Personal Area (PAN) & Ad-hoc Networks (Fundamentals of computer Network)

 1. Personal Area Network (PAN) :

• PAN stands for personal area network, a network covering a very small area, usually a small room. 
• PANs can be wired or wireless. 
• The best known wireless PAN network technology Bluetooth, and the most popular wired PAN is USB. 
• Wi-Fi also serves as a PAN technology, since Wi-Fi is also used over a small area. 

• -Advantages 

  • The PAN is a personal network of one or two person so there is no risk of any leak of data. 

   

• -Disadvantages 

• The network it can only travel straight up to 10mts and if in different rooms then only 2mts. 

• In the case of infrared, the infrared sensor bust be in a straight line otherwise it won't communicate. 
• Transmission is slow to moderate. 

2. Ad-hoc Networks :

• A wireless ad hoc network (WANET)or MANET is a decentralized type of wireless network. 
• The network is ad hoc because it does not rely on a pre-existing infrastructure, such as routers in wired networks or access points in managed (infrastructure) wireless networks. 
• Ad-hoc means without base station or Access point (means without infrastructure) 

•  

Advantages :

• Ad-hoc networks can have more flexibility. 
• It is better in mobility. 
• It can be turn up and turn down in a very short time. 
• It can be more economical. 
• It considered a robust network because of its non- hierarchical distributed control and management mechanisms 

 

• Disadvantages 

• Hostile environment and irregular connectivity. 

• There are no known boundaries for the maximum range but nodes will be able to receive network frames. 
• The wireless channel is weak, unreliable, and unprotected from outside interferences. 
• Limited wireless range. 
• Hidden terminals. 
• Packet losses. 
• Routes changes. 
• Devices heterogeneity. 
• Battery power constraints. 

 

• Applications 

• Group of people with laptops and they want to exchange files and data without having an access point. 

• In case if we need to exchange information and the network's infrastructure has been destroyed. 
• It is suitable for military communications at battlefield where there is no network infrastructure.