Telecommunications terms starting with P

636 terms

plesiochronous That relationship between two signals such that their corresponding significant instants occur at nominally the same rate, any variations being…
PLL A type of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in which too many immature white blood cells (prolymphocytes) are found in the blood and bone marrow.
plotter An output unit that presents data in the form of a two-dimensional graphic representation.
PLS Abbreviation for physical signaling sublayer.
Plug and Play A type of device, such as a game controller or printer, that automatically works when you connect it to your computer.
plug in A software module that adds function to an existing program or application.
plunger Synonym piston.
PM See Program Manager.
PMB Abbreviation for pilot-make-busy. See pilot-make-busy circuit.
Pockels cell An electro-optic device in which birefringence is modified under the influence of an applied voltage.
POI Abbreviation for point of interface.
point An amount equal to one percent of the principal amount of a mortgage. Loan discount points are a one-time charge assessed at closing by the lender to…
point code (PC) A unique address code that identifies a service provider (SP) within a signaling network. [T1.234-1993]
point in call (PIC) A state in a basic call-state model. [T1.667-1999]
point of access A subscriber's entrance to the telecommunications network. A logical view of this point of access has a relationship with the termination point as defined…
point of interface (POI) In a telecommunications system, the physical interface between the local access and transport area (LATA) access and inter-LATA functions.
Point of Presence (POP) A remote location that provides network connectivity back to the core of the network for users within its service area.
point of termination (POT) The point of demarcation between (exchange) carriers that establishes the technical interface, test points, and division of operational responsibility.
point of train In infrared transmission systems, a steady infrared light that is used (a) to assist the transmitter in locating a receiving station and (b) for keeping…
Point source Any discernible, confined, or discrete conveyance from which pollutants are or may be discharged, including, but not limited to, any pipe, ditch, channel…
point-to-multipoint connection A distinctive type of multipoint connection, composed of a central connection endpoint (central CE) and other, peripheral, CEs, and in which data…
point-to-point configuration A configuration where there are only two access points. [T1.620-1991] 2. A communication circuit having only two nodes.
point-to-point link A dedicated data link that connects only two stations.
point-to-point transmission Communications between two designated stations only.
Pointer A pointer is an index entry in the directory of a disc (or other storage medium) that identifies the space on the disc in which an electronic document or…
pointers A single octet that indicates the beginning of each mandatory variable parameter and optional part. [TI.110-1987]
Poisson distribution A mathematical statement of the probability that exactly k discrete events will take place during an interval of length t, expressed by where k is a…
polar direct-current telegraph transmission A form of binary telegraph transmission in which positive and negative direct currents denote the significant conditions.
polar operation A telegraph system in which marking signals are formed by current or voltage pulses of one polarity and spacing signals by current or voltage pulses of…
polar orbit An orbit for which the angle of inclination is 90o. Note: A satellite in polar orbit will pass over both the north and south geographic poles once per…
polar relay A dc relay in which the direction of movement of the armature depends on the direction of the current flow.
polarential telegraph system A direct-current telegraph system employing polar transmission in one direction and a form of differential duplex transmission in the other.
polarization Of an electromagnetic wave, the property that describes the orientation, i.e., time-varying direction and amplitude, of the electric field vector.
polarization diversity Diversity transmission and reception wherein the same information signal is transmitted and received simultaneously on orthogonally polarized waves with…
polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber An optical fiber in which the polarization planes of lightwaves launched into the fiber are maintained during propagation with little or no cross-coupling…
polarization-preserving (PP) optical fiber Synonym polarization-maintaining optical fiber.
Policy The contract form issued by the company to explain the coverage provided. It is a legal document.
polling The process of repeatedly testing until a condition becomes true. Polling can be inefficient if the time between tests is short compared with the time it…
polyinstantiation In cryptography, the existence of a cryptographic key in more than one secure physical location. [After X9.49]
polymer-clad silica fiber Synonym plastic-clad silica fiber.
Pooling Administrator (PA) The term Pooling Administrator refers to the entity or entities responsible for administering a thousands-block number pool (FCC 00-104, ÃÂ§ 52.
POP Contraction of "Repopulation", often used as a shortened term for the re-spawn of monsters.
Port An implanted device through which blood may be withdrawn and drugs may be infused without repeated needle sticks. Also called port-a-cath.
port operations service A maritime mobile service in or near a port, between coast stations and ship stations, or between ship stations, in which messages are restricted to those…
port station A coast station in the port operations service. [NTIA] [RR]
Portability Portability is a provision of the INA intended to preserve the legal status of an H-1B worker who is already in the U.S.
portable station 1. A station capable of being carried by one or more persons. Note: A portable station usually has a self-contained power source and can be operated while…
Portal An opening into a tunnel.
Portrait Mode A display where the height exceeds the width.
positioned channel In integrated services digital networks (ISDN), a channel that occupies dedicated bit positions in the framed data stream.
positioned interface structure Within a framed interface, a structure in which positioned channels provide all services and signaling.
positioning time Synonym seek time.
positive control material [A] generic term referring to a sealed authenticator system, permissive action link, coded switch system, positive enable system, or nuclear command and…
positive feedback the process in which an initial change will bring about an additional change in the same direction.
positive justification Synonym bit stuffing.
POSIX Portable Operating System Interface.
POSIX Open System Environment (POSIX OSE) The Open System Environment in which the standards included are not in conflict with ISO/IEC 9945 and are: - International Standards and Profiles…
POSIX Standardized Profile (POSIX SP) A standardized Profile that specifies the application of certain POSIX base standards in support of a class of applications and does not require any…
Post After; later.
post-detection combiner Synonym maximal-ratio combiner.
post-development review Synonym system follow-up.
post-implementation review Synonym system follow-up.
post-production processing In broadband ISDN (B-ISDN), applications, the processing of audio and video information after contribution and prior to final use.
postalize In communications, to structure rates or prices so that they are not distance sensitive, but depend on other factors, such as call duration, type of…
posting A message in a computerized messaging system, and which can be retrieved by multiple entities on multiple occasions. Synonym article.
POT Abbreviation for point of termination.
POTS OBSOLETE. Phase One Threat Specification.
Power Authority to do. One has the power to do something if he is of legal age. Also, used as "powers," the term refers to authority granted by one person to…
power budget The allocation, within a system, of available electrical power, among the various functions that need to be performed.
power circuit breaker (PCB) 1. The primary switch used to apply and remove power from equipment. 2. A circuit breaker used on ac circuits rated in excess of 1500V.
Power Density The amount of power per unit area of a free windstream.
power down With respect to an electrical and especially an electronic device, to turn off or otherwise disconnect its primary source of electric power.
power entrance facility (PEF) A space in a building where commercial ac power, standby ac power, or both, enter the building.
Power factor The ratio of real to total power. In alternating-current power transmission and distribution, the cosine of the phase angle between the voltage and…
power failure transfer 1. The switching of primary utilities to their secondary backup whenever the primary source operates outside its design parameters. 2.
power gain of an antenna Synonym antenna gain.
power margin The difference between available signal power and the minimum signal power needed to overcome system losses and still satisfy the minimum input…
power up With respect to an electrical and especially an electronic device, to turn on or otherwise connect its primary source of electric power.
power-law index profile For optical fibers, a class of graded-index profiles characterized by where n(r) is the nominal refractive index as a function of distance from the fiber…
Poynting vector The vector obtained in the direction of a right-hand screw from the cross-product (vector product) of the electric field vector rotated into the magnetic…
PPM Abbreviation for parts per million.
PPP Program Protection Plan.
pre-arbitrated slot A slot dedicated by the head-of-bus function for transferring isochronous service octets.
preassignment access plan In satellite communications system operations, a fixed communication channel access plan, as opposed to a demand assignment access plan in which…
precedence 1. A designator, which indicates the order in which a number of messages shall be served.
Precipitation Attenuation The loss of energy that radar beam experiences as it passes through an area of precipitation.
precipitation static (p-static) Radio interference caused by the impact of charged particles against an antenna.
precise frequency A frequency that is maintained to the known accuracy of an accepted reference frequency standard.
precise time A time mark that is accurately known with respect to an accepted reference time standard.
precise time and time interval (PTTI) The discipline that addresses precise timekeeping and time information transfer.
Precision The accuracy with which a number can be represented, i.e., the number of digits used to represent a number.
precision-sleeve splicing Optical fiber splicing that uses a capillary tube, of suitable material, to align the mating fibers.
precombining The combining of multiplexed signals prior to the modulation of the carrier. [From Weik '89] Synonym premodulation combining.
predesignation An exchange carrier (EC) service that is provided by suitably equipped end-office switching systems, and by means of which are provided carrier…
predetection Referring to that portion of the circuitry of a receiver which, with respect to the signal being processed, is chronologically prior to the detection.
predetection combining Synonym maximal-ratio combiner.
preemphasis A system process designed to increase, within a band of frequencies, the magnitude of some (usually higher) frequencies with respect to the magnitude of…
preemphasis improvement In FM broadcasting, the improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio of the high-frequency portion of the baseband, i.e.
preemphasis network A network inserted in a system in order to increase the magnitude of one range of frequencies with respect to another.
preempting call See multilevel precedence and preemption.