A
personal area network (
PAN) is a
computer network used for
communication among
computer devices (including
telephones and
personal digital assistants) close to one person. The devices may or may not belong to the person in question. The reach of a PAN is typically a few meters. PANs can be used for communication among the personal devices themselves (intrapersonal communication), or for connecting to a higher level network and the
Internet (an
uplink).
Personal area networks may be wired with computer buses such as USB and Firewire. Wireless PANs can also be made possible with network technologies such as IrDA and Bluetooth.