Personal Area Network (PAN): An Overview

Personal Area Network may be wireless or can be carried over interfaces. Wireless PAN is carried over low-powered and short-distance wireless technology such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, IrDA, and Wireless USB. In this article, we will discuss the Personal Area Network and its types in detail.

What is a Personal Area Network (PAN)?

A personal area network (PAN) connects electronic devices within a user’s immediate area. The size of a PAN ranges from a few centimeters to a few meters. One of the most common real-world examples of a PAN is the connection between a Bluetooth earpiece and a smartphone. PANs can also connect laptops, tablets, printers, keyboards, and other computerized devices.

PAN network connections can either be wired or wireless. Wired connection methods include USB and FireWire; wireless connection methods include Bluetooth (the most common), WiFi, IrDA, and Zigbee.

While devices within a PAN can exchange data with each other, PANs typically do not include a router and thus do not connect to the Internet directly. A device within a PAN, however, can be connected to a local area network (LAN) that then connects to the Internet. For instance, a desktop computer, a wireless mouse, and wireless headphones can all be connected to each other, but only the computer can connect directly to the Internet.

What are the features of PAN?​

The following are the key characteristics of PAN:

• Permits the interconnection of IT devices in the vicinity of a single user to be managed.
• It consists primarily of network-enabled personal devices within a restricted area.
• Wireless PAN (WPAN) is the term used to describe a wireless connection to the internet.
• PAN consists of laptops, tablets, and mobile devices.
• For PAN, Bluetooth systems, cordless mice, and keyboards are utilized.

How does a Personal Area Network work?

First, turn on the wireless communication you plan to use (e.g., Bluetooth or Wi-Fi). These technologies work over short distances, usually within 30 feet or so. Each device in the PAN searches for others nearby that are also in discovery mode. Once the devices are connected, they can share stuff like photos, music, or files. They can also work together, like using your phone to control the music on your speaker. With PAN, you can connect or disconnect devices as needed.

Types of PANs

There are two types of PANs: wireless and wired.

• Wireless PANs. A wireless PAN is designed to serve a single person, SOHO, or small workgroup. As such, limited distance, throughput, peripheral sharing, and low volume are some of the main characteristics of this type of network. A wireless PAN functions wirelessly and is carried over a low-powered, short-distance wireless network technology, such as Infrared Data Association (IrDA), wireless universal serial bus (USB), Bluetooth, ultra-wideband, or Zigbee. Conceptually, the difference between a PAN and a wireless local area network (LAN) is that the former tends to be centered around one person while the latter is connected without wires and serves multiple users.
• Wired PANs. These networks provide short connections between peripherals using wired technologies, such as USB, IEEE-1394 high-performance serial buses, or a Thunderbolt hardware interface.

What can PAN be used for?

In recent years, PANs have increasingly been used for different purposes. Personal area networks make everyday life with technology easier.

For example, if you connect a Bluetooth device like a mouse, printer, or headphones to a smartphone or laptop, the connection will probably be established via a PAN network. If you get into a car with a hands-free system, your smartphone will connect via a PAN. Game console controllers also often connect via PANs.

Besides connecting to peripheral devices, you can also use personal area networks to exchange files. When setting up a personal hotspot, a PAN is also used for tethering.

Additionally, PAN networks are used in the Internet of Things, enabling communication between devices and components. Here, components exchange monitoring and control data, while in building automation, a PAN enables communication between actuators and sensors.

Advantages of a Personal Area Network

A PAN has many advantages. Unlike WAN and LAN networks; PAN networks offer the following benefits:

• Low complexity of network components: Routers, switches, and other network components aren’t required.
• High security due to short network range: As the name implies, a personal area network is limited to your immediate vicinity.
• Low complexity in establishing the connection: Connecting devices using a PAN is simple, fast, and straightforward.
• Low energy consumption: A PAN network consumes a low amount of energy and can be operated for a long time with both rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries.

Disadvantages of a Personal Area Network

Along with its various advantages, a PAN also has several shortfalls, such as the following:

• Short network range and slow data transfer: A PAN uses Bluetooth communication that doesn’t span beyond the 10-meter range. This makes long-distance data sharing difficult and slows down the rate of data transfers.
• Signal interference: The Bluetooth and IrDA rays used for transmission in a PAN can cause interference with radio signals, which can severely interrupt and degrade the quality of communication between devices.
• Cost: Using a PAN can be expensive, as most built-in WPAN devices are costly. Also, most devices used for creating a PAN have a higher price tag, such as smartphones and laptops.
• Line of sight propagation: PANs mostly operate on IrDA technology, which travels in a straight line from one point to another, also known as the line of sight propagation. Unlike radio-based communications, IrDA devices must be aligned to work. For example, a TV remote won’t work unless it’s beamed directly to the TV screen.

Conclusion

Thus, as technology advances and the boundaries between devices blur, the significance of PANs is set to grow. However, like all technological advancements, it’s essential to approach PANs with a balance of enthusiasm for their potential and caution regarding security and privacy concerns.