WPAN

WPAN

1. 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.

2. 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 in to 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 use a PDA to directly access databases at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and to transmit findings to that database.

   • WHAT IS THE DIFFERANCE BETWEEN WPAN AND LAN
     • LAN stands for Local Area Network, which is a collection of computers and other network devices in a certain location that are connected together by switches and/or routers that facilitate the communication of the network elements. Each computer or network element is connected to the switches/routers via a UTP cable. The added letter in WLAN stands for wireless. This is a type of network where the data is not transmitted via cables but over the air through the use of wireless transmitters and receivers. WLANs are deployed in areas where a wide number of computers may connect to the network but not at the same time. Places like coffee shops often add WLAN to their shops to entice more customers who do not stay for extended periods. Even at home where you have a somewhat fixed number of computers that connect to the network, WLAN is also preferred as it gives users the freedom to move around the house and carry their laptops with them without needing to fuss with cables. For areas where
       • GPRS
         • General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) is a packet-based wireless communication service that promises data rates from 56 up to 114 Kbps and continuous connection to the Internet for mobile phone and computer users. The higher data rates allow users to take part in video conferences and interact with multimedia Web sites and similar applications using mobile handheld devices as well as notebook computers. GPRS is based on Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication and complements existing services such circuit-switched cellular phone connections and the Short Message Service (SMS).