Telecommunications terms starting with M

413 terms

monitor (MAH-nih-ter) In medicine, to regularly watch and check a person or condition to see if there is any change.
monitor black level Relative to video, the luminance displayed on a monitor by a signal at reference black level. [After SMPTE]
monitor jack A jack used to access communications circuits to observe signal conditions without interrupting the services.
monitor key A key used to access communications circuits to observe signal conditions without interrupting the services.
monitor window An interval during which an entity performs the monitoring function at the direction of a service control function. [T1.667-1999]
monitoring The act of listening, carrying out surveillance on, and/or recording the emissions of one's own or allied forces for the purposes of maintaining and…
monochromatic In optics, pertaining to a single wavelength of electromagnetic radiation or to a single color.
monochromator In optics, an instrument for isolating narrow portions of the spectrum.
monomode optical fiber Synonym single-mode optical fiber.
Months to Exhaust (MTE) A calculation that is used by SPs to document the need for an additional code or block as follows:
more (M) bit A bit used to indicate that more packets in sequence are to be expected by the terminating endpoint. [T1.
mosquito noise In a video display, distortion sometimes seen around the edges of moving objects, and characterized by moving artifacts around edges and/or by blotchy…
most significant bit In a binary code, the bit or bit position that is assigned to, or represents, the largest quantity or increment that can be represented by the code.
motion compensation Interframe coding that (a) is used to compress motion of video images and (b) uses an algorithm to examine a sequence of image frames to measure the…
motion response degradation The deterioration of motion video quality, resulting in a loss of perceived spatiotemporal resolution.
motion video In video systems, temporally varying visual imagery intended to communicate or to convey movement or change.
motion-related artifacts Distortion of motion video potentially observable by the viewer. In some instances, the distortion becomes more observable with increased motion.
mouse A hand-controlled hardware device for interacting with a computer terminal or entering data from a digitizer.
MP3 A standard wave file format (with a ".wav" file extension) for digitally encoded and compresses music files (similar to the format used for CD music…
MPILIB (Multiple Precision Integer Library) This is the common name for the set of RSA routines used in PGP 2.3a and previous, as well as the international versions of PGP.
MTA Abbreviation for message transfer agent.
MTBF Mean Time Between Failures.
MTBO Abbreviation for mean time between outages.
MTSR Abbreviation for mean time to service restoral.
MTTR Mean Time To Repair.
MTU Military Training Unit (ILS term).
mu-law (µ-law) See mu-law (-law) algorithm.
mu-law (µ-law) algorithm A standard analog signal compression algorithm, used in digital communications systems of the North American digital hierarchy, to optimize, i.e.
mudbox Equipment that is sufficiently rugged to withstand adverse environments. Note: A mudbox is expected to operate unsheltered on the ground.
MUF Abbreviation for maximum usable frequency.
muldem Acronym for multiplexer/ demultiplexer.
Multi Carrier Toll Free Service The capability resulting from the portability order that enabled multiple carriers to use the LEC Features such as Percent Allocation in the SMS/800 to…
multi-center exchange An exchange area in which are located two or more local central office buildings or wire centers. [47 CFR Pt.36-A]
multi-class Comprising or containing information of more than one security class [CESG].
multi-class device A device required to store or process information of more than one security class simultaneously [CESG].
multi-element dipole antenna An antenna consisting of an arrangement of multiple dipole antennas. Note: Various directivity patterns may be obtained by varying the arrangement of the…
multi-homed host A computer that is connected to more than one physical data link; these data links may or may not be attached to the same network. [Bahorsky]
multi-satellite link A radio link between a transmitting Earth station and a receiving Earth station through two or more satellites, without any intermediate Earth station.
multi-threaded A characteristic of a sequence or group of messages that allows several messages to be sent by one party to the same message recipient without waiting for…
multiaddress calling A service feature that permits a user to designate more than one addressee for the same data.
multicarrier modulation (MCM) A technique of transmitting data by dividing the data into several interleaved bit streams and using these to modulate several carriers.
multicast In a network, a technique that allows data, including packet form, to be simultaneously transmitted to a selected set of destinations.
multicast address A routing address that (a) is used to address simultaneously all the computers in a group and (b) usually identifies a group of computers that share a…
multicast backbone (Mbone) See Mbone.
multichannel Pertaining to communications, usually full-duplex communications, on more than one channel.
multicoupler In radio communications, a device for connecting several receivers or transmitters to one antenna in such a way that the equipment impedances are properly…
multidestination mode (MD) A DCME- (direct-circuit, multiplication equipment) operational mode where trunk channel traffic is interpolated over a pool of available bearer channels…
multifiber cable A fiber-optic cable having two or more fibers, each of which is capable of serving as an independent optical transmission channel. [After FAA]
multifiber cable assembly See cable assembly.
multifiber joint An optical splice or connector designed to mate two multifiber cables, providing simultaneous optical alignment of all individual optical fibers.
multiframe In PCM systems, a set of consecutive frames in which the position of each frame can be identified by reference to a multiframe alignment signal.
multifrequency pulsing Synonym multifrequency signaling. See dual-tone multifrequency signaling.
multifrequency signaling Synonym dual-tone multifrequency signaling.
multilayer filter See interference filter.
Multilevel Device A device that is used in a manner that it simultaneously permits access by users with different security clearances and needs-to-know, but prevents users…
multilevel mode [An] Information systems (IS) mode of operation wherein all the following statements are satisfied concerning the users who have direct or indirect access…
multilevel modulation See n-ary code.
multilevel precedence and preemption (MLPP) In military communications, a priority scheme (a) for assigning one of several precedence levels to specific calls or messages so that the system handles…
Multilevel Secure A class of system containing information with different classifications that simultaneously permits access by users with different security clearances and…
multilevel security (MLS) 1. [The] concept of processing information with different classifications and categories that simultaneously permits access by users with different…
multilink operation In packet-switched networks, the simultaneous use of multiple links for the transmission of different segments of the same message unit.
Multimedia The combined use of different media; integrated video, audio, text and data graphics in digital form.
multimedia communication system A system that handles more than one media stream in a synchronized way from the user's point of view.
multimode dispersion Incorrect synonym for multimode distortion.
multimode distortion A distortion mechanism, occurring in multimode fibers, in which the signal is spread in time because the velocity of propagation of the optical signal is…
multimode group delay Synonym differential mode delay.
multimode optical fiber An optical fiber that supports the propagation of more than one bound mode. Note: A multimode optical fiber may be either a graded-index (GI) fiber or a…
multiparty line Synonym party line.
multipath The propagation phenomenon that results in radio signals' reaching the receiving antenna by two or more paths.
Multiple A stock's multiple is its price-to-earnings ratio (P/E). It's figured by dividing the market price of the stock by its earnings.
multiple access The connection of a user to two or more switching centers by separate access lines using a single message routing indicator or telephone number. 2.
multiple association control function (MACF) Represents the rules and regulations governing the coordination of set of peer-to-peer communications within an application entity invocation (AEI). [T1.
multiple call Synonym conference call.
multiple data message format (MDMF) A series of data words specifying message type, message length, parameter message(s), and error detection information.
multiple frequency-shift keying (MFSK) Frequency-shift keying (FSK) in which multiple codes are used in the transmission of digital signals.
multiple homing In telephone systems, the connection of a terminal facility so that it can be served by one or several switching centers.
multiple media Transmission media using more than one type of transmission path (e.g., optical fiber, radio, and copper wire) to deliver information.
multiple terminal address registration A feature that enables the UPT user to simultaneously register multiple terminal addresses for incoming and/or outgoing UPT calls. [T1.701-1994]
multiple-spot scanning In facsimile systems, scanning performed simultaneously by two or more scanning spots, each one analyzing its fraction of the total scanned area of the…
multiplex (MUX) See multiplexing.
multiplex aggregate bit rate In a time-division multiplexer, the bit rate that is equal to the sum of (a) the input channel data signaling rates available to the user and (b) the rate…
multiplex baseband 1. In frequency-division multiplexing, the frequency band occupied by the aggregate of the signals in the line interconnecting the multiplexing and radio…
multiplex hierarchy In frequency-division multiplexing, the rank of frequency bands occupied: 12 channels group 5 groups (60 channels) super group 5 super groups (300…
multiplex link encryption Encryption in which a single cryptographic device is used to encrypt all of the data in a multiplexed link.
multiplexer (MUX) A device that combines multiple inputs into an aggregate signal to be transported via a single transmission channel. Synonym multiplexing equipment.
multiplexer/demultiplexer (muldem) A device that combines the functions of multiplexing and demultiplexing of digital signals. Note: The term muldem should not be confused with modem.
multiplexing (MUXing) The combining of two or more information channels onto a common transmission medium.
multiplexing equipment Synonym multiplexer.
multipoint Synonym multiple.
multipoint access Access in which more than one terminal is supported by a single network termination.
multipoint circuit A circuit that interconnects three or more separate points.
multipoint configuration A network configuration where there are more than two access points. [T1.620-1991]
multipoint connection A connection with more than two endpoints. [T1.629-1999]
multipoint control unit (MCU) A multiport device, by means of which two or more audiovisual terminals may intercommunicate in a conference call.
multipoint distribution service: (MDS) 1. A one-way domestic public radio service rendered on microwave frequencies from a fixed station transmitting (usually in an omnidirectional pattern) to…
multipoint grounding system Equipment bonded together and also bonded to the facility grounding system at the point nearest the equipment.
multipoint link A data communications link that interconnects three or more terminals.
multiport repeater In digital networking, an active device, having multiple input/output (I/O) ports, in which a signal introduced at the input of any port appears at the…
multiprocessing Simultaneous processing by two or more processors acting in concert. 2. The simultaneous execution of two or more computer programs or sequences of…
multiprocessor A computer that has two or more processors that have common access to a main storage.