.16
node
networked machine with processing and storage capabilities
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC TR 23188:2020, 3.1.5]
3.1.17
cloud service
one or more capabilities offered via cloud computing invoked using a defined interface
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-741:2020, 741-01-08]
3.1.18
cloud computing
paradigm for enabling network access to a scalable and elastic pool of shareable physical or
virtual resources with self-service provisioning and administration on-demand
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-741:2020, 741-01-07]
3.1.19
AAL home platform
IT platform offering AAL services, which is integrated in an existing home environment
infrastructure
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-871:2018, 871-05-01]
3.1.20
home environment
environment within a home, including the totality of appliances [e.g. household technology,
home network, furnishings]
[SOURCE: IEC 60050-871:2018, 871-03-02]
...