What is a personal area network (PAN)?

What is a wireless personal area network?

A wireless PAN (WPAN) 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 WPAN functions wirelessly and is carried over a low-powered, short-distance wireless network technology, such as Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol devices, 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. A PAN also differs from a wide area network, which serves and connects multiple users.

What is a wired PAN?

While wireless communication is more common in PANs, a PAN can be wired as well. Wired PANs provide short connections between peripherals using wired technologies, such as USB, FireWire, IEEE-1394 high-performance serial buses or a Thunderbolt hardware interface.

Wired PANs provide a great option for connecting devices that are in the immediate vicinity of a user and their workspace.

Common examples of a personal area network

A PAN has several use cases and applications. The following are the most common examples:

• Body area network. Also referred to as a wireless body area network or a body sensor network, this type of mobile computer network moves with a person and is typically established when a person connects their smartphone and Bluetooth headphones. With this network, communication takes place entirely within, on and in the immediate proximity of a person. An example of a body area network is a medical sensor used in healthcare that has wireless connections implanted in the human body to monitor vital signs.
• Wearable technology. Wearable computer devices, including smart clothing, fitness trackers and smart watches with accelerometers, can monitor daily activities and exchange digital information using the electrical conductivity of the human body as a data network.
• Offline network. This is also referred to as a home network, as users can establish this type of network in their home offices. Multiple devices, including printers, TVs, game systems, laptops and other home appliances are integrated through Bluetooth technology or Wi-Fi, forming a small, single-space network. However, the electronic devices in this network aren't connected to the internet.
• SOHO. This type of network is set specifically for work purposes and is separate from other home networks. Using an internet connection, this virtual network is typically a small setup of connected devices that are used solely for office work and might incorporate a virtual private network.
• Infrared devices. A PAN can also be established by using infrared communication for remote control of TVs and other home electronics.
• USB connections. USB ports can be used to connect various devices to a computer such as printers, webcams or external hard drives. USB connections are also used to charge smartphones and tablets.

What's the difference between a PAN and a LAN?

PANs and LANs are unique in their own ways. The major difference between these networks is that a PAN connects devices within the short range of a person, whereas a LAN connects devices at a single site, typically an office building. Similar to a PAN, a LAN can be both wired and wireless.

The following are a few main characteristics of a PAN and a LAN.

Characteristics of a PAN

• A PAN generally provides interconnection of technology devices surrounding a single user.
• Mainly used for low data-rate applications in home automation, PANs are widely used for communication between devices.
• PANs can include mobile devices and appliances, such as tablets, printers, keyboards, barcode scanners, game consoles, laptops and other personal devices.
• If connected wirelessly to the internet, it's called a WPAN.
• PANs are commonly used in the internet of things (IoT) to connect devices within an individual's immediate vicinity.

Characteristics of a LAN

• The scope of a LAN is usually within a single building or between buildings.
• A LAN is designed for high data transmission rates from megabytes per second to gigabytes per second.
• A Wi-Fi network is an example of a LAN. A LAN is typically established in houses, hospitals and educational institutions. For example, universities use LANs to interconnect all their devices in one location.
• The smallest LAN might be made up of only two computers, while larger LANs can accommodate thousands of computers.
• A LAN typically relies on wired connections for higher speeds and security, but wireless connections can also be part of a LAN.
• LANs are mainly used for their high speed and relatively low cost.

Advantages of PANs

The following are a few benefits of using a PAN:

• No wires are required. The connecting devices in a PAN only require a Bluetooth device to be enabled, which eliminates the need for extra wires. This also eradicates the need for cable management and wasted floor space, making it a highly cost-effective network.
• Reliable and secure. A PAN network ensures a reliable and stable connection if it's established within the 10-meter range. While the limited transmission range might be seen as a limitation, it provides a high level of security due to the short network range.
• Easy data synchronization. A PAN provides easy data synchronization between different devices. As an example, all devices connected within a PAN can be used to exchange, download and upload data with each other.
• Portability. A PAN provides extreme portability, as it's typically wireless, and users can transport devices and exchange data wherever they want.
• Lower power consumption. Low-power wireless PANs that are carried over technologies including Bluetooth, 6LoWPAN, wireless USB, NearLink or Zigbee are ideal for portable devices due to their minimal energy usage and low data transmission costs.

Disadvantages of PANs

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.
• No broadcasting option. A key drawback of PANs is their inability to simultaneously broadcast messages to all connected devices. This limitation renders them impractical for large-scale applications with many devices or long-range connections.
• 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 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.
• Less reliable. PANs can be less reliable than wired networks, especially when managing multiple connections or clusters of devices.

Network architecture can vary based on size, network topology, workloads and business needs. Explore common types of networking devices and how they work.