Republic of the Philippines

Laguna State Polytechnic University

Province of Laguna

College of Computer Studies

Laboratory Exercise No. 1
Topic: Personal Area Network (PAN) Week No. 3

Course Code: CMSC 310 Term: 1st Sem

Course Title: Network and Communications Academic Year: 2022 - 2023

I. LEARNING OUTCOME

At the end of this exercise, students must be able to:

a) Define PAN and WPAN.
b) Identify the technology that uses WPAN.

II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network for interconnecting devices centered on an
individual person's workspace. A PAN provides data transmission amongst devices such
as computers, smartphones, tablets and personal digital assistants. PANs can be used for
communication amongst the personal devices themselves, or for connecting to a higher level network
and the Internet (an uplink) where one master device takes up the role as gateway. A PAN may be
carried over wired computer buses such as USB.
A wireless personal area network (WPAN) is a low-powered PAN carried over a short-
distance wireless network technology such as IrDA (Infrared Data Association), Wireless
USB, Bluetooth and ZigBee. The reach of a WPAN varies from a few centimeters to a few meters.

Wireless personal area network

A wireless personal area network (WPAN) is a personal area network in which the connections are
wireless. IEEE 802.15 has produced standards for several types of PANs operating in the ISM
band including Bluetooth. The Infrared Data Association has produced standards for WPANs which
operate using infrared communications.
A WPAN could serve to interconnect all the ordinary computing and communicating devices that
many people have on their desk or carry with them today; or it could serve a more specialized purpose
such as allowing the surgeon and other team members to communicate during an operation.
A key concept in WPAN technology is known as plugging in. In the ideal scenario, when any two
WPAN-equipped devices come into close proximity (within several meters of each other) or within a
few kilometers of a central server, they can communicate as if connected by a cable. Another
important feature is the ability of each device to lock out other devices selectively, preventing
needless interference or unauthorized access to information.
The technology for WPANs is in its infancy and is undergoing rapid development. Proposed operating
frequencies are around 2.4 GHz in digital modes. The objective is to facilitate seamless operation
among home or business devices and systems. Every device in a WPAN will be able to plug into any
other device in the same WPAN, provided they are within physical range of one another. In addition,
WPANs worldwide will be interconnected. Thus, for example, an archeologist on site in Greece might

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 Republic of the Philippines
Laguna State Polytechnic University
Province of Laguna

use a PDA to directly access databases at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and to transmit
findings to that database.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth uses short-range radio waves. While historically covering shorter distances associated with
a PAN, the Bluetooth 5 standard, Bluetooth Mesh, have extended that range considerably. Further,
long range Bluetooth routers with augmented antenna arrays connect Bluetooth devices up to 1,000
feet. Uses in a PAN include, for example, Bluetooth devices such as keyboards, pointing devices,
audio head sets, printers may connect to personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, or computers.
A Bluetooth PAN is also called a piconet (combination of the prefix "pico," meaning very small or
one trillionth, and network), and is composed of up to 8 active devices in a master-slave relationship
(a very large number of devices can be connected in "parked" mode). The first Bluetooth device in the
piconet is the master, and all other devices are slaves that communicate with the master. A piconet
typically has a range of 10 metres (33 ft), although ranges of up to 100 metres (330 ft) can be reached
under ideal circumstances. With Bluetooth mesh networking the range and number of devices is
extended by relaying information from one to another. Such a network doesn't have a master device
and may or may not be treated as a PAN.
Infrared Data Association
Infrared Data Association (IrDA) uses infrared light, which has a frequency below the human eye's
sensitivity. Infrared in general is used, for instance, in TV remotes. Typical WPAN devices that use
IrDA include printers, keyboards, and other serial communication interfaces. [3]

III. LABORATORY PROCEDURE

1. In this exercise, read the “Background Information” regarding Personal Area Network.
2. Prepare a two Smart Phone and open the Bluetooth Application.
3. Transmit any data (preferably large data i.e. mp3 files, video files etc)

IV. QUESTION AND ANSWER

1. What is the difference between a Bluetooth and an Infrared Transmission?

Bluetooth devices use microwave within the range of 2.4 to 2.485 GHz to communicate with
other devices, using low powered signals, which limit its range to approximately 10 meters.
Also, they transmit at a lower data rate which is usually within a few Megabits per second
(Mbps).

2. Enumerate other devices that uses Bluetooth Technology.

Bluetooth-enabled consumer electronics such as phones, cameras, televisions, speakers and

headphones simplify data sharing between devices. A Bluetooth mobile phone, for example,
can wirelessly connect to a headset to make hands-free calling easier or can send pictures to
another phone or computer.

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 Republic of the Philippines
Laguna State Polytechnic University
Province of Laguna

3. How long does it takes for the Bluetooth to lose its signal when transmitting a data
(show in ft.)

Bluetooth connection is approximately 30 ft.

I. REFERENCES

http://www.thewestologist.com/symbols/bluetooth-symbol-origin-and-meaning
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-differences-between-Bluetooth-infrared-and-WiFi-
in-data-transmission
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/bluetooth-technology-used-for-58102.html
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00014085

Other Reminders:
• AVOID PLAGIARISM, include the source/reference of the activity
• SAVING FILES – Can be edited with student, This will be saved thru google drive
under the same name

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