IEC 63240-1:2024

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.