Telecommunications — page 15 of 85

Telecommunications terms

1401. command frame In data transmission, a frame, containing a command, transmitted by a primary station.
1402. command line The form or point of interface, usually indicated by a command prompt, on some operating systems in which a command is entered. [Bahorsky] 2.
1403. command menu A list of all the different commands that may be given to a computer or communications system by an operator.
1404. Command Net A communications network, which connects an echelon of command with some or all of its subordinate echelons for the purpose of command control.
1405. command protocol data unit A protocol data unit (PDU) transmitted by a logical link control (LLC) sublayer in which the PDU command/response (C/R) bit is equal to "0".
1406. command, control and communications (C3) The capabilities required by commanders to exercise command and control of their forces. [JCS Pub 18, Operations Security, Dec. 1982.]
1407. command, control, communications, and computer systems (C4S) Integrated systems of doctrine, procedures, organizational structures, personnel, equipment, facilities, and communications designed to support a…
1408. command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) The facilities, computer equipment, communications equipment, display devices, and intelligence systems necessary to support military operations.
1409. commercial carrier Synonym common carrier.
1410. commercial leased access Manner through which independent video producers can access cable capacity for a fee.
1411. commercial licensed evaluation facility Evaluations conducted under UK Information Technology Evaluation and Certification Scheme may only take place in approved evaluation facilities.
1412. commercial refile In military communications systems, the processing of a message from (a) a given military network, such as a tape-relay network, a point-to-point…
1413. commit transaction The application, i.e., insertion, of information into any data repository of an integrated database management system in a distributed local…
1414. common battery A single electrical power source used to energize more than one circuit, component, equipment, or system.
1415. common bonding network (CBN) The set of metallic components that are intentionally or incidentally interconnected to provide the principal means for effecting bonding and grounding…
1416. common carrier In a telecommunications context, a telecommunications company that holds itself out to the public for hire to provide communications transmission services.
1417. common channel network signaling Channels between switching offices used to transmit signaling information independent of the subscribers' communication paths or transmission channels.
1418. common channel signaling network A network consisting of two or more signaling points and connecting common channel signaling links that are administered in common. [T1.110-1987]
1419. common control An automatic switching arrangement in which the control equipment necessary for the establishment of connections is shared by being associated with a…
1420. common control switching arrangement (CCSA) An arrangement in which switching for a private network is provided by one or more common control switching systems.
1421. common control system An automatic switching system that makes use of common equipment to establish a connection.
1422. common equipment Equipment used by more than one system, subsystem, component, or other equipment, such as a channel or switch.
1423. common fill device [In security,] one of a family of devices developed to read-in, transfer, or store key. [INFOSEC-99]
1424. Common Gateway Interface The Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is a standard that allows Web clients to interact with programs on a Web server.
1425. common management information protocol (CMIP) A protocol used by an application process to exchange information and commands for the purpose of managing remote computer and communications resources.
1426. common management information service (CMIS) A service that specifies the service interface to the Common Management Information Protocol (CMIP).
1427. common return A return path that is common to two or more circuits and that serves to return currents to their source or to ground.
1428. common return offset In a line or circuit, the dc potential difference between ground and the common return.
1429. common transport trunk group A trunk group between exchange carrier switches which transports access traffic for numerous interexchange carriers concurrently and may also carry…
1430. common user In communications systems, pertaining to communications facilities and services provided to essentially all users in the area served by the system, rather…
1431. common user circuit A circuit designated to furnish a communication service to a number of users.
1432. common user network A system of circuits or channels allocated to furnish communication paths between switching centers to provide communication service on a common basis to…
1433. common-battery signaling Signaling in which the signaling power of a telephone is supplied by the serving switch.
1434. common-channel interoffice signaling (CCIS) In multichannel switched networks, a method of transmitting all signaling information for a group of trunks by encoding it and transmitting it over a…
1435. common-channel signaling In a multichannel communications system, signaling in which one channel in each link is used for signaling to control, account for, and manage traffic on…
1436. common-mode interference Interference that appears between signal leads, or the terminals of a measuring circuit, and ground. 2.
1437. common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) The ratio of the common-mode interference voltage at the input of a circuit, to the corresponding interference voltage at the output.
1438. common-mode voltage The voltage common to both input terminals of a device. 2. In a differential amplifier, the unwanted part of the voltage between each input connection…
1439. commonality A quality that applies to materiel or systems: (a) possessing like and interchangeable characteristics enabling each to be utilized, or operated and…
1440. communication configuration An attribute describing the special arrangement for transferring information between two or more access points; it completes the structure associated with…
1441. communication function A function in an open system that provides the means for cooperating processes in different real open systems to communicate.
1442. communication interface That part of the API devoted to communications with other application software, external data transport facilities, and devices.
1443. communications Information transfer, among users or processes, according to agreed conventions. 2.
1444. communications assistant A person who facilitates telephone conversation between text telephone users, users of sign language or individuals with speech disabilities through a…
1445. communications base station Synonym base communications.
1446. communications blackout A cessation of communications or communications capability caused by a lack of power to a communications facility or equipment. 2.
1447. communications center An agency charged with the responsibility for handling and controlling communications traffic.
1448. communications channel See channel.
1449. communications common carrier The term "communications common carrier" as used in this part [of 47CFR] means any person (individual, partnership, association, joint-stock company…
1450. communications cover Concealing or altering of characteristic communications patterns to hide information that could be of value to an adversary. [INFOSEC-99]
1451. communications deception Deliberate transmission, retransmission, or alteration of communications to mislead an adversary's interpretation of the communications. [NIS] 2.
1452. Communications Intelligence (COMINT) Technical and intelligence information derived from foreign communications by other than intended recipients.
1453. communications jamming (COMJAM) The portion of electronic jamming that is directed against communications circuits and systems. 2.
1454. communications net An organization of stations capable of direct communication on a common channel or frequency. [JP 1-02] Synonym net.
1455. communications net operation See net operation.
1456. communications network An organization of stations capable of intercommunications, but not necessarily on the same channel. [JP 1-02]
1457. communications processor unit (CPU) A computer embedded in a communications system. Note 1: An example of a CPU is the message data processor of a DDN switching center.
1458. communications profile [An] analytic model of communications associated with an organization or activity.
1459. communications protection The application of communications security (COMSEC) measures to telecommunications systems in order (a) to deny unauthorized persons access to sensitive…
1460. communications protocol See protocol.
1461. communications reliability The probability that information transmitted from a communications station will arrive at the intended destination in a timely manner without loss of…
1462. communications satellite An orbiting vehicle that relays signals between (a) terrestrial communications stations, (b) a terrestrial communications station and another…
1463. communications saturation See saturation.
1464. Communications Security (COMSEC) The protection resulting from all measures designed to deny unauthorized persons information of value, which might be derived from the possession and…
1465. communications security equipment See COMSEC equipment.
1466. communications security material See COMSEC material.
1467. communications silence The avoidance of any type of transmission, emission, or radiation by any means, including radiation from receiving equipment.
1468. communications sink See sink.
1469. communications source See source.
1470. communications subsystem A functional unit or operational assembly that is smaller than the larger assembly under consideration.
1471. communications survivability The ability of communications systems to continue to operate effectively under adverse conditions, though portions of the system may be damaged or…
1472. communications system A collection of individual communications networks, transmission systems, relay stations, tributary stations, and data terminal equipment (DTE) usually…
1473. communications system engineering The translation of user requirements for the exchange of information into cost-effective and low-risk technical solutions in terms of equipment and…
1474. communications system survivability See survivability.
1475. communications theory Theory that is devoted to the probabilistic characteristics of the transmission of data in the presence of noise, and that is used to advance the design…
1476. communications watch The monitoring of one or more communications lines, frequencies, or channels to obtain information by listening to or receiving all transmissions on them…
1477. Communications Zone Rear part of the theater of operations (behind but contiguous to the combat zone) which contains the lines of communications, establishments for supply…
1478. communications-electronics (C-E) The specialized field concerned with the use of electronic devices and systems for the acquisition or acceptance, processing, storage, display, analysis…
1479. Community Antenna Television (CATV) See cable TV.
1480. community of interest A grouping of users who generate a majority of their traffic in calls to other members of the group.
1481. community reception (in the broadcasting-satellite service) The reception of emissions from a space station in the broadcasting-satellite service by receiving equipment, which in some cases may be complex and have…
1482. community security policy The definition of the basic security principles and policy for a community of interconnected systems thereby allowing a series of bilateral SISPs to be…
1483. compact An agreement between states apportioning the water of a river basin to each of the signatory states.
1484. compact disk read-only memory See CD ROM.
1485. Compaction To make soil dense by mechanical manipulation. Mechanical action which increases the density by reducing the voids in a material.
1486. companding An operation in which the dynamic range of signals is compressed before transmission and is expanded to the original value at the receiver.
1487. compandor A device that incorporates a compressor and an expander, each of which may be used independently.
1488. comparably efficient interconnection (CEI) An equal-access concept developed by the FCC stating that, ". . . if a carrier offers an enhanced service, it should be required to offer network…
1489. comparator In analog computing, a functional unit that compares two analog variables and indicates the result of that comparison. 2.
1490. compartmentalization The division of data into isolated blocks for the purpose of reducing risk; e.g.
1491. compartmentation The segregation of components, programs, and information to provide isolation. Note: Compartmentation provides some protection against overall compromise…
1492. compartmented mode 1. [An] information systems (IS) mode of operation wherein each user with direct or indirect access to a system, its peripherals, remote terminals, or…
1493. compatibility Capability of two or more items or components of equipment or material to exist or function in the same system or environment without mutual interference.
1494. compatibility testing Testing to be carried out to validate proper interworking of interconnecting network facilities and equipment.
1495. compatible sideband transmission Independent sideband transmission in which the carrier is deliberately reinserted at a lower level after its normal suppression to permit reception by…
1496. compelled signaling Signaling in which the transmission of each signal in the forward direction from an originating terminal is inhibited until an acknowledgement of the…
1497. competitive access provider (CAP) A company that provides exchange access services in competition with an established U.S. telephone local exchange carrier.
1498. competitive clip In time-assignment speech interpolation (TASI) or digital speech interpolation (DSI), truncation of the initial part of a speech spurt, caused when all…
1499. compile To translate a computer program expressed in a high-level language into a program expressed in a lower level language, such as an intermediate language…
1500. compiler A program which performs a process of compilation on a program written in a high level programming language.