Best RF module and protocol for 1-3 meter device-to-device communication, market-ready

I am a product developer but not an electronics engineer. I am doing a cost analysis of a product idea for my company. The product will need something like this....

There will be two small portable devices (A and B) 1 meter apart (not in line of sight since A can be in pocket). Product A will keep pinging product B at regular intervals. When pinged, B will send response to A for that ping. A knows that B is still available.

Now, if we move B away from A (e.g. > 3 meters) and if A pings B and since B is out of range, A will not get response from B. In such case A will sound an alarm.

I know we can do device to device communication using RF modules. But I don't know which module or protocol to use for this.

My questions (Please answer considering that I am not prototyping but actual product for market):
 


Which protocol and module to use?
Can you point me to any module available in market that I can look into?
Since A will be pining B at regular interval, will that module drain battery much? If yes, how much long will battery last approximately?
Any existing product in market you can think of that does something similar (pinging at regular intervals)?
Do I need a micro controller?

Hi,

First of all, I think there are already devices cable of doing this. Even smart phones has the capability of doing this. You can read this blog about RF Modules I found on the net: http://electronicsforu.com/electronicsforu/ci...p?sno=2445&id=13751&article_type=8&b_type=new

Line of sight can still have a device in a pocket. Big issue here is the distance, you are unlikely to get consistency, since antenna type (detuning for example, due to proximity effects) and orientation, the frequency, rf absorption, multi-path etc are all going to be quite variable. Some more so than others, the frequency you choose will be important. Radio propagation is a complex issue. With this in mind, what sort of tolerance are you allowing for in the distance, and what sort of variation in placement of the transceivers (if on a human body, could be line of sight or on the opposite side)
cheers,
Richard