PAN Technology Explained: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Beyond

 PAN (Personal Area Network)

A personal area network (PAN) is a small network that connects electronic devices within a user's immediate area, typically within a few meters. PANs can be wired or wireless, but most use Bluetooth, WiFi, IrDA, or Zigbee.

PANs allow devices to communicate and share data, applications, and resources. They can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

Connecting devices

PANs can connect devices like smartphones, tablets, laptops, printers, and keyboards.

Syncing data

PANs can easily sync data between devices.

Remote control

PANs can control other devices, such as using a smartphone as a remote control for another device.

Connecting to the internet

A device in a PAN can connect to a local area network (LAN) that then connects to the internet.

PANs are different from local area networks (LANs) because they are mainly used for low-data-rate applications and can include mobile devices.

Some types of PANs include:

• Body area networks (BANs): These are used in healthcare settings to monitor vital signs and manage medical devices.
• Bluetooth personal area networks (BTPANs) are used to wirelessly share internet connectivity between devices.
• Low-power personal area networks (LPPANs): These are used for portable devices because they consume little energy and have low data transmission costs.