Filter
Top Products
Glossary
RF300E/RF310E 187
inter-LATA basis by AT&T and on an intra-LATA basis by the BOCs.
Data Service Unit (DSU): A device that provides a digital data service interface directly to the data terminal equipment. The
DSU provides loop equalization, remote and local testing capabilities, and a standard EIA/CCITT interface.
Dedicated Line: A communication line that is not switched. The term leased line is more common.
Default: This is a preset value or option in software packages, or in hardware configuration, that is used unless you specify
otherwise.
Device driver: Software that controls how a computer communicates with a device, such as a printer or mouse.
Digital Cross-connect System (DCS): The CO device which splits and redistributes the T1 bandwidth. the DCS takes time
slots from various T1 lines and alters them to provide the needed connectivity. DCS connections are made with software at
an administrator’s workstation.
Digital Data: Information represented by discrete values or conditions (contrast “Analog Data”).
Digital Loopback: A technique used for testing the circuitry of a communications device. Can be initiated locally, or
remotely (via a telecommunications device). The tested device decodes and encodes a received test message, then echoes
the message back. The results are compared with the original message to determine if corruption occurred en route.
Digital PBX: A Private Branch Exchange that operates internally on digital signals. See also “Exchange”.
Digital Service, level 0 (DS0): The worldwide standard speed (64 Kbps) for digital voice conversation using PCM (pulse
coded modulation).
Digital Service, level 1 (DS1): The 1.544 Mbps voice standard (derived from an older Bell System standard) for digitized
voice transmission in North America. The 1.544 Mbps consists of 24 digitally-encoded 64 Kbps voice channels (north
America) and 2.048 Mbps (30 channels) elsewhere.
Digital Signal: A discrete or discontinuous signal (e.g., a sequence of voltage pulses). Digital devices, such as terminals
and computers, transmit data as a series of electrical pulses which have discrete jumps rather than gradual changes.
Digital Signaling Rates (DSn): A hierarchical system for transmission rates, where “DS0” is 64K bps (equivalent to ISDN B
channel), and DS1 is 1.5 Mbps (equivalent to ISDN PRI).
Digital Transmission: A method of electronic information transmission common between computers and other digital
devices. Analog signals are waveforms: a combination of many possible voltages. A computer’s digital signal may be only
“high” or “low” at any given time. Therefore, digital signals may be “cleaned up” (noise and distortion removed) and
amplified during transmission.
Digitize: To convert an analog signal to a digital signal.
DIP switch (pronounced “dip switch”): A set of tiny toggle switches, built into a DIP (dual in-line package), used for
setting configurable parameters on a PCB (printed circuit board).
Driver: A software module that interfaces between the Operating System and a specific hardware device (e.g., color
monitors, printers, hard disks, etc.). Also known as a device driver.
Drop and Insert: The process where a portion of information carried in a transmission system is demodulated (“Dropped”)
at an intermediate point and different information is included (“Inserted”) for subsequent transmission.
DTE (Data Terminal Equipment): A term used to include any device in a network which generates, stores or displays user
information. DTE is a telecommunications term which usually refers to PCs, terminals, printers, etc.
DTMF (Dual-Tone MultiFrequency): A generic push-button concept made popular by AT&T TouchTone.
E
E&M: A telephony trunking system used for either switch-to-switch, or switch-to-network, or computer/telephone system-to-
switch connection.
EIA: The Electronics Industries Association is a trade organization in Washington, DC that sets standards for use of its
member companies. (See RS-232, RS-422, RS530.)
Encapsulation: A technique used by network-layer protocols in which a layer adds header information to the protocol data
unit from the preceding layer. Also used in “enveloping” one protocol inside another for transmission. For example, IP inside
IPX.
Errored Seconds (ES): Any second of operation that all 1.544M bits are not received exactly as transmitted. Contrast
“Error Free Seconds”.
Error Free Seconds (EFS): Any second of operation that all 1.544M bits are received exactly as transmitted. Contrast
“Errored Seconds”.
ESF Error Event: A T1 error condition that is logged when a CRC-6 error or an out-of-frame (OOF) error occurs.