Network
A group of two or more computer systems linked together.
PBX
Private Branch Exchange. A PBX is a private telephone network used within an Enterprise. Access to telephone lines and services are controlled by the PBX. A PBX allows many users (extensions) to share a smaller number of telephone lines and have access to additional call handling benefits (call hold, intercom calling, etc.). TalkSwitch is a ‘mini’ or ‘micro’ PBX.
Phone Load
See Ringing Equivalency.
Prompt
Recorded instructions delivered by voice processing units. TalkSwitch provides prompts for you when using such features as Call Back, Call Bridge and Selective Call Forward. Prompts are also provided when configuring TalkSwitch using a telephone Keypad and for callers being put ‘on hold’.
Registered Jacks
Telephone and data plugs registered with the FCC.
Ringing Equivalency
(Ringer Equivalency Number [REN]) A number, determined in accordance with the US Code of Federal Regulations, which represents the ringer loading effect on a line. A ringer equivalency number of 1 represents the loading effect of a traditional telephone set ringing circuit.
Registered Jacks 11 is the most common modular jack in the world. It is usually used to connect ‘single line’ telephonic devices such as telephones, fax machines and modems. It supports 2 conductors.
Registered Jacks 14 is a technical term for a telephone jack that looks similar to the standard
Registered Jacks 45 is a technical term for a telephone jack that supports 8 conductors and is used generally for Networking applications.
Prompted Call Back
Allows you to activate Call Back by dialing one of TalkSwitch’s telephone numbers, letting the Auto Attendant answer and then entering the Call Back settings.
Routing
Determining the path that a message or call is to take over circuits. TalkSwitch offers ‘routing’ of incoming calls using DSP technology.
Serial Communication
A type of electronic communication that, unlike parallel communication, requires that data bits be sent one after the other.
Modems rely on serial communication to send data over telephone lines.
Shortcut Key
A special key combination that causes a specific command to be executed. Typically, shortcut keys combine the Ctrl or Alt keys with some other keys. In Windows environments, for example, Ctrl andC is used as the shortcut key to copy. On PCs, the function keys are also often used as shortcut keys.
SIP
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). Developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), this is a signaling protocol designed to be much more sim-
