A personal area network (PAN) is a computer network used for data

transmission amongst devices such as computers, telephones, tablets and

personal digital assistants.
PANs can be used for communication amongst the personal devices
themselves (interpersonal communication), or for connecting to a higher
level network and the Internet (an uplink) where one "master" device takes
up the role as internet router.A wireless personal area network (WPAN) is a
low-powered PAN carried over a short-distance wireless network
technology such as:
INSTEON
IrDA
Wireless USB
Bluetooth
Z-Wave
ZigBee
Body Area Network

INSTEON
Insteon is a home automation (domotics) technology that enables light
switches, lights, thermostats, leak sensors, remote controls, motion sensors,
and other electrically powered devices to interoperate through power lines,
radio frequency (RF) communications, or both.
It employs a dual-mesh networking topology in which all devices are peers
and each device independently transmits, receives, and repeats messages.
Like other home automation systems, it has been associated with the
Internet of Things.Insteon-based products were launched in 2005 by
Smartlabs,the company which holds the trademark for Insteon. A Smartlabs
subsidiary, also named Insteon, was created to market the technology.

Contents:
Protocol
Network topology
Central controllers
Security
 Installation
Compatibility
Specifications
References
External links

Protocol
Every message received by an Insteon compatible device undergoes error
detection and correction and is then retransmitted to improve reliability.
All devices retransmit the same message at the same time so that message
transmissions are synchronous, thus preserving the integrity of the message
while strengthening the signal on the powerline and erasing RF dead zones.
Insteon powerline messaging uses phase-shift keying. Insteon RF messaging
uses frequency-shift keying.
Each message contains a two-bit "hops" field that is initialized to 3 by the
originating node and decremented each time a node in the network repeats
the message. Individual Insteon messages can also carry up to 14 bytes of
arbitrary user data for custom applications.

Network topology
Insteon is an integrated dual-mesh (formerly referred to as "dual-band")
network that combines wireless radio frequency (RF) and a building's
existing electrical wiring. The electrical wiring becomes a backup
transmission medium in the event of RF/wireless interference. Conversely,
RF/wireless becomes a backup transmission medium in the event of
powerline interference.
As a peer-to-peer network, devices do not require network supervision, thus
allowing optional operation without central controllers and routing tables.

Central controllers
 Insteon devices can function without a central controller. Additionally, they
may be managed by a central controller to implement functions such as
control via smartphones and tablets, control scheduling, event handling, and
problem reporting via email or text messaging.
A computer can be used as a central controller by connecting it to an Insteon
USB/serial PowerLinc modem, which serves as a communication bridge
between the computer and the Insteon device network.

Security
Insteon network security is maintained via linking control to ensure that
users cannot create links that would allow them to control a neighbors
Insteon devices, and via encryption within extended Insteon messages for
applications such as door locks and security applications, should those
applications choose to implement encryption.

Insteon enforces linking control by requiring users to have physical possession of

devices, or knowledge of their unique Insteon IDs in order to create links.
Firmware in Insteon devices prohibits them from identifying themselves to other
devices unless a user either physically presses a button on the device during the
installation process or explicitly addresses the device via a central controller.
Linking to a device by sending Insteon messages (e.g., from a central controller)
requires knowledge of the address of the target Insteon device. As these addresses
are unique for each device and assigned at the factory (and displayed on a printed
label attached to each device), users must have physical access to the device to
read the device address from the label and manually enter it when prompted during
installation.

Installation
Insteon devices are configured by applying a sequence of "taps" (button
presses) to a pushbutton on each device to establish direct device-to-device
links.
Alternatively, a central controller may be used to configure devices.
 Each Insteon device has its own unique identifier code, similar to a MAC
address, and the technology allows directly linked devices to manage their
identifiers.

Compatibility
Older Insteon chip sets manufactured by Smartlabs can transmit, receive,
and respond to (but not repeat) X10 power line messages, thus enabling X10
networks to interoperate with Insteon.

In 2014, Insteon released a home automation system compatible with the

touch-enabled Metro interface, with devices appearing as "live tiles", and
later added voice control via Microsoft Cortana.

In 2015, voice control was added via compatibility with Amazon Echo.[15]
That same year, Logitech announced the Harmony Hub-based remote would
support Insteon devices when deployed with an Insteon Hub.[16] Also in
2015, Insteon announced an initiative to integrate the Google-owned Nest
learning thermostat with the Insteon Hub.

Insteon was one of two launch partners for Apple's HomeKit platform, with
the HomeKit-enabled Insteon Hub Pro. In 2015, Insteon announced support
for the Apple Watch, allowing watch owners to control their home with an
Insteon Hub.

Insteon is supported by several third-party platforms, including the ISY

series from Universal Devices, HomeSeer's HomeTroller appliances and
software,the open source projects openHAB[23] and Misterhouse, and
others.
Infrared Data Association (IrDA)
The Infrared Data Association (IrDA) is an industry-driven interest group
that was founded in 1993 by around 50 companies. IrDA provides
specifications for a complete set of protocols for wireless infrared
communications, and the name "IrDA" also refers to that set of protocols.
The main reason for using IrDA had been wireless data transfer over the
last one meter using point-and-shoot principles. Thus, it has been
implemented in portable devices such as mobile telephones, laptops,
cameras, printers, and medical devices. Main characteristics of this kind of
wireless optical communication is physically secure data transfer, line-of-
sight (LOS) and very low bit error rate (BER) that makes it very efficient.

Body area network

A body area network (BAN), also referred to as a wireless body area
network (WBAN) or a body sensor network (BSN), is a wireless network of
wearable computing devices. BAN devices may be embedded inside the
body, implants, may be surface-mounted on the body in a fixed position
Wearable technology or may be accompanied devices which humans can
carry in different positions, in clothes pockets, by hand or in various bags.
Whilst there is a trend towards the miniaturization of devices, in particular,
networks consisting of several miniaturized body sensor units (BSUs)
together with a single body central unit (BCU). Larger decimeter (tab and
pad) sized smart devices, accompanied devices, still play an important role
in terms of acting as a data hub, data gateway and providing a user interface
to view and manage BAN applications, in-situ.
The development of WBAN technology started around 1995 around the idea
of using wireless personal area network (WPAN) technologies to implement
communications on, near, and around the human body. About six years later,
the term "BAN" came to refer systems where communication is entirely
within, on, and in the immediate proximity of a human body.A WBAN
system can use WPAN wireless technologies as gateways to reach longer
ranges. Through gateway devices, it is possible to connect the wearable
devices on the human body to the internet. This way, medical professionals
 can access patient data online using the internet independent of the patient
location.

Wireless USB
Wireless USB is a short-range, high-bandwidth wireless radio
communication protocol created by the Wireless USB Promoter Group
which intends to further increase the availability of general USB-based
technologies. It is maintained by the WiMedia Alliance and the current
revision is 1.0, which was approved in 2005. Wireless USB is sometimes
abbreviated as "WUSB", although the USB Implementers Forum
discouraged this practice and instead prefers to call the technology Certified
Wireless USB to distinguish it from the competing UWB standard.

Wireless USB was based on the (now defunct) WiMedia Alliance's Ultra-
WideBand (UWB) common radio platform, which is capable of sending 480
Mbit/s at distances up to 3 metres (9.8 ft) and 110 Mbit/s at up to 10 metres
(33 ft). It was designed to operate in the 3.1 to 10.6 GHz frequency range,
although local regulatory policies may restrict the legal operating range in
some countries.