Glossary

Telecommunication Terms

Automated Attendant

A part of a telephone or a voice mail system, that answers calls and directs them to locations. Callers may be directed to an extension, or may listen to information about your company.

Unified Messaging

Having access to e-mail, voice mail and faxes via a common interface on the computer or by telephone. Computer-based unified messaging typically sends digitized voice mail messages and faxes to a mail server that distributes them as e-mail attachments to the user. Audio-based systems convert e-mail messages to speech (text-to-speech) to deliver messages to any remote user at a desk phone or cellphone.

CTI (Computer Telephone Integration)

Combining data with voice systems in order to enhance telephone services. For example, automatic number identification (ANI) allows a caller's records to be retrieved from the database while the call is routed to the appropriate party. Automatic telephone dialing from an address list is an outbound example.

ANI (Automatic Number Identification)

A telephone service that transmits the billing number (BN) and the telephone number of the incoming call. ANI identifies the calling party for toll call billing and enables the call to be routed to the appropriate long distance service provider. ISDN supports ANI by carrying the calling telephone number in the D channel. ACD systems use the billing number to query a database and retrieve the customer's records. [Micro & Megalink Service]

Caller ID

A telephone company service that sends the caller's telephone number between the first and second ring of the call. If the calling number is not blocked, the calling number is displayed on the handset or base station of the called party. This is one feature within a set of services called Custom Local Area Signaling Services (CLASS).

Telephone Switch

A large-scale computer used to route telephone calls in a central office. Such devices are made by NEC, Panasonic and others. See ESS, SS7, Class 4 switch, Class 5 switch and digital cross-connect. See KSU or PBX

KSU (Key Service Unit)

The cabinet that contains the electronics for a key telephone system. See key telephone system.

PBX (Private Branch eXchange)

An in-house telephone switching system that interconnects telephone extensions to each other as well as to the outside telephone network (PSTN). A PBX enables a single-line telephone set to gain access to one of a group of pooled (shared) trunks by dialing an 8 or 9 prefix. PBXs also include functions such as least cost routing for outside calls, call forwarding, conference calling and call accounting. Modern PBXs use all-digital methods for switching, but may support both analog and digital telephones and telephone lines. See IP PBX and WPBX.

Voice Mail

A computerized telephone answering system that digitizes incoming voice messages and stores them on disk or flash memory. It usually provides auto attendant capability, which uses prerecorded messages to route the caller to the appropriate person, department or mailbox. Voice mail systems may also offer directory lookup by name.

While many abuse voice mail by hiding behind it, if used properly it has many advantages, all intended to improve your bottom line:

1. Reduces likelihood of "telephone tag"
2. Encourages shorter (ie cheaper) telephone calls by lessening small talk
3. Time zone and time of day problems do not apply
4. Improved message accuracy and privacy
5. Better customer service through 24 hour service
6. Reduces unwanted interruptions

To go back to Telecommunications, please click here.

Computer Networking Terms

Cable Categories

The following categories are based on their transmission capacity. The majority of new wiring installations for LANs use Category 5 or 5e cable in order to run Fast Ethernet. Categories 1 through 6 are based on the EIA/TIA-568-B standards. Cat 5e improves the signal to noise ratio for full duplex operation. Category 6 further improves the s/n ratio and doubles bandwidth. Category 7 is a proposed improvement.

Megahertz (MHz)

A unit of frequency denoting one million cycles per second.

Fiber Optics

Refers to systems that use optical fibers. Fiber- optic communications networks have transformed the world. Barely starting in the late 1960s but gaining serious momentum in the 1980s, the phone companies began to replace their copper long distance trunks with fiber cable. Eventually, all transmission systems and networks are expected to become fiber based, even to the home. In time, the electronic circuits in computers may be partially or fully replaced with circuits of light, in which case fiber pathways would be used throughout the system.

LAN (Local Area Network)

A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations, a network operating system and a communications link. Servers are high-speed machines that hold programs and data shared by network users. The workstations (clients) are the users' personal computers, which perform stand-alone processing and access the network servers as required.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

A communications network that covers a wide geographic area, such as state or country. A LAN (local area network) is contained within a building or complex, and a MAN (metropolitan area network) generally covers a city or suburb. Following is a bandwidth comparison between major LAN and WAN technologies.

To go back to Computer Networking, please click here.

Security Terms

CCTV (Closed Circuit TeleVision)

CCTV is a television system in which signals are not publicly distributed; cameras are connected to television monitors in a limited area such as a store, an office building, or on a college campus. CCTV is commonly used in surveillance systems.

Access Control Systems

These are excellent security and management tools. They help keep those out you want out. You may have time schedules for any number of employees to allow or deny entry to any area. The doors on this system can even be locked or opened from remote locations. At the door a proximity card or keyfob is usually used to request entry. This system eliminates the need for re-keying.

Commercial Video Surveillance Systems

These systems are used to help prevent loss from customer and employee theft. They are also used to reduce liability due to accidents or supposed accidents and to help prevent burglary. Some places use cameras to record license plates of those entering their business or property. These systems can be viewed locally and/or remotely.

Central Monitoring Station

An Agency that receives alarms from subscribers' security systems and requests the dispatch of fire, police, or medical authorities.

To go back to Security, please click here.