Chapter 4. Wireless PANs: Networks for Small Places

What You Will Learn

After reading this chapter, you should be able to

• Recognize specific wireless PAN applications

• Understand wireless PAN components and standards

• Realize the various wireless PAN systems

Wireless PANs satisfy needs for wireless networking over relatively small areas, such as between a cell phone and a laptop. In most cases, the range of a wireless PAN is less than 30 feet. This makes wireless PANs applicable to a wide variety of solutions, but many of the applications merely replace interfacing cables or allow simple transfers of information directly from one user to another.

This chapter defines each of the primary wireless PAN components, describes how these components interconnect to form a variety of systems, and explores several radio and infrared light technologies.