Multi-Tech Systems MVP120 manual Higher speeds

Glossary

Inter Exchange Carrier (IEC): The long distance company (LE) who's central office provides the point of reference for T1 access. Any common carrier authorized by the FCC to carry customer transmissions between LATAs.

Internet: Refers to the computer network of many millions of university, government and private users around the world. Each user has a unique Internet Address.

Internet Address (IP Address): A unique 32-bit address for a specific TCP/IP host on a network. Normally printed in dotted decimal format (e.g., 129.128.44.227).

Internet Protocol (IP): A protocol used to route data from its source to its destination in an Internet environment. The Internet Protocol was designed to connect to local area networks. Although there are many protocols that do this, IP refers to the global system of interconnecting computers. It is a highly distributed protocol (each machine only worries about sending data to the next step in the route).

Internetwork Packet Exchange (IPX): A NetWare communications protocol used to route messages from one node to another. IPX packets include network addresses and can be routed from one network to another. An IPX packet can occasionally get lost when crossing networks, thus IPX does not guarantee delivery of a complete message. Either the application has to provide that control, or NetWare's SPX protocol must be used.

Interoperable: Devices from different vendors that can exchange information using a standard's base protocol.

I/O Addresses: Locations within the I/O address space of your computer used by a device, such as an expansion card, a serial port, or an internal modem. The address is used for communication between software and a device.

IRQ Level (Interrupt Request Level): The notification a processor receives when another portion of the computer's hardware requires its attention. IRQs are numbered so that the device issuing the IRQ can be identified, and so IRQs can be prioritized.

ISA (Industry Standards Architecture) (pronounced "ice a"): The classic 8 or 16-bit architecture introduced with IBM's PC-AT computer.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network): An International telecommunications standard for transmitting voice, video and data over a digital communications line. ISDN is a world-wide telecommunications service that uses digital transmission and switching technology to support voice and digital data communications. Frame relay was partially based on ISDN's data link layer protocol (LAPD). Frame relay can be used to transmit across ISDN services offering circuit-switched connection at 64K bps and

higher speeds. Contrast Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

ITU-TSS (formerly CCITT): International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications Sector; the United Nations organization that prepares standards ("Recommendations") for resolving communications issues and problems.

K

Key Telephone System (KTS): Phone devices with multiple buttons that let you select incoming or outgoing CO phone lines directly. Similar in operation to a PBX, except a KTS you don't have to dial a "9" for a call outside the building.

Key Service Unit (KSU): A small device containing the switching electronics for a business key telephone system (KTS).

Key Set: A phone set with several buttons for call holding, line pickup, intercom, autodialing, etc. Also called a touchtone phone (Ericsson) and a KTS (Key Telephone Set).

L

LAPB: Link Access Procedure Balanced; based on the X.25 Layer 2 specification. A full-duplex point-to-point bit-synchronous protocol commonly used as a data link control protocol to interface X.25 DTEs. LAPB is the link initialization procedure that establishes and maintains communications between the DTE and the DCE.

LAPD: Link Access Protocol for the D-Channel; based on the ISDN Q.921 specification. A full-duplex point-to-point bit-synchronous link-level protocol for ISDN connections; different from LAPB in its framing sequence. Transmission is in units called "frames", and a frame may contain one or more X.25 packets.

Line Coding: The representation of 1s and 0s on a T1 line. The two methods of line coding commonly used, B8ZS and AMI, differ in the restrictions placed on user data. T1 line coding ensures that sufficient timing information is sent with the digital signal to ensure recovery of all the bits at the far end. Timing information on the T1 line is included in the form of 1s in the data stream; a long string of 0s in the data stream could cause problems recovering the data.

Line Termination (LT): The electronics at the ISDN network side of the user/network interface that complements the NT1 at the user side. The LT and the NT1 together provide the high-speed digital line signals required for BRI access.

Listed Directory Number (LDN): The main number assigned by the telco; the number listed in the phone directory and also provided by Directory Assistance. Some devices can have more than one LDN, such as ISDN devices that have one LDN for voice and another LDN for data.

Local Area Network (LAN): 1. A computer network located on a user's premises within a limited geographical area. Communica- tion within a local area network is not subject to external regulations; however, communication across the LAN boundary may be subject to some form of regulation. 2. A LAN does not use store and forward techniques. 3. A network in which a set of devices are connected to one another for a communication and that can be connected to a larger network.

Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. MultiVOIP User Guide 95