Iot Network

M4-R5.1 · Chapter 1: Introduction to Internet of Things – Applications/Devices, Protocols andCommunication Model · 3 min read

IoT Network

An IoT network refers to a collection of interconnected devices that communicate with each other. Several types of networks are used in an IoT system to establish connections between multiple devices.

  1. BAN (Body Area Network): This refers to a wireless technology used in combination with wearable devices such as smartwatches, fitness bands, smart rings, earbuds, and Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems. The most common technology used here is Bluetooth.
  2. PAN (Personal Area Network): This connects devices within a person's workspace. This includes devices like laptops, smartphones, and tablets
  3. HAN (Home Area Network): This connects devices like smartphones, computers, televisions, lights, fans, and gaming consoles. These have wireless connectivity to a central hub or smart control devices like Amazon Alexa or Google Home for home automation.
  4. NAN (Neighborhood Area Network): A computer network that connects a wireless network from a neighborhood for data exchange.
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  6. LAN (Local Area Network): A computer network that covers a limited geographical area such as an office, school, hospital, or building. In practical life, it covers less than 1 km in diameter.
  7. CAN (Campus Area Network): This is created when multiple local networks are connected to a single network segment, such as across multiple buildings in a university campus or military base.
  8. MAN (Metropolitan Area Network): A computer network that covers a larger area than a LAN but a smaller area than a WAN. It covers a range of 5 to 50 km in diameter and contains multiple local area networks.
  9. RAN (Regional Area Network): A collection of MANs. It is commonly used by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to provide internet and telecommunication services to multiple cities or regions/states.
  10. WAN (Wide Area Network): This covers a large geographical area such as a country or continent across the world. These are expensive and typically used by organizations.
  11. RAN (Radio Access Network) :It is the critical infrastructure in cellular networks (1G to 5G) that connects user devices, like smartphones, to the core network via radio waves.