rruacou
`DICTIIINAHY
`
`1411,0110
` utwrou’s
`
`W‘s/*1,,
`SELLER e
`
`I E
`
`' The Official Dictionary of Telecommunications
`Computer Telephony, Data Communications
`Internet Telephony, Voice Processing
`Windows 9581 NT Communications
`
`LAN, WAN and Wireless Networking
`
`MPHJ 2004
`
`1
`
`

`

`
`
`
`a
`
`NEWTON’S TELECOM DICTIONARY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Firs
`i.e. -
`
`Iy an
`day:
`lette
`l wr
`grov
`won
`worl
`Fort
`free
`No (
`com
`1. 1
`spes
`mak
`tech
`new
`
`2. It
`the '
`setti
`808
`to D
`opei
`Stan
`exci'
`telet
`
`3.Il
`beer
`Ausl
`Corr
`blue
`or ti
`telec
`mun
`man
`
`4. ll
`gish
`alrez
`with
`l pul
`tradi
`page
`5- N
`com
`you
`199;
`hapr
`6. TI
`matc
`
`NEWTON’S TELECOM DICTIONARY
`
`A Flatiron Publishing, Inc. Book
`copyright © 1996 Harry Newton
`published by Flatiron Publishing, inc.
`
`All rights reserved under international and Pan-American Copyright conventions, including the
`right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. Published in the United
`States by Flatiron Publishing, inc., New York.
`
`12 West 21 Street
`New York, NY 10010
`212-691-8215 Fax 212-691-1191
`1-800-999-0345
`1-800-LIBRARY
`Email harrynewton@mcimail.com
`
`lSBN # 0-936648-87-2
`
`July, 1996
`
`Manufactured in the United States of America
`
`Eleventh Edition
`
`Cover design by Mara Seinfeld
`Printed at Command Web, New Jersey
`
`
`
`2
`
`

`

` rS rC ra ra sA (
`
`rpA _
`
`E—\
`
`aiytnnnoty
`
`3.482354.9.:tgsaa5?.>133551
`
`Cit
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NEWTON'S TELECOM DICTIONARY
`
`APPC/PC An IBM product that implements APPC on a PC.
`Appearance Usually refers to a private branch exchange line or extension which is on (I.e. “appears") on a multi-button key
`telephone. For example, extension 445 appears on three key systems.
`Appearance 'l'est Point The point at which a circuit may be measured by test equipment.
`Append To add the contents of a list. or file. to those of another.
`APPGEN A shortened form of the words APPIications GENerator.
`Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino. CA. Manufacturer of personal computers. Heavy penetration in the graphics/desktop
`publishing business. Apple was formed on April Fool's Day. 1976. by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. aided greatly by Mike
`Markkula.
`
`Apple Desktop Bus The Interface on a Mac where non-peripheral devices. such as the keyboard. attaches. A Mac keybmm
`or mouse is called an ADB device. Contrast with peripherals. which attach through the SCSI interface. See also USB, which isa
`new bus for use on PCs but fulfilling essentially the same function as the Apple Desktop Bus.
`Apple Desktop Interface ADI. A set of user-interface guidelines. developed by Apple Computer and published by
`Addison-Wesley. intended to ensure that the appearance and operation of all Macintosh applications are similar.
`Apple Menu The Apple icon in the upper left hand corner of the Apple Macintosh screen. The Apple menu contains aliases.
`control panels, the chooser and other desk accessories.
`Apple Pie Both an American icon, and the name chosen for Apple Computer’s Personal Interactive Electronics (PIE) division
`chartered with extending the company into new growth areas such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). eg. the Apple Newton
`The PlE division includes Apple Online Services, Newton and Telecommunications group. publishing activities. and Scriptx.
`based multimedia PDA development.
`Apple Remote Access ARA is Apple Computer's dial-in client software for Macintosh users allowing remote access to Apple
`and third party servers.
`Apple URP Apple Update Routing Protocol. The network routing protocol developed by Apple for use with Appletalk.
`AppleShare Apple Computer’s local area network.
`It uses AppleTalk protocols. AppleShare is Apple system software that
`allows sharing of files and network services via a file server in the Apple Macintosh environment. See APPLETALK.
`Applet A small application that performs a specific task. such as the Cardfile and Calculator in Microsoft Windows. See also JAVA
`AppleTalk Apple Computer’s proprietary networking protocol for linking Macintosh computers and peripherals. especially
`printers. This protocol is independent of what network it is layered on. Current implementations exist for LocaITalk (230.4 Kbps)
`and EtherTalk(10Mbps).
`AppleTalk Zone and Device Filtering Provides an additional level of security for AppleTalk networks. On AppleTaIIr
`networks. network managers can selectively hide or show devices and/or zones to ARA clients. See ARA.
`Application A software program that carries out some useful task. Database managers. spreadsheets. communications pack-
`ages. graphics programs and word processors are all applications.
`Application Binary Interface ABI. The rules by which software code is written to operate specific computer hardware.
`Application software, written to conform to an ABI. is able to be run on a wide variety of system platforms that use the comput-
`er hardware for which the ABI is designed.
`Application Bridge Aspect Telecommunications‘ AC0 to host computer link. Originally it ran only over R2—232 serial con
`nections, but it now runs over Ethernet. using the TCP/IP link protocol. See also OPEN APPLICATION INTERFACE.
`Application Class An SCSA term. A group of client applications that perform similar services. such as voice messaging or
`fax-back services.
`Application Equipment Module AEM. A Northern Telecom term for a device within the Meridian 1 Universal Equipmert
`Module that supports Meridian Link Modules. The Meridian Link Module (MLM) is an Application Module. specially configured
`to support the Meridian Link interface to host computers.
`Application For Service A standard telephone company order form that includes pertinent billing. technical and other
`desgriptive information which enables the company to provide communications network service to the customer and its autho
`nze users.
`Application Framework This usually means a class library with a fundamental base class for defining a complete program.
`The framework provides at least some of the facilities through which a program Interfaces with the user. such as menus and win
`dows. in a style that is internally consistent and abstracted from the specific environment for which it has been developed.
`This is an explanation I received from Borland. I don't quite understand it. yet. An application framework is an object-oriented
`class library that integrates user-interface building blocks. fundamental data structures. and support for object-oriented Inptl
`and output. It defines an application's standard user interface and behavior so that the programmer can concentrate on imple
`menting the specifics of the application. An application framework allows developers to reuse the abstract design of an entire
`application by modeling each major component of an applications as an abstract class.
`Application Generator AG. A program to generate actual programming code. An applications generator will let you pro-
`duce software quickly. but it will not allow you the flexibility had you programmed it from scratch. Voice processing "applica—
`tions generators." despite the name. often do not generate programming code. Instead they are self-contained environments
`which allow a user to define and execute applications. They are more commonly called applications generator. since one gener-
`ator can define and execute many applications. See APPLICATIONS GENERATOR for a longer explanation.
`Application Module A Northern Telecom term for a computer that can be attached to a Northern Telecom phone system and
`add intelligence and programmability to the phone system. Often. the AM will be a computer conforming to open standards. sud“
`as DOS or Windows. or it may be VME—based.
`Application Module link AML. A Northern Telecom internal and proprietary link that connects the Meridian 1 (via EDSI '
`or MSDL port) to the Meridian Link Module.
`
`44
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`NEWION'S TELECOM DICTIONARY
`
`sion which is on (i.e. "appears") on a multi—button key
`
`:omputers. Heavy penetration in the graphics/desktop
`Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. aided greatly by Mike
`
`evices. such as the keyboard. attaches. A Mac keyboard
`:h through the SCSI interface. See also USB. which is a
`
`es, developed by Apple Computer and published by
`)f all Macintosh applications are similar.
`le Macintosh screen. The Apple menu contains aliases.
`
`mputer's Personal Interactive Electronics (PIE) division.
`rsonal Digital Assistants (PDAs). e.g. the Apple Newton.
`imunications group, publishing activities. and Scrith-
`
`are for Macintosh users allowing remote access to Apple
`
`ocol developed by Apple for use with Appletalk.
`k protocols. AppleShare is Apple system software that
`e Macintosh environment. See APPLETALK.
`Ifile and Calculator in Misrosolt Windows. See also JAVA
`iking Macintosh computers and peripherals. especially
`)urrent implementations exist for LocalTalk (230.4 Kbps)
`
`.
`
`r
`
`'
`
`I level of security for AppleTalk networks. 0n AppleTalk .
`or zones to ARA clients. See ARA.
`atabase managers. spreadsheets. communications pack-
`
`.
`
`'.
`a code is written to operate specific computer hardware.
`a wide variety of system platforms that use the comput- .-
`
`iputer link. Originally it ran only over R2—232 serial con-
`. See also OPEN APPUCATION INTERFACE.
`iat perform similar services. such as voice messaging 0f
`n for a device within the Meridian 1 Universal Equipment
`ile (MLM) is an Application Module. specially configured
`
`I
`
`.-
`form that includes pertinent billing. technical and other
`inications network service to the customer and its authe ._
`t
`[fundamental base class for defining a complete program i
`program interfaces with the user. such as menus and win E
`ecific environment for which it has been developed.
`(-
`id it. yet. An application framework is an object—oriented I.
`tal data structures. and support for object-oriented input
`‘-.'
`iavior so that the programmer can concentrate on imple- ~
`lows developers to reuse the abstract design of an entire
`
`amming code. An applications generator will let you pro
`programmed it from scratch. Voice processing “applitar
`ning code. Instead they are self-contained environments .
`:ommonly called applications generator. since one genet-
`iENERATOR for a longer explanation.
`: can be attached to a Northern Telecom phone system and
`M will be a computer conforming to open standards. such
`
`id proprietary link that connects the Meridian 1 (via EDSI
`
`Appggfitiprrtcl’rogram A computer software program designed for a specific job. such as word processing. accounting.
`s rea s 863 ,
`-
`pp plicotlon Program Interface API. A set of formalized software calls and routines that can be referenced by an appli-
`cation program rc access underlyinlg rretwfork se/rrjicez.
`'
`‘
`ro ram
`lication
`rogcammlna n er ace
`.
`set of functions and values used b one
`to communicate WIN]
`p g
`:nofher program or with an operating system. See API for a better explanation.
`y
`licatron Profile As SCSA term. A description of the kinds of resources and services required by a client application (or
`an application class). An application profile is defined once for an instance of an application; then system services such as the
`SCR will be able to fulfill the needs of the application without the application having to state its needs explicitly.
`Application Servrce Element ASE. A messaging term. A module or portion of a protocol in the application layer 7 of the OSI
`(Open Systems Interconnection) protocol stack. Several ASEs are usually combined to form a complete protocol. e.g.. the X.400 P1
`protocol which conSIsts of the MTSE (Message Transfer Service Element), and the RTSE (Reliable Transfer Service Element).
`Application Software Interface ASI. The Application Software Interface is a product of the Application Software Interface
`Expert Working Group of the ISDN lmplementor's Workshop. The Interface focuses on the definition of a common application
`interface for accessing and administering ISDN serVices provided by hardware commonly referred to in the vendor community
`as Network Adapters (NAs) and responds to the applications re uirements enerated b the ISDN
`characteristics of this Application Interface shall be
`q
`g
`y
`Users Workshop UUW)’ The
`' Portable across the broadest range of system architectures;
`'
`' Extensible (their words. not mine)
`' Abstracted beyond ISDN to facilitate interworking;
`' Defined in terms of services and facilities consistent with OSI layer interface standards.
`According to Application Software Interface Group. the primary goal of the ASI is to provide a consistent set of application soft-
`ware interface serVices and application software interface implementation agreement(s) in order that an ISDN application may
`operate across a broad range of ISBN vendor products and platforms. The application software interface implementation agree—
`ments Will be referenced by (and tested against) the IUW (ISDN Users Workshop) generated applications. It is anticipated that
`therrreritror cocrpzalncies firiI/rrrlr/erthin thcsrravelapmentt cf th/ase implementation agreements will build products for the ISDN user
`ma e p ace w i
`on r
`o
`em.
`m emen a ion
`reements are II
`I
`'
`Processing Standard (FIPS).
`p
`g
`ke y to become a US Government Federal Information
`Applications Engineering Applications engineering is the process of anal
`in
`our late hone network to ind
`services that w ll reduce your monthly bill without sacrificing network quality. ltgn(be, as simpJIe as calling the Igleplgogguccofinailigq
`ny to convert a particular serVice to a Rate Stabilization Plan (RSP). In many instances. the use of applications engineering con-
`cepts Will increase the quality of your network. For example. putting DIDs onto a T1 will save you money and provide your network
`With a digital backbone. Unfortunately. most applications engineering is done by the telephone company or by their sales agents.
`Their main-goal is not to save you money. but rather to sell telephone company products. Therefore. they are unlikely to advise you
`of all the hidden costs of converting to a particular service. A true application engineer will provide you with a complete cost analy-
`srs that includes all the conversion costs, and provides you with the “break-even date." The break-even date is the date that your
`monthly saying offsets the initial conversion. cost of the service. It is often used synonymously with the term break-even point.
`Appiications Generator. An Application generator (AG) is a software tool that. in response to your input. writes code a
`computer can understand. In simple terms it is software that writes software. Applications generators have three major benefits'
`1. They save time. You can write software faster. 2. They are perfect for quickly demonstrating an application. 3. They can often
`be used by non-programmers. Applications generators have two disadvantages. 1. The code they produce is often not as effi-
`cent as the code produced by a good programmer. 2. They are often limited in what they can produce. Applications generators
`tend to be either general purpose tools or very specific tools. providing support for specific applications. such as connecting
`vorce response units to mainframe databases. vorce messaging system development. audiotex system development. etc. There
`are simple AGs There are complex AGs. There are general purpose AGs. There are specialized AGs. There are character-based
`AGs There are GUI based AGS. In researching AGs to write computer telephony and interactive voice response applications I
`found three different levels of AG packages. First. there are the sort of non-generator generators. They don't really create new
`software. but they allow you to tweak exrsting application blocks. There's no compiling and they're pretty simple to use (though
`they often lack database and host connectrvrty). Then there are the pretty GUI forms-based app gens. They usually entail build—
`Inga call-flow picture, using eithar pretty icons or easy to understand templates. When you're done filling in all the blanks you
`compile it and actually generate new software. They're very cute. Finally. there's the script level language of a company like
`aritylSoftware. San Francisco. Real programmers dig this. They often feel it gives them a lot more power and flexibility. For very
`comp ex apps (with T-i/ISDN. ANI. host connection. speech recognition. multimedia capabilities. etc.) you'll probably need the
`33:5; accdflgarrirlrw of a script language. Most of the better GUI application generators let you drop down to a script-level lan-
`Applications layer The seventh and highest layer of the O
`'
`‘
`‘
`.
`.
`.
`.
`pen Systems Interconnection OSI data communications m
`|
`elatlrfitgtlrrtemationalStandards Organization (ISO). It supplies functions to applications or nod(es ailowing them to communiggfe
`“P l' er applications or nodes. File transfer and electronic mail work at this layer. See OSI MODEL.
`on KTgctrcns Partner An Applications.Partner is AT&T's new name for an outside company which will write software to work
`work WImp one systems. such as the Merlin. Legend and the Definitely. AT&T is setting up an Applications Partner Program to
`‘P It
`'companies to help them develop programs and distribute their products. See also DESKTOP CONNECTION.
`1! ca Ions Processor A special purpose computer which attaches to a telephone system and allows it (and the people
`usin it
`-
`u
`.
`.
`n
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`_
`.
`[Emllsggglpsgrfcbnsdgrcrent applications. such as v0ice mail. electronic mail or packet swrtching. We think AT&T invented the
`
`45
`
`
`
`4
`
`

`

`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ProShare An lntel hardware/software combination that uses phone lines (analog and ISDN digital) to do collabora
`tive
`Pl
`puting. One version oi ProShare uses ISDN lines and allows you to see and be seen, to speak and be heard, and to share 3m:
`It"
`ument, like an Excel spreadsheet, and have both of you make changes to the spreadsheet during the phone call
`P!
`Prosody Intonation In text to speech, prosody refers to how natural it sounds -— the ups and downs of the sentence
`no
`Prospective The opposite of Retrospective or Retroactive. Most regulatory commission rate cases are prospective. Which
`Pl
`means they relate to prices and things in the future Some rate cases, however, are retroactive or retrospective which means'they
`53'
`apply to prices and things in the past Most of these decisions involve forcing the company to return money to Its SUbscriben
`359
`in the form of a refund Interestingly -— try this one -— most retroactive commissmn decisions are proscectlvely retroactiVe In
`P_|‘
`other words, they only take effect some time in the future, when the decrsion is voted upon by all the commis5ion members
`Ind
`Prospero UNIX software which helps you search archives connected to the Internet Prospero uses a Virtual file system we
`“I“
`enables users to transparently View directions and retrieve files. In shon, Prospero is a distributed directory some and file Systen
`Tilt
`that allows users to construct customized Views of available resources while taking advantage of the structure imposed by 0th
`F"
`Protected Distribution 5 stem PDS This is a US Federal Government definition A wueline or fiber-optics tel
`"a
`munication system which includes adequate acoustic electrical, electromagnetic, and physical safeguards to permit its use
`'1
`the unencrypted transmission of classified information A complete protected distribution system Includes the SUbSCriberand
`'1
`terminal equipment and the interconnecting lines.
`'
`Protected mode A computer's operating mode that is capable of addressing extended memory directly. The operating M m.
`for the Intel 80286 and higher processors (the 80386. 80486 and Pentium) that supports multi tasking, data security, and VIFlLi-
`”i
`at memory. The 80286 processor can run in either of two modes: real or protected. In real mode, it emulates an 8086 (it 3cm. '
`L“:
`es a maximum of 640KB of RAM and runs only one software application at a time). Protected mode allows the 80286 prom '
`“III
`to access up to 16MB of memory. It uses a 24-bit address bus. Since a bit can have one of two values, raising the base number
`m
`of 2 to the power of 24 is equal to 16,777,316 unique memory addresses. Each memory address can store one byte of inform _
`tion (16,777,216 bytes equals 16MB). Protected mode operation also makes it possible to run more than one application at once
`-
`-
`and to handle more processes because more memory is available Processes can be requests from an operating system 0m
`application to perform disk I/O, memory management, printing, or other functions. Processes are assigned priority numbersif
`
`l Pr'
`
`'
`protected mode. The processor gives priority to those with higher numbers. Operating system processes always have higheron-
`'
`ority than application processes. See also REAL MODE and VIRTUAL 8086 MODE.
`
`
`:'
`;
`Protective Connecting Arrangement PCA. A device leased from the telephone company and placed between yOUlO‘ATI
`(customer-provided) telephone equipment and the lines of the telephone company. The idea was to protect their lines fromyou -
`.
`
`
`‘
`junky equipment. No instance/case was ever proven of harm occurring to the network from faulty customer-provided equipnu'
`
`
`and the PCAs were thrown out and replaced by the FCC’s Part 68 Registration Program. Under this program. customer-m1?
`
`equipment which passes FCC tests can be registered and connected directly to the phone network without these devices. TI! , ,3
`
`phone industry eventually refunded most of the fees it charged on the PCAs. NATA and many manufacturers claimed the P015
`3,-
`
`were designed to prevent the growth of the interconnect or customer-owned phone industry. They were probably right. Tire tires-_- ;
`.
`tion is now moot, since the charges and the devices no longer exist, except in a museum or attached to very old equipment. Sat 5 ,
`
`also PROTECTIVE COUPLING ARRANGEMENT and PCA.
`-.
`:.'
`
`
`Protective Coupling Arrangement PCA. A device placed between the phone company's trunks and your particularteltv
`_
`
`phone gadget. The objective of the PCA is to isolate the telephone company‘s lines from your equipment and thus proteclllfl '. -'
`
`
`lines from your equipment. The device is not needed if your equipment has passed FCC approval -— under Part 68 of the F061 -
`
`rules. See also PROTECTIVE CONNECTIVE ARRANGEMENT, which is another term for the same thing.
`
`Protector Block A device interconnected to an exchange access line to protect the connected equipment from over- w-
`
`and/or over—current of 600 volts or greater. Hazardous voltages and currents are shunted to ground.
`.,
`PROTEl PRocedure Oriented Type Enforcing Language. ProteI is a block-structured, type-enforcing, high level, software
`,n.
`
`
`guage that enables extensive type checking on the source code at compile time. It was developed at Bell Northem Rosana.
`
`subsidiary of Northern Telecom. ProteI is used in the OMS—100, a family of Northern Telecom central office telephone ,
`'
`,.'-
` I
`Both the central control CPU and the DMS SuperNode CPU are programmed in ProteI.
`'
`Protn Protection.
`
`r
`
`.
`Protocol A procedure for adding order to the exchange of data. A protocol is a specific set of rules, procedures or
`.
`'-
`
`
`
`relating to format and timing of data transmission between two devices. A standard procedure that two data devrces must '
`i"
`and use to be able to understand each other. Sort of like us both speaking English so we can communicate. The prl '._. -
`
`
`data communications cover such things as framing, error handling, transparency and line control. There are three best:
`(_ '
`
`protocol: character—oriented, byte-oriented and bit-oriented.
`_
`.
`'
`.-
`Protocols break a file into equal parts called blocks or packets. These packets are sent and the receivrng computer . -"-'
`
`arriving packet and sends an acknowledgement (ACK) back to the sending computer. Because modems use phone lines
`
`fer data, noise or interference on the line will often mess up the block. When a block is damaged in transrt, ancirotm
`
`purpose of a protocol is to set up a mathematical way of measuring if the block came through accurately. And if it (It
`
`distant end to re-transmit the block until it gets it right. See PROTOCOLS for a list of the more common MIME-”d \.
`
`Protocol Analyzer A specialized computer and/or program that hooks into a LAN and analyzes its traffic
`at
`
`
`
`
`analyzers can record and display data on all levels of traffic on a LAN cable, from the lowest media accesscnntr
`_
`
`
`NetBIOS commands and application data. They are excellent for diagnosing network problems, but they Millie 5°“
`
`
`as their data output can be obscure.
`.
`..
`
`
`
`
`Protocol Control Protocol Control is a mechanism which a given application protocol may emptoy IO delém'ggi
`
`
`
`formance and health of the application. Example. protocol Iiveness may require that protocol control information
`In
`
`
`imum rate; some applications may become intolerable to users if they are unable to send at least at some minimum
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NEWTON'S TELECOM DICTIONARY
`
`
`
`
`
`484
`
`5
`
`