Improve Article Save Article Like Article The computer network is a set of interconnected computers/devices where the interconnection is established with the aim of communication between the computers/devices to share resources, data, and applications. There exist different types of computer networks designed to operate over the area they cover and as per network requirements, service type, and network coverage area they are classified. Personal Area Network (PAN) is the computer network that connects computers/devices within the range of an individual person. As PAN provides a network range within a person’s range typically within a range of 10 meters(33 feet) it is called a Personal Area Network. A Personal Area Network typically involves a computer, phone, tablet, printer, PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and other and other entertainment devices like speakers, video game consoles, etc. Thomas Zimmerman and other researchers at M.I.T.’s Media Lab first developed the concept of PAN. It is very useful in the home, offices, and small network areas due to its high performance in terms of flexibility and efficiency. Types of Personal Area Network (PAN) : Personal Area Network can be of 2 types depending upon its connection i.e., Wireless PAN, and Wired PAN. These are explained as following below.
Examples of PAN :
Advantages and disadvantages of PAN – These are some of the Advantages of PAN :
These are some of the disadvantages of PAN :
Applications of PAN –
As devices get smaller with technological advancements, there is a greater need to facilitate communication between various devices to share data and resources. Personal Area Networks (PAN) provide the needed short-range connection of devices for communication and data transfer to address this need. Below, we explain what is a personal area network (PAN), and take a look at some of the advantages and disadvantages these types of networks have to offer.
A Personal Area Network (PAN) is a data network that connects electronic devices within the immediate range of the user. The network range for a PAN is generally up to 10 meters. The interconnected devices may include cellphones, laptops, computers, PDAs, printers, keyboards, and other entertainment devices like game consoles, speakers, or wearable gadgets belonging to a user. A PAN can connect devices with or without wires. Such a network could also be connected to the internet or other networks. A Personal Area Network provides a single user environment to connect multiple devices. This type of network is quite useful in offices, homes, and other small network areas because of its exceptional performance in terms of efficiency and flexibility. It is a low-cost network system that facilitates small area communication, mainly covering personal devices. A PAN is often set up for resource sharing and communication between devices like wireless mouse and keyboard, TV remotes, smartphones, gaming consoles, Bluetooth, wireless USB, wireless printers, and more.
A PAN network might be wireless or wired. USBs and FireWire are frequently required for connecting a wired PAN. On the other hand, PAN often uses Bluetooth or, in some cases, infrared connections. In theory, a PAN might be made up of small, wearable, or embedded devices that communicate with other wireless devices when they come into contact with them.
Personal Area Networks connected through wires is called a Wired PAN. Such a network is connected through wires/cables like Universal Serial Bus (USB) or Firewire.
Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) uses wireless technology like Bluetooth, Infrared, Ultra-wideband, and ZigBee to connect devices. Today, most PANs found in everyday applications are wireless based on close-range wireless connectivity like Bluetooth. See also: Understanding Wireless Networks The wireless PAN range is generally small because it uses short-range wireless protocols that lose their efficiency over distances greater than 5-10 meters. Some of the technologies used in WPANs are:
You can learn more about ZigBee here
A Personal Area Network has several uses and applications. Let us try to understand the purpose of this network with the help of some real-life examples.
A mobile network moving with a person is an example of a Personal Area Network. The person may establish a network connection between his smartphone and his Bluetooth headphone. The network travels wherever the person goes. This is called a body area network.
A home office is usually set up using a small network separate from the home network. This type of Personal Area Network works as an entity with multiple pieces of equipment interconnected for everyday tasks related to the office.
In this type of personal area network, such as PCs, printers, data storage, speakers, mouse, and other appliances are integrated without connecting to the internet. These equipment use Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other wireless technology to connect. An offline communication network is created between the pieces of equipment within a small area like a home or office.
Personal Area Networks allow users to connect multiple pieces of equipment for easy and reliable transmission of data. Apart from personal use, they have several benefits and applications.
Some of the most significant benefits of personal area networks are: Data protection – A personal area network is generally more secure than other networks since the interconnected endpoints have sought permission from the authorized user before transmitting data between them. Cost-effective – A PAN network does not require any complicated setup or cable connection between devices, making it more cost-effective than other networks. Easy to use and maintain – This type of network has no advanced configuration requirements to be used efficiently. Moreover, as it involves no complexities of wires, servers, and routers, it is also easy to maintain. If any problem occurs on the network, it can be easily handled. Space-saving – A PAN uses Bluetooth or other technology to directly share data between connected devices, allowing storage to be shared, and taking up minimal physical space. Stability and reliability – As the network does not depend on servers and operates within a short range, it is more reliable and stable than more extensive networks. Concurrent multiple connections – In a personal area network, a device can be connected to multiple devices simultaneously. For example, a smartphone can connect concurrently with several tablets and mobile phones.
Personal Area Networks also have some limitations like: Slow data transmission – Technology like Bluetooth cannot transmit considerable amounts of data between multiple devices at high speeds, so PANs are generally slower than other types of networks like WAN, LAN, and MAN. Limited area – This type of network can transmit data within a short range of about 10 meters. The network is also limited to a few devices connected. Interference with radio signals – Data transmitted through a personal area network is prone to loss as it can interfere with radio signals in the range.
To safeguard your Personal Area Network (PAN), you must first understand the risks and security challenges of this sort of network. Personal area networks differ from Local Area Networks in that they often function outside of the Local Area Network environment yet are connected to it. Since Personal Area Networks are often segregated, a normal vulnerability scan of the local network may miss vulnerabilities within the PAN. A PAN may contain numerous types of user equipment, each of which has a security risk that might be exploited by a cybercriminal (hacker) to breach the PAN and then employ lateral techniques to get access to the rest of the network. A PAN provides advantages, but it also introduces potential security weaknesses. The principal vulnerabilities of a personal area network are as follows:
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