|
|
|
       |
 |
      |
|
TransPacificTelecom
-- Support Information
Glossary
A | B
| C | D | E
| F | G | H
| I | J | K
| L | M | N
| O | P | Q
| R | S | T
| U | V | W
| X | Y | Z
 A
ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber
Line)
ADSL modems attach to twisted pair copper wiring. ADSL is often provisioned with greater downstream than upstream rates (hence "asymmetric"). These rates are dependent on the distance a user is from the central office and may vary from as high as 9 Mbps to as low as 384 Kbps. See DSL, HDSL, IDSL, RADSL, SDSL, VDSL, xDSL.
ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter)
The Cisco ATA products are standards-based communication devices that deliver true, next-generation voice-over-IP (VoIP) terminations to businesses and residences worldwide.
ATM (Asynchronous Transfer
Mode)
A protocol that packs digital information into 53-byte cells (5-byte header and 48-byte payload) that are switched throughout a network over virtual circuits. Its ability to accommodate multiple types of media (voice, video, data) makes it a likely player for full service networks based on ADSL and VDSL.
Access rate
The transmission speed of the physical access circuit between the end user location and the local network. This is generally measured in bits per second. Also called "access speed."
Adapter card
A card (usually PCI or ISA) installed in a computer that provides network communication capabilities to and from that computer. Also called a "network interface card" (NIC). See also data terminal equipment and network interface card.
Asynchronous transmission
Data transmission of one character at a time to the receiving device, with intervals of varying lengths between transmittals.
B
Bandwidth
Size or the capacity of a given transmission channel. In digital
transmission, bandwidth is normally described in bits per second.
Bit
A single unit of data. See byte and gigabyte.
Broadband
A high-speed connection to the Internet, typically defined as
starting at 384 kbps. It allows rich media content (content
that uses video, audio or complex graphics like those used in
high end computer games) to quickly flow across the network
to the user's computer.
Byte
In most computer systems, a byte is a unit of data that is eight
binary digits long. A byte is the unit most computers use to
represent a character such as a letter, number, or typographic
symbol (for example, "g", "5", or "?"). A byte can also hold
a string of bits that need to be used in some larger unit for
application purposes (for example, the stream of bits that constitute
a visual image for a program that displays images or the string
of bits that constitutes the machine code of a computer program).
C
Central office (CO)
A physical building where the local telephone switching equipment
is found.
CDR (call detail record)
An accounting record produced by Switches to track Call Type, Time, Duration, Facilities used, Originator, Destination, etc. CDRs are used for customer billing, rate determination, network monitoring, and facility capacity planning. CDRs represent unrated calls (to be processed by Rating) in contrast to Tolls, which are rated calls.
CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange
Carrier)
After deregulation of the telecommunications industry, companies
that traditionally had the exclusive, franchised right and responsibility
to provide local transmission and switching services were joined
by new companies that are free to offer comparable services.
LECs (local exchange carriers) were born. Traditional telcos
became known as ILECs (incumbent LECs), while new, independent
data and voice telecommunication services companies became known
as CLECS (competitive LECs).
CNG
Comfort Noise Generation.
CPE (customer premise equipment)
Communications equipment that resides on the customer's premises.
CRM (customer relationship management)
CRM entails all aspects of interaction a company has with its customer, whether it be sales or service related. Computerization has changed the way companies are approaching their CRM strategies because it has also changed consumer buying behavior. With each new advance in technology, especially the proliferation of self-service channels like the Web and WAP phones, more of the relationship is being managed electronically. Organizations are therefore looking for ways to personalize online experiences (a process also referred to as mass customization) through tools such as help-desk software, e-mail organizers and Web development apps.
D
Data services
Much like voice services, which allow people to communicate
over the phone, data services allow people to send and receive
information.
Dedicated line
A transmission circuit that is reserved by the provider for
the full-time use of the subscriber. Also called a "private
line."
Dial-up (DialUp)
The process of initiating a switched connection through the
network. Dial-up connections operate much more slowly than broadband
connections such as DSL or Cable and are inherently not "always
on."
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
A proven technology that takes advantage of standard copper
telephone lines to provide secure, reliable, high-speed Internet
access. This is a general term for any local network loop that
is digital in nature.
DSP
Digital Signal Processor.
DTMF
Dual Tone Multi-Frequency.
E
ELEC (Enterprise Local Exchange
Carrier)
Generally, a larger corporation or organization (e.g., university)
that operates as its own local exchange carrier (LEC) as a means
of obtaining better carrier rates for itself, possibly selling
services to others for a profit. ELECs could be considered a
subset of CLECs.
Enterprise network
A term for a widely dispersed, multifaceted telecommunications
network for a particular purpose or organization.
Ethernet
A LAN used to connect devices within a single building or campus
at speeds up to 10 Mbps.
F
Fast Ethernet
A LAN used to connect devices within a single building or campus
at speeds up to 100 Mbps.
FoIP
FAX over IP.
FXO
Foreign Exchange Office. An FXO connects to a central office
- this is the interface a standard phone offers.
FXS
Foreign Exchange Station.
G
Gbps (Gigabits per second)
A measure of bandwidth capacity or transmission speed. It represents
a billion bits per second.
Gigabyte
A billion bytes of data.
H
H.323
An ITU standard that provide a foundation for audio, video and
data communications across IP-based network.
I
IDSL (ISDN Digital Subscriber
Line)
IDSL provides up to 144-Kbps transfer rates in each direction
and can be provisioned on any ISDN capable phone line. Compared
to ADSL and other DSL technologies, IDSL can be deployed to
users at much further distances from the central offices, as
well as to users who are not served directly from the central
office but rather indirectly through DLCs (digital loop carriers)
and other technologies.
ILEC (Incumbent Local Exchange
Carrier)
A new term that describes traditional local telephone companies
that, prior to deregulation of the telephone industry, had the
exclusive right and responsibility to provide local telephone
service. ILEC delineates these service providers from the new
competitive providers (CLECs) and enterprise providers (ELECs).
The term "local exchange carrier" (LEC) is used as the generic
term for all three.
Internet
The world's largest computer network. The Internet originated
from a research effort initiated by the U.S. Government and
was initially used to connect defense contractors and U.S. universities.
Today, its nature is more commercial, and it is becoming the
preferred method of linking businesses and individuals' computers
to one another.
Internet access
The physical connection between the subscriber and the nearest
Internet access node.
Intranet
A local network, for example, an office network, where there
are internal web servers accessible to computers in the office,
but not accessible from outside the company. Many Intranets
are protected from exterior access by various security devices,
like firewalls.
ITU
The ITU-T (for Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunications Union) is the primary international body for fostering cooperative standards for telecommunications equipment and systems. It was formerly known as the CCITT. It is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
IVR
Interactive Voice Response.
J
K
Kbps (Kilobits per second)
A measure of bandwidth capacity or transmission speed. represents a thousand bits per second.
L
LAN (Local Area Network)
A data communications network covering a small area, usually
within the confines of a building or floors within a building.
Common LAN protocols are Ethernet and Token Ring.
LEC (Local Exchange Carrier)
A local telephone company (either a Bell Operating Company [BOC]
or an independent [e.g., GTE]) that traditionally had the exclusive,
franchised right and responsibility to provide local transmission
and switching services. Prior to divestiture, the LECs were
called telephone companies or telcos. With the advent of deregulation
and competition, LECs are now known as ILECs (incumbent LECs).
M
Mbps (Megabits per second)
A measure of bandwidth capacity or transmission speed. It represents a million bits per second.
Modem
Modulator/DEModulator. Equipment that converts digital signals to analog signals and vice versa. Modems are used to send data signals (digital) over the telephone network, which is usually analog.
N
NIC (Network Interface Card)
The circuit board or other form of computer hardware that serves as the interface between a computer (or other form of data terminal equipment) and the communications network; in DSL, a common NIC is an Ethernet NIC, which serves as the interface to the DSL modem from the computer.
NID (Network Interface Device)
A device that terminates a copper pair from the serving central office to the user's destination. The NID is typically found installed on the exterior premises of the destination location.
O
OSS
This is a company's operation support system. It is software that allows all the operations of a company to work together automatically and seamlessly, including connecting to the operations of the ILEC.
P
Packet switched network
A network that does not establish a dedicated path through the
network for the duration of a session but, instead, transmits
data in units called packets in a connectionless manner. Data
streams are broken into packets at the front end of a transmission,
sent over the best available network connection, and then reassembled
in their original order at the destination endpoint.
POTS (plain old telephone service)
Short for plain old telephone service, which refers to the standard telephone service that most homes use. In contrast, telephone services based on high-speed, digital communications lines, such as ISDN and FDDI, are not POTS. The main distinctions between POTS and non-POTS services are speed and bandwidth. POTS is generally restricted to about 52 Kbps (52,000 bits per second).
The POTS network is also called the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
Q
R
Router
The device that connects multiple computer networks. Packet
information is read, and then forwarded to the appropriate end
station. Routers can find the best route between any two networks,
even if there are several different networks in between. Routers
provide network management capabilities such as load balancing,
partitioning of the network, use statistics, communication priority,
and trouble shooting tools that allow network managers to detect
and correct problems even in a complex network of networks.
S
SDP
Session Description Protocol.
SIP
Session Initiation Protocol. A signaling protocol for internet
telephony.
SLIC
Subscriber Line Interface Circuit. An IC providing central office-like
telephone interface functionality.
SOHO
Small Office / Home Office.
T
T1
A digital transmission link with a capacity of 1.544 Mbps. T1
uses two pairs of normal twisted wires, the same as found in
most residences. T1 normally handles 24 voice conversations,
each one digitized at 64 Kbps. But, with more advanced digital
voice encoding techniques, it can handle more voice channels.
T1 is a standard for digital transmission in the United States.
T1 lines are used to connect networks across remote distances.
T3
A T3 line consists of 28 T1 lines or 44.736 million bits per
second (commonly referred to as 45 Mbps). A T3 line can handle
672 voice conversations. T3 runs on fiber optic and is typically
called FT3.
Telco
A generic term for the local telephone company operator in a
given area. In the U.S., the major telcos are the seven regional
Bell operating companies and the leading independent telcos,
GTE, SNET, and Sprint; in Europe, Asia and elsewhere, the term
"telco" generally refers to the incumbent monopoly, but increasingly
refers to competing local providers as well.
Telecommunications Act of 1996
The act passed by Congress that reformed the telecommunications
industry, including cable. It called for the incumbent phone
companies to open their markets to competition so they could
have access to long distance telephone services outside their
markets. To earn that, the FCC is requiring that they open up
their markets to data services too.
U
Upload
The process of transmitting information files from your computer
to another through a network.
V
VAD
Voice Activity Detection.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
1) A packet based network protocol.
2) A category of hardware and software that enables people to use the Internet as the transmission medium for telephone calls.
W
WAN (Wide Area Network)
A data network typically extending a LAN (local area network)
outside the building, over telephone common carrier lines to
link to other LANs in remote buildings in possibly remote cities.
A WAN typically uses common-carrier lines. A LAN doesn't. WANs
typically run over leased phone lines--from an analog phone
line to T1 (1.544 Mbps). The jump between a local area network
and a WAN is made through a device called a bridge or a router.
X
xDSL
The generic term for the suite of digital subscriber line (DSL) services, where the "x" can be replaced with any of the letters that represent one of the various types of DSL technology (ADSL, HDSL, IDSL, MDSL, RADSL, SDSL, VDSL).
Y
Z
|
|
|
|
