Wireless Communications
Low Rate Wireless Personal Area
Networks
2
Objectives
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Describe a wireless personal area network (WPAN)
•
List the different WPAN standards and their
applications
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Explain how IrDA, Bluetooth, and ZigBee work
•
Describe the security features of low-rate WPAN
technology
3
What is a WPAN?
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Wireless personal area network (WPAN)
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Group of technologies that are designed for short-
range communications
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Eliminates the need for wires or cables to interconnect
multiple devices
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Applications for WPAN technology include:
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Synchronizing PDAs, cellular, and Smartphones
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Home control systems (smarthome)

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Based on the IrDA specifications
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IrDA specifications
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Define both physical devices and network protocols
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IrDA devices’ characteristics
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Provide walk-up connectivity
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Provide a point-to-point method of data transfer
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Between only two devices at a time
6
Infrared WPANs (IrDA) (continued)
7
Infrared WPANs (IrDA) (continued)
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Serial Infrared (Version 1.0)
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Designed to work like the standard serial port on a PC
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Uses a UART (Universal Asynchronous
Receiver/Transmitter)
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Microchip that also controls a computer’s serial interface
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Fast Infrared (FIR) (Version 1.1)
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