Network

Type of Network

Personal Area Network (PAN)

1. A computer network used for communication among computer devices including PCs, laptops, and personal digital assistants, close to one person. 
2. May be wired with USB port, Firewire port, Infrared (IrDA) and Bluetooth technologies. Bluetooth is the popular wireless PAN used by most people.
3. IT applies the IEEE 802.15.1 standards.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

1. A network that uses a public telecommunication infrastructure, such as the Internet, to remote offices or individuals with secure access to their organisation's private network. 
2. Uses tunnelling mechanism to maintain privacy and security of the data. Tunnelling means transmitting data packets across a public network. 
3. Often used by companies to provide access from their internal network resources to their home or mobile workers.

Wireless LAN (WLAN)

1. A type of LAN that uses high-frequency radio waves to communicate between nodes. 
2. Improves user mobility, speed and scalability to move around within a broad coverage area and still be connected to the network. 
3. The IEEE standard for Wireless LANs is 802.11.

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)

1. The industry term for broadband wireless access network that is developed based on the IEEE 802.16 standard.
2. A Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) technology that will connect WiFi hotspots to the Internet and provides a wireless extension to cable and DSL for larger broadband access. 
3. Operate similar to WiFi but at higher speeds, over greater distances and for a greater number of users.

A WiMAX system will have two major parts:

• WiMAX base station, similar in concept to a mobile phone tower
• WiMAX receiver installed at home