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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
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Bring yourself up to speed with our introductory content.
CDSL (Consumer Digital Subscriber Line)
Also see our Fast guide to DSL. CDSL (Consumer Digital Subscriber Line) is a version of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service, trademarked by Rockwell Corp. Continue Reading
A-Law
A-Law is the standard codec (compression/decompression) algorithm for pulse code modulation (PCM) from the ITU-T (the Telecommunication Standardization Sector of the International Telecommunications Union). Continue Reading
ping sweep (ICMP sweep)
A ping sweep (also known as an ICMP sweep) is a basic network scanning technique used to determine which of a range of IP addresses map to live hosts (computers). Continue Reading
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gigapop (gigabit point-of-presence)
Gigapop is short for gigabit point-of-presence, an access point to Internet2, the network collaboration between universities and partners in industry and government to develop advanced Internet technologies and applications such as telemedicine and ... Continue Reading
whiteboard
A whiteboard is a non-electronic variation of the traditional "rewriteable" schoolroom blackboard, but is white instead of black and of a material that can be written on with colored markers (known as dry erase markers). Continue Reading
NSFNET
NSFNET was a network for research computing deployed in the mid-1980s that in time also became the first backbone infrastructure for the commercial public Internet.Continue Reading
mu-Law
Mu-Law is the standard codec (compression/decompression) algorithm for pulse code modulation (PCM) from the CCITT (Consultative Committee for International Telephone and Telegraph).Continue Reading
E-ZPass
E-ZPass is a toll collection system in the northeastern U.S. that uses RFID technology to allow a driver to pass through a tollbooth and pay the toll without stopping the vehicle.Continue Reading
information theory
Information theory is a branch of mathematics that overlaps into communications engineering, biology, medical science, sociology, and psychology.Continue Reading
HELLO packet
In the Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) communications protocol - which enables network routers to share information with each other, a HELLO packet is a special packet (message) that is sent out periodically from a router to establish and confirm ...Continue Reading
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hoot-n-holler
In telecommunications, a hoot-n-holler is a dedicated "always on" connection used for two-way business-to-business voice communication.Continue Reading
Freephone
In the U.K., Freephone is a type of Number Translation Service (NTS) that allows a phone user to call a non-geographic number beginning with 0800 or 0500 without incurring a charge.Continue Reading
multi-tapping
Multi-tapping is an older procedure used to enter text using a telephone keypad.Continue Reading
Home Location Register (HLR)
The Home Location Register (HLR) is the main database of permanent subscriber information for a mobile network.Continue Reading
line doubler
A line doubler is an electronic device that converts analog or digital television (TV) video signals into a format suitable for display on a computer monitor.Continue Reading
circular mil
The circular mil is a unit of area used especially when denoting the cross-sectional size of a wire or cable.Continue Reading
Shannon's Law
Shannon's Law, formulated by Claude Shannon, a mathematician who helped build the foundations for the modern computer, is a statement in information theory that expresses the maximum possible data speed that can be obtained in a data channel.Continue Reading
DTTV (digital terrestrial television)
DTTV (digital terrestrial television, sometimes also abbreviated DTT) is digital television (DTV) broadcast entirely over earthbound circuits.Continue Reading
Bel
In electronics and communications, the Bel expresses the logarithmic ratio between two levels of signal power, voltage, or current.Continue Reading
Direct Access File System (DAFS)
Direct Access File System (DAFS) is a network file system, similar to Network File System (NFS) and Common Internet File System (CIFS), that allows applications to transfer data while bypassing operating system control, buffering, and network ...Continue Reading
autofax
Autofax is the automatic (computer-initiated) sending of a facsimile (fax) message over a network in one of two ways: ( to a receiving computer or fax machine that is always ready to receive and store or immediately print such transmissions or (2), ...Continue Reading
G.703
G.703 is a CCITT standard for transmitting voice over digital carriers such as T1 and E1. G.703 provides the specifications for pulse code modulation (PCM) at data rates from 64 Kbps to 2.048 Mbps.Continue Reading
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)
GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is a satellite system that is used to pinpoint the geographic location of a user's receiver anywhere in the world.Continue Reading
IPLC (international private leased circuit)
An IPLC (international private leased circuit) is a point-to-point private line used by an organization to communicate between offices that are geographically dispersed throughout the world.Continue Reading
EtherLoop
EtherLoop, sometimes called next generation DSL or second generation DSL, combines features of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) with features of Ethernet to provide both voice and data transmission (including Internet connection) over any ordinary ...Continue Reading
wrap plug
A wrap plug, also known as a loopback plug, is a special plug that can be inserted into a port on a communications device to perform a diagnostic test called a loopback test.Continue Reading
Simputer (simple inexpensive mobile computer)
The Simputer (short for simple inexpensive mobile computer) is an inexpensive, Web-enabled handheld computer designed for use by people in developing countries.Continue Reading
electronic program guide (EPG)
An electronic program guide (EPG) is an application used with digital set-top boxes and newer television sets to list current and scheduled programs that are or will be available on each channel and a short summary or commentary for each program.Continue Reading
tree network
In telecommunication networks, a tree network is a combination of two or more star networks connected together.Continue Reading
satellite news gathering (SNG)
Satellite news gathering (SNG) is the use of mobile communications equipment for the purpose of worldwide newscasting.Continue Reading
care-of address
In Internet routing, a care-of address is a temporary IP address for a mobile node (mobile device) that enables message delivery when the device is connecting from somewhere other than its home network.Continue Reading
home address
In the Mobile Internet Protocol (Mobile IP), a home address is the relatively permanent IP address given to a mobile node.Continue Reading
NIC handle (Network Information Center handle)
A NIC (Network Information Center) handle is an alphanumeric character sequence that is unique for each entry in the database of all Internet domain name registrants.Continue Reading
Parlay
Parlay (pronounced PAHR-LAY as in the French verb "parler" - to speak) is an evolving set of specifications for industry-standard application programming interfaces (APIs) for managing network "edge" services such as call control, messaging, and ...Continue Reading
Number Translation Service (NTS)
In the U.K., Number Translation Service (NTS) is the service of routing a telephone call with a non-geographic number beginning with 07, 08, or 09 to a hidden geographic or mobile number.Continue Reading
Transport Services Access Point (TSAP)
A Transport Services Access Point (TSAP) is an end-point for communication between the Transport layer (layer 4) and the Session layer in the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model.Continue Reading
file server
In the client/server model, a file server is a computer responsible for the central storage and management of data files so that other computers on the same network can access the files.Continue Reading
LAN party
A LAN party is a gathering in which gamers (devotees of computer games) gather to share a local area network (LAN) and participate in extended gaming sessions of popular games such as Quake, Doom, or Wolfenstein.Continue Reading
catchment area
In the context of communication networks, a catchment area describes the geographical boundries of a network's components, including its connecting lines.Continue Reading
bus network
A bus network is an arrangement in a local area network (LAN) in which each node (workstation or other device) is connected to a main cable or link called the bus.Continue Reading
Kazaa Media Desktop (KMD)
Kazaa (its full name is Kazaa Media Desktop or KMD) is a decentralized Internet peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing program owned by Sharman Networks.Continue Reading
DoPa (DoCoMo Packet Transmission)
DoPa (DoCoMo Packet Transmission) is a packet-switched network service developed by NTT DoCoMo in Japan for Internet connection from mobile devices.Continue Reading
Direct Outward Dialing (DOD)
Direct Outward Dialing (DOD) is a service of a local phone company (or local exchange carrier) that allows subscribers within a company's private branch exchange (PBX) system to connect to outside lines directly.Continue Reading
MILNET
MILNET was the name given to the part of ARPANET, the forerunner of the Internet, that was designated for nonclassified U.S. military use.Continue Reading
Manchester encoding
In data transmission, Manchester encoding is a form of digital encoding in which data bits are represented by transitions from one logical state to the other.Continue Reading
Telecommunications Display Device (TDD)
A Telecommunications Display Device (TDD), also known as a text telephone, is a telephone equipped with a keyboard and a display for people who are hearing- or speech-impaired.Continue Reading
Toslink
Toslink is a connector format for fiber optic digital audio cables.Continue Reading
file transfer
File transfer is the movement of one or more files from one location to another.Continue Reading
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is an intermediate-level certification in the Cisco certified professional program.Continue Reading
non-geographic number
A non-geographic number, also called a virtual number, is a telephone number associated with a country, but not to any single geographic location within that country.Continue Reading
QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation)
QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) is a method of combining two amplitude-modulated (AM) signals into a single channel, thereby doubling the effective bandwidth.Continue Reading
Network Service Access Point (NSAP)
The Network Service Access Point (NSAP) is one of two types of hierarchical addresses (the other type is the network entity title) used to implement Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) network layer addressing.Continue Reading
Source-route transparent (SRT) bridging
Source-route transparent (SRT) bridging is a bridging scheme developed by IBM that combines source-route bridging (SRB) and transparent bridging in the same network.Continue Reading
reverse Telnet (direct Telnet)
Reverse Telnet (sometimes called direct Telnet) is the initiation of a Telnet session from a computer system to one of its remote users.Continue Reading
passive FTP
Passive FTP (sometimes referred to as PASV FTP because it involves the FTP PASV command) is a more secure form of data transfer in which the flow of data is set up and initiated by the File Transfer Program (FTP) client rather than by the FTP server...Continue Reading
anti-replay protocol
The anti-replay protocol is part of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Internet Protocol Security (IPSec) standard.Continue Reading
MAC address (Media Access Control address)
In a local area network (LAN) or other network, the MAC (Media Access Control) address is your computer's unique hardware number.Continue Reading
megahertz (MHz)
The megahertz, abbreviated MHz, is a unit of alternating current (AC) or electromagnetic (EM) wave frequency equal to one million hertz (1,000,000 Hz).Continue Reading
shielded twisted pair
This definition closely duplicates the definition for twisted pair.Continue Reading
data link control (DLC)
DLC also is an abbreviation for digital loop carrier.Continue Reading
HDSL (High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line)
Also see our Fast guide to DSL. HDSL (High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line), one of the earliest forms of DSL, is used for wideband digital transmission within a corporate site and between the telephone company and a customer.Continue Reading
connection
In telecommunication and computing in general, a connection is the successful completion of necessary arrangements so that two or more parties (for example, people or programs) can communicate at a long distance.Continue Reading
Personal Access Communications System (PACS)
Personal Access Communications System (PACS) is a type of wireless telephone network compatible with telephone sets, answering machines, fax machines, and computers.Continue Reading
crossover cable
A crossover cable is a cable that is used to interconnect two computers by "crossing over" (reversing) their respective pin contacts.Continue Reading
Evernet
The term Evernet has been used to describe the convergence of wireless, broadband, and Internet telephony technologies that will result in the ability to be continuously connected to the Web anywhere using virtually any information device.Continue Reading
satellite Internet connection
A satellite Internet connection is an arrangement in which the upstream (outgoing) and the downstream (incoming) data are sent from, and arrive at, a computer through a satellite.Continue Reading
cable modem termination system (CMTS)
A cable modem termination system (CMTS) is a component that exchanges digital signals with cable modems on a cable network.Continue Reading
fast retransmit and recovery (FRR)
In TCP/IP, fast retransmit and recovery (FRR) is a congestion control algorithm that makes it possible to quickly recover lost data packets.Continue Reading
transactional e-mail
Transactional e-mail is a type of Web-based marketing in which e-mail recipients can buy goods and services directly from an e-mail message, without being redirected to the retailer's Web site.Continue Reading
phantom dialing
In mobile wireless communication, phantom dialing is a term used to describe what occurs when a user unintentionally presses a pre-programmed auto-dial number on their cellular telephone keypad and unintentionally initiates a phone call.Continue Reading
satellite return Internet connection
A satellite return Internet connection is an arrangement in which incoming data arrives at your computer from a satellite downlink and outgoing data (such as your request for the next Web page) is sent over a regular telephone line.Continue Reading
terbo
The suffix terbo appears in the V.32terbo modem protocol and indicates the third version of the V.32 protocol.Continue Reading
media access management
In the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) communication reference model, media access management is performed by the Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer of the Data-Link Layer.Continue Reading
registered port numbers
The registered port numbers are the port numbers that companies and other users register with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for use by the applications that communicate using the Internet's Transmission Control ...Continue Reading
cable head-end
A cable head-end (or headend) is the facility at a local cable TV office that originates and communicates cable TV services and cable modem services to subscribers.Continue Reading
spatial division multiple access (SDMA)
Also see frequency division multiple access (FDMA) and time division multiple access (TDMA).Continue Reading
10BASE-F
10BASE-F, one of several physical media specified by IEEE 802.3, is the use of optical fiber in an Ethernet local area network (LAN).Continue Reading
visitor-based networking (VBN)
Visitor-based networking (VBN) is the provision of high-speed Internet access for mobile PC users in need of temporary service in public places.Continue Reading
network interface unit (NIU or Network Interface Device)
A network interface unit (NIU) (sometimes called a network interface device) is a device that serves as a common interfacefor various other devices within a local area network (LAN), or as an interface to allow networked computers to connect to an ...Continue Reading
telephone jacks
In the U. S., telephone jacks are also known as registered jacks, sometimes described as RJ-XX, and are a series of telephone connection interfaces (receptacle and plug) that are registered with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC).Continue Reading
balun
A balun is a device that joins a balanced line (one that has two conductors, with equal currents in opposite directions, such as a twisted pair cable) to an unbalanced line (one that has just one conductor and a ground, such as a coaxial cable).Continue Reading
lambda switching (photonic switching, or wavelength switching)
Lambda switching (sometimes called photonic switching, or wavelength switching) is the technology used in optical networking to switch individual wavelengths of light onto separate paths for specific routing of information.Continue Reading
ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) is a non-profit organization that establishes telecommunications standards for Europe.Continue Reading
D-channel
In the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), the D-channel is the channel that carries control and signalling information.Continue Reading
High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD)
High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD) is circuit-switched wireless data transmission for mobile users at data rates up to 38.4 Kbps, four times faster than the standard data rates of the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication standard in ...Continue Reading
whois
whois is a program that will tell you the owner of any second-level domain name who has registered it with Verisign (or with Network Solutions, which was acquired by Verisign).Continue Reading
X server
An X server is a server of connections to X terminals in a distributed network that uses the X Window System.Continue Reading
root directory
In a computer file system that is organized as a hierarchy or tree, the root directory is the directory that includes all other directories.Continue Reading
10BASE-36
10BASE-36 is a type of physical cabling defined in the IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) standard for broadband application.Continue Reading
DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications)
Unlike the analog cordless phones you may have in your home, DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) is a digital wireless telephone technology that is expected to make cordless phones much more common in both businesses and homes in the...Continue Reading
Transmeta
Transmeta is a Silicon Valley start-up company known for its recruitment of high profile talent and its Crusoe chip, designed for mobile Internet computing.Continue Reading
well-known port numbers
The well-known port numbers are the port numbers that are reserved for assignment by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for use by the application end points that communicate using the Internet's Transmission Control ...Continue Reading
10BASE-2
10BASE-2, one of several physical media specified by IEEE 802.3 for use in an Ethernet local area network (LAN), consists of Thinwire coaxial cable with a maximum segment length of 185 meters.Continue Reading
10BASE-5
10BASE-5, one of several physical media specified by IEEE 802.3 for use in an Ethernet local area network (LAN), consists of Thickwire coaxial cable with a maximum segment length of 500 meters.Continue Reading
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is the independent research branch of the U.S. Department of Defense that funded a project that in time was to lead to the creation of the Internet.Continue Reading
DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications)
Now known as CableLabs Certified Cable Modems, DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications) is a standard interface for cable modems, the devices that handle incoming and outgoing data signals between a cable TV operator and a personal ...Continue Reading
Primary Rate Interface (PRI)
In the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), there are two levels of service: the Basic Rate Interface (BRI), intended for the home and small enterprise, and the Primary Rate Interface (PRI), for larger users.Continue Reading
symmetric communications
Compare asymmetric communications.Continue Reading
phase-shift keying (PSK)
Phase-shift keying (PSK) is a method of digital communication in which the phase of a transmitted signal is varied to convey information.Continue Reading
ACTA (America's Carriers Telecommunications Association)
ACTA (America's Carriers Telecommunications Association) is a lobbying organization for over 165 small long-distance telephone carrier companies.Continue Reading