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Glossary
This glossary is intended to better serve you in determining
all your voice, data and telecommunication equipment needs.
If you have any additional questions or any of these terms
need clarification, please call our Customer Service Department
at 215.348.1588.
66 Block
The most common type of connecting block used to terminate
and cross-connect twisted pair cables. Simplicity, speed
and economy of space. You simply lay each single conductor
down inside the 66 block's two metal teeth and punch the
conductor down. As you punch the conductor down the cable
descends between the two metal teeth, which removes its
plastic insulation and the cable is cut. 66 blocks are
typically rated Category 3 and Category 5 and are used
mostly for voice applications.
Analog
In telecommunications, analog means telephone transmission
and/or switching that is not digital, and therefore is
not represented in discrete terms such as voltage or light
pulse.
Auto Set Relocate
A phone system feature that allows a telephone to keep
its personal and system settings when it is reconnected
to another physical location.
Automated Attendant
This is a device that answers calls with a digital recording
and allows callers to route themselves to an extension
using touch-tones. Auto Attendant avoids the intervention
of a human being. For example, "Thanks for calling
Thompson Telephone. If you know the extension of the person
you'd like to reach, you may dial it now. If you do not
know the extension, push "0" and a live operator
will come on the line." This greeting can also include
options such as "dial 3 for a directory of last names
and dial 4 for a directory of first names." Also,
it can include a mailbox for directions and other company
information (i.e. business hours and location). Auto Attendants
are also connected to voicemail systems.
Automatic Call Distributor (ACD)
ACD routes an office’s
calls to all available personnel so that calls are evenly
distributed. Calls can be routed in different patterns.
It might be Uniform, which distributes the calls/work
evenly throughout the group of workers, or Top-Down,
which distributes the calls from the top to the bottom.
The ones on the top are kept busier than the ones on
the bottom, or Specialty Routing, which distributes calls
to those who are most likely to be able to help the caller.
More importantly, ACD produces management information
in three sorts. 1. It tracks the arrival of incoming calls
(when, how many, which lines, from where, etc.) 2. It tracks
information on Abandoned Calls (how many callers were put
on hold, asked to wait and didn't.) This information is
very important for staffing, buying lines from the phone
company, figuring out what level of service to provide
and what different levels of service might cost. 3. It
tracks information on the origination of the call. This
allows the ACD to look up a caller's records to offer the
caller better/faster service.
Automatic Number Identification (ANI)
Being able to recognize the phone number of the person
calling you. Unlike Caller ID, ANI does not require the
presence of Signaling System 7 (SS7) throughout the entire
network and cannot be blocked by the calling party. Scenario:
You're running a large call center. Before a call is even
connected to your ACD (Auto Call Distributor), the ANI
presents the BN (Billing Number) of the calling party to
the ACD. Your ACD then looks into its computer database
and matches the number with the profile of the caller.
As the customer service rep answers the phone, they get
a screen pop with info about the caller. This saves as
much as 30 seconds on an average call, by eliminating routine
identification questions.
Automatic Route Selection (ARS)
A way that your phone system automatically chooses a line
for you. See Least Cost Routing.
Basic Rate Interface (BRI)
BRI provides 2B + D, which is two bearer B-channels at
64 kilobits per second and one data D-channel at 16 kilobits
per second. The bearer channels are designed for voice,
video conferencing, faxes etc. The D- channel is for bringing
in information about incoming calls and for taking out
information for outgoing calls. One BRI standard is the "U" interface
that uses two wires. Another BRI standard is the "T" interface
that uses four wires.
CAT 5 Cable
A category of performance for inside wire and cable systems.
CAT 5 cables can be of various gauges and are useful in
support of applications requiring a carrier frequency of
up to 100 MHz. CAT 5 is now the most common cabling being
installed for both data and voice use and is the cabling
of choice for forward-looking companies.
CDR - Call Detail Record
A feature of a telephone system which allows the system
to collect and record information on outgoing and incoming
phone calls. The call information, such as who made the
call, when the call was received, what time of day the
call took place, and how long the call lasted, is sent
to a printer of a PC with call accounting software
Central Office
The telephone company building where subscriber's lines
are joined to switching equipment for connecting other
subscribers to each other, locally and long distance.
Channel Bank
A multiplexer. Takes the T1 digital lines and makes them
analog. A channel bank is a device that puts many slow
speed voice and data conversations onto one high-speed
link and controls the flow of those conversations. Typically,
the device sits between a digital circuit - say a T1 -
several voice grade lines coming out of a PBX. One side
is connected to the T1 carrier cables and the other side
connected to single analog phone lines.
Channel Service Unit (CSU)
A CSU sits between the digital
line coming in from the central office (i.e. a T1) and
devices such as channel banks or data communications
devices. A device used to connect a digital phone line
(T1 or Switched 56 line) coming in from the phone company
to either a multiplexer, channel bank, or another device
producing a digital signal. You can buy your own CSU or
rent one from your local or long distance phone company.
Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit (CSU/DSU)
Contains a built in DSU device to terminate a digital
channel on a customer's premises.
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC)
A result of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, CLEC is
a term for the deregulated and competitive telecommunications
environment. CLECs compete for local exchange service,
long distance, international, Internet access, and entertainment
(i.e. Cable TV and On Demand). They build their own local
loops, as well as lease local loops from the ILEC (Incumbent
LEC) at wholesale prices to resell to the end user.
Computer Telephone Integration (CTI)
A term for connecting a computer to a telephone switch
and having the computer issue the telephone switch commands
to move calls around. The classic application for CTI is
in call centers. Scenario: A call comes in and carries
a form of caller ID. The switch "hears" the calling number,
takes it, and sends it to the computer. The computer then
looks up that number in the database and sends the switch
back instructions on what to do with the call (i.e. send
it to a specialized service rep). The rep then sees a screen
pop of information about the caller. CTI and CT (computer
telephony) are often confused. CTI covers the integration
with switches and CT covers that and additional features.
Cross Connect
You wire every desk with a bunch of wires. You punch one
end of the wires into various plugs at the desk. You punch
the other end onto some form of punchdown block. Then you
bring the wires in from the telecom suppliers. You punch
them down on another punchdown block. Now you have two
sets of blocks - one for going to the office and those
coming into the office from the outside. You now have to
join them together. Joining them together is called cross
connect. The reason you use cross connect wires rather
than punching down lines directly to your phone system
is that is can get messy. Moves, adds, and changes would
confuse things and screw up connections. With short wires,
it is easy to see where everything is connected. Cross-connect
cables are also called Patch Cords.
Customer Premises Equipment (CPE)
Terminal equipment - telephones, key systems, PBXs, modems,
video conferencing devices, etc. - connected to the telephone
network and residing on the customer's premises.
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