The Gartner Glossary of Information Technology Acronyms and Terms Table of Contents Numbers.....................................................................................................1 A ............................................................................................................9 B .......................................................................................................... 35 C .......................................................................................................... 53 D .......................................................................................................... 99 E ......................................................................................................?127 F ........................................................................................................ 153 G ........................................................................................................ 167 H ........................................................................................................ 176 I ........................................................................................................ 189 J ........................................................................................................ 215 K ........................................................................................................ 220 L ........................................................................................................ 224 M ........................................................................................................ 234 N ........................................................................................................ 254 O ........................................................................................................ 265 P ........................................................................................................ 275 Q ........................................................................................................ 294 R ........................................................................................................ 296 S ........................................................................................................ 310 T ........................................................................................................ 346 U ........................................................................................................ 361 V ........................................................................................................ 366 W ........................................................................................................ 376 X ........................................................................................................ 390 Y ........................................................................................................ 394 Z ........................................................................................................ 395 Numbers 10Base-2 A specification from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for local-area network (LAN) cable and related equipment. 10Base-2 LANs transmit data at 10 megabits per second over thin Ethernet coaxial cabling spanning distances of up to 185 meters. 10Base-5 A local-area network (LAN) cable specification from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 10Base-5 LANs transmit data at 10 megabits per second over thick Ethernet coaxial cabling spanning distances of up to 500 meters. 10Base-F A local-area network (LAN) physical-media specification from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 10Base-F LANs transmit data at 10 megabits per second over fiber- optic cable. 10Base-FL A version of the 10Base-F specification supporting fiber-optic links (asynchronous connections linked by Ethernet repeaters). See 10Base-F. 10Base-T A broadly used standard for Ethernet local-area network (LAN) wiring and related equipment. As specified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 10Base-T LANs transmit data at 10 megabits per second over unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) wires (similar to the wiring commonly used for indoor phone lines). See Ethernet and UTP. 10Base-x series A series of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) specifications for Ethernet local-area network (LAN) cabling and related equipment, supporting speeds of up to 10 megabits per second (Mbps). Several common standards in this series are defined in separate entries (see 10Base-2, 10Base-5, 10Base-F, 10Base-FL and 10Base-T). The "10Base" prefix stands for "10 Mbps baseband" (see baseband); similar IEEE specifications for faster LANs use "100Base" and "1000Base" prefixes (see 100Base-x series and 1000Base-x series). The letter or numeral at the end of each specification name denotes the type of cable � "F" for fiber, "T" for twisted-pair, and numerals for various types of coaxial cable. See Ethernet. 100Base-F A physical-media specification from the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers, supporting Fast Ethernet local-area networks operating at 100 megabits per second over fiber-optic cable. See Fast Ethernet and fiber-optic. 100Base-FX A version of the 100Base-F fiber-optic cable standard supporting half- and full-duplex operation. See 100Base-F. 100Base-T A widely used standard for Fast Ethernet local-area network (LAN) wiring and related equipment. As specified by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 100Base-T LANs transmit data at 100 megabits per second over unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) copper cable. See Fast Ethernet and UTP. 100Base-TX A version of the 100Base-T specification supporting both full-duplex and half-duplex transmission over two pairs of unshielded twisted-pair wires. See 100Base-T. 100Base-x series A series of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) specifications for Fast Ethernet local-area network (LAN) cabling and related equipment (see Fast Ethernet). Several common standards in this series are defined in separate entries (see 100Base-F, 100Base-FX, 100Base-T and 100Base-TX). These specifications are similar to those of the IEEE's 10Base-x series, but are designed for higher-speed transmission � up to 100 megabits per second (Mbps), rather than 10 Mbps (see 10Base-x series). 100VG-AnyLAN An Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standard for Ethernet and token ring local-area networks (LANs) transmitting at 100 megabit per second. (Originally dubbed "100Base-VG" as an IEEE Ethernet specification, it was renamed after token ring compatibility was added). In the 1990s, 100VG-AnyLAN was promoted heavily by Hewlett- Packard, among other vendors, as a technically superior LAN alternative to 100Base-T with Fast Ethernet, but it ultimately failed to win out in the marketplace. See 100Base-T and Fast Ethernet. 1000Base-LX An physical network specification for long-wavelength laser transmission over fiber-optic cable, defined by the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 1000Base-LX supports Ethernet transmission at 1,000 megabits per second over links up to 10 kilometers long, depending on the type of cable used. See Gigabit Ethernet. 1000Base-SX A physical network standard for short-wavelength laser transmission over fiber-optic cable, defined by the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 1000Base-SX supports Ethernet transmission at 1,000 megabits per second over links up to 500 meters long, depending on the type of fiber-optic cable used. See Gigabit Ethernet. 1000Base-T An Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers standard for copper cabling and related equipment used in Gigabit Ethernet networks. 1000Base-T supports transmission at 1,000 megabits per second over unshielded twisted pair (UTP) cable. See UTP and Gigabit Ethernet. 1000Base-x A series of Gigabit Ethernet network cable and equipment specifications from Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). For definitions of some of the better-known standards in this series, see 1000Base-LX, 1000Base-SX and 1000Base-T. These standards are similar to those of the IEEE's 10Base-x and 100Base-x series, but support data transmission at higher speeds � up to 1,000 megabits per second. See 10Base-x series, 100Base-x series and Gigabit Ethernet. 1394 A high speed serial bus specification from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. See FireWire. 23B+D An abbreviation for the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Primary Rate Interface (PRI), composed of 23 bearer (B) channels and one data (D) channel. See ISDN and PRI. 24x7 (24 hours a day, seven days a week) Continuous, round-the clock availability of a system or service. 2B+D An abbreviation for the ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI), composed of two bearer (B) channels and one data (D) channel. See ISDN and BRI. 2PC (two-phase commit) A method for coordinating a single transaction across two or more database management systems (DBMSs) or other resource managers. 2PC guarantees the logical integrity of data by ensuring that transaction updates are either finalized in all participating databases or fully backed out of all of them (that is, the update occurs "everywhere or nowhere"). 2PC is a required component of distributed databases, and is implemented in transaction management software that may be part of a DBMS, online transaction processing (OLTP) monitor or front-end application tool. See DBMS and OLTP. 3270 An interactive communications terminal used to communicate with an IBM mainframe or compatible system. 3380 An IBM direct-access storage device family introduced in 1980. 3390 An IBM family of storage products introduced in 1989. 3480 A half-inch tape cartridge format introduced by IBM in 1984. 3990 An IBM storage controller family introduced in 1987, supporting a wide range of devices, including 3380, 3390 and Random Access Method of Accounting and Control (RAMAC) systems. See 3380, 3390 and RAMAC. 3-D visualization The use of interactive graphics to represent and manipulate high-volume, multidimensional data as graphical objects with a wide range of characteristics (including x/y/z axes, size, color, shape or movement). 3-D Web Web site technology that provides a virtual, three-dimensional "space" for visitors to explore (for example, through the use of Virtual Reality Modeling Language; see VRML). 3G (third generation) The term used to refer to the next generation of wireless communications technology, the "first generation" having been analog cellular, and the "second generation" being today's digital cellular networks. An initiative of the International Telecommunication Union and regional standards bodies, 3G aims to provide universal, high-speed (up to four megabits per second), high-bandwidth wireless services supporting a variety of advanced applications. See UMTS, IMT-2000 and EDGE. 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) A collaboration agreement, established in 1998 among several telecommunications standards bodies, to produce a series of technical specifications and standards for third- generation (3G) wireless communications. See 3G. 3GL (third-generation language) A high-level programming language � such as FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC or C � that compiles to machine language. 3PL (third-party logistics) A type of service provider that offers advanced logistics services, such as transportation management, inventory maintenance and logistical modeling. 3rd Generation Partnership Project (see 3GPP) 4GL (fourth-generation language) A high-level language suitable for end-user or programmer data access and capable of reasonably complex data manipulation. A common example is Microsoft's Visual Basic. 4GLs includes two categories of software development tools: application generators for production applications, and information generators for decision support applications. 4GLs are relatively nonprocedural and easier to use than third-generation languages (3GLs), but are less powerful and more wasteful of computer resources. See 3GL. 802.1d An Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers specification for local-area network spanning trees. See spanning tree. 802.1p An Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers specification for priority queues within local-area networks. 802.1q A virtual local-area network (VLAN) specification from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. See VLAN. 802.1x A port-based authentication protocol from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 802.11 A series of standards issued by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers for wireless local-area networks (WLANs). Various specifications cover WLAN transmission speeds from one megabit per second (Mbps) to 54 Mbps. There are three main physical- layer standards � see 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g. 802.11a An Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standard for the physical layer of wireless local-area networks (WLANs) operating in the five-gigahertz radio band. It has eight radio channels, each with a maximum link rate of 54 megabits per second; however, maximum user throughput will be about half this, and the throughput is shared by all users of the same radio channel. Frequency bands allowed for 802.11a (also called Wi-Fi5) differ in different parts of the world. See Wi-Fi5 and WLAN. 802.11b A standard for the physical layer of wireless local-area networks (WLANs) operating at 2.4 gigahertz, from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Also called Wi-Fi, 802.11b specifies three radio channels, each with a maximum link rate of 11 megabits per second; however, maximum user throughput will be about half this, and the throughput is shared by all users of the same radio channel. See Wi-Fi and WLAN. 802.11g An Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers physical-layer standard for wireless local- area networks operating at 2.4 gigahertz. It provides three available radio channels, each with a maximum link rate of 54 megabits per second. Support for complementary-code- keying modulation makes 802.11g backwardly compatible with 802.11b. The addition of further modulation schemes, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (see OFDM), achieves higher link rates. See 802.11b and OFDM. 802.12 A competing standard to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE's) more widespread Ethernet (802.3) specification for local-area networks. Introduced in the 1990s in conjunction with the 100VG-AnyLAN standard, IEEE 802.12 networks use a "demand priority" access control mechanism, and can transport both Ethernet and token ring data frames. See 100VG-AnyLAN. 802.15 A Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers working group addressing standardization of wireless personal-area networks (PANs). See PAN. 802.15.4 A draft standard for low-data-rate, low-power-consumption wireless networking in the 2.4- gigahertz radio band. With data rates of less than 220 kilobits per second over 75 meters, 802.15.4 (dubbed "ZigBee" by the vendor group that promotes it) is suitable for many automation and remote-control applications. (See ZigBee and ZigBee Alliance.) 802.3 A protocol specification for Ethernet local-area networks (LANs) from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 802.3 and the IEEE's 10Base-x series of cable specifications are the dominant standards used in today's LANs operating at 10 megabits per second (see 10Base-x series). Several extensions to the 802.3 standard support higher data rates (see 802.3u, 802.3z and 802.3ae). 802.3ae An extension of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE's) 802.3 Ethernet network protocol specification. IEEE 802.3ae, also known as 10-Gigabit Ethernet, supports data rates of 10 gigabits per second. See 802.3. 802.3u An extension of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE's) 802.3 Ethernet network protocol specification. IEEE 802.3u is also known as Fast Ethernet because it supports higher data rates than 802.3 � 100 megabits per second (Mbps) instead of 10 Mbps. See 802.3 and Fast Ethernet. 802.3z An extension of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE's) 802.3 Ethernet network protocol specification. IEEE 802.3z, also known as Gigabit Ethernet, supports data transmission rates up to one gigabit per second. See 802.3 and Gigabit Ethernet. 802.5 A token ring network protocol specification from the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers. See token ring. 802.6 A metropolitan-area network (MAN) specification from the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers. See MAN. 80x86 A family of Intel microprocessors once used in IBM-compatible PCs and workstations. It includes the 80286, 80386 and 80486. The first Pentium processors are members of the same family, but the numerical designations have been dropped. See Pentium. A A2A (application-to-application) An approach to enterprise application integration that provides visibility into internal systems, so that these systems can share information or business processes. A3 (Adaptive Application Architecture) A Gartner reference model for an application platform that can adapt to a variety device types and networks (notably mobile devices and wireless data transmission), and that can support all types of data transactions. The A3 goes beyond the limitations of network- and device-specific wireless platforms to provide a more comprehensive model suitable to the new challenges of network computing (for example, maintaining multiple, changing devices, unstable and mixed-media content, and multiple networks). The A3 comprises three logical components: Link layer � the elements managing the link (i.e., the network transport), such as session management, synchronization, security, device discovery and location awareness. Transformation platform � the elements handling the transformation of the data stream, including filtering, selection, ordering and formatting. Profile management � the management of persistent data that supports the overall interaction. Because it abstracts across multiple device types and media, the A3 is a key element in the evolution of the Supranet (see Supranet). AA (see application architecture and automated attendant) AAC (ATM access concentrator) A device used to concentrate a variety of services (such as frame relay, Internet Protocol and video) over a single asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network access connection. See ATM. AAL (ATM adaptation layer) The asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) layer where non-ATM data is converted to ATM format. The AAL serves as the "glue" that connects traditional packet and frame structures with short, fixed-length ATM cells. It forms the top layer of the ATM version of the Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B-ISDN) protocol stack. See ATM and B- ISDN. ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) The core development tool in SAP's R/3 system. ABC (activity-based costing) An approach to understanding where and why costs are incurred within an enterprise. It provides the information for activity-based management, which focuses on the decisions and actions needed to reduce costs and increase revenue. ABC differs from traditional cost accounting in explicitly recognizing that not all cost objects place an equal demand on support resources. ABEND (abnormal end) A type of system error in which a task or program fails to execute properly (i.e., "abnormally ends"). The term is also used as the name for a type of error message that indicates such a failure has occurred. ABI (application binary interface) A set of specifications that enables an application written for one target operating system (OS) and hardware platform to run on a different OS and platform, where the two hardware platforms share the same processor type. ABIs enable compatibility only among products built on the same microprocessor architectures. ABM (activity-based management) The use of activity-based costing (ABC) principles in the ongoing management of costs and resources. See ABC. ABR (available bit rate) An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) service category. ABR service is conceptually similar to that of a frame relay network � a minimal cell rate is guaranteed, and bursts can be supported if the network resources allow it. See ATM. Abstract Syntax Notation 1 (see ASN.1) AC (alternating current) A type of power supply in which the current periodically reverses direction, as distinguished from a direct current (see DC). ACA (Australian Communications Authority) The Australian government body that regulates the nation's communications industries. Accelerated Graphics Port (see AGP) access charge The charge assessed to communications users for access to the local or regional exchange to send or receive calls. It also includes access to specialized telecommunications services and access to the customer's local access and transport area. access code The digit or digits that a user must dial to be connected to an outgoing trunk facility. access control Functions and administrative tasks related to system or network access, including user identification and access recording. Access Control Facility 2 (see ACF2) access control list (see ACL) access line The connection to the customer's local telephone company for origination of local and long- distance calls. Also known as a local loop or trunk. access method 1 The portion of a computer's operating system responsible for formatting data sets and their direction to specific storage devices. Examples from the mainframe world include Virtual Storage Access Method (VSAM) and Indexed Sequential Access Method (ISAM). See VSAM and ISAM. 2 In local-area networks (LANs), the technique or program code used to arbitrate stations' use of the LAN by granting access selectively to individual stations. Examples include carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) and token passing. See CSMA/CD and token passing. access point The basic building block of a wireless local-area network infrastructure. Access points attach to a wired backbone and provide wireless connectivity to all devices within range. In a roaming infrastructure, as devices move out of the range of one access point, they move into the range of another. access router An access device with built-in basic routing protocol support, specifically designed to allow remote network access to corporate backbone networks. Access routers are not designed to replace backbone routers or to build backbone networks. They usually have limited protocols, few ports and low speed. accounting rate The charge per traffic unit � a unit of time or information content � covering communications between zones controlled by different telecommunications authorities. Accounting rates are used to establish international tariffs. Accredited Standards Committee (see ASC) ACD (automatic call distributor) A specialized phone system that handles many incoming calls. ACDs are used for a variety of order-taking functions, such as calls to help desks or dispatching of service technicians. They are designed to distribute a large volume of incoming calls uniformly to operators or agents (for example, for airline reservations). ACE (Advanced CMOS-ECL) A high-end processor technology introduced by Hitachi in the 1990s. ACF (Advanced Communications Function) A family of IBM communications programs that handle tasks such as resource sharing and distribution of functions. They include ACF/Virtual Telecommunications Access Method (ACF/VTAM) and ACF/Network Control Program (ACF/NCP). IBM eventually dropped the "ACF/" prefix from many of these program names; for example ACF/VTAM is now known simply as "VTAM." ACF2 (Access Control Facility 2) A host-based security subsystem from Computer Associates; also known as CAACF2. ACH (automated clearinghouse) A type of funds transfer network that processes debit and credit transactions between accounts from participating financial institutions. ACID (atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability) Four well-established tests for verifying the integrity of business transactions in a data- processing environment. ACL (access control list) Manages users and their access to files and directories. Access control requires linking users with content. User information is stored in a directory, and content is referenced in ACLs. ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) An educational and scientific computing society, founded in 1947, whose membership today includes more than 80,000 computing professionals and students worldwide. ACMS (Application Control and Management System) A transaction-processing monitor from Compaq (now part of Hewlett-Packard); originally a product of Digital Equipment, which Compaq acquired in 1998. ACP (array control processor) A type of processor used in storage systems. ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) A standard developed by Intel, Microsoft and Toshiba to improve PC power management and plug-and-play capabilities. A-CPR (ambulatory computer-based patient record) A computer-based patient record (CPR) used exclusively in the ambulatory/outpatient care delivery environments of healthcare. See CPR. ACR (attenuation-to-crosstalk ratio) A measure of signal quality in network cabling. Acrobat A product from Adobe Systems used to display documents in digital form as they appeared in their original, paper format. As an Internet plug-in, it is often used display documents, such as brochures, on the Web. ACS (Affiliated Computer Services) A business process and IT outsourcing provider headquartered in Dallas, Texas. ACSLS (Automated Cartridge System Library Software) A Unix-based tape-library-sharing system from Storage Technology. Active Data Warehouse (see ADW) Active Directory The directory service portion of the Windows 2000 operating system. Active Directory manages the identities and relationships of the distributed resources that make up a network environment. It stores information about network-based entities (such as applications, files, printers and people) and provides a consistent way to name, describe, locate, access, manage and secure information about these resources. Active Directory Services Interface (see ADSI) Active Server Pages (see ASP) ActiveX A Microsoft technology that facilitates various Internet applications, and therefore extends and enhances the functionality of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. Like Java, ActiveX enables the development of interactive content. When an ActiveXaware browser encounters a Web page that includes an unfamiliar feature, it automatically installs the appropriate applications so the feature can be used. ActiveX Data Objects (see ADO) activity-based costing (see ABC) activity-based management (see ABM) actuator A disk drive mechanism. The actuator positions the disk read-write head over the selected track. AD (application development) The function of creating applications for an enterprise. The term refers not simply to programming, but to the larger overall process of defining application requirements, planning the application structure, developing the code, monitoring development progress and testing results. A/D (analog-to-digital) The term used to describe a type of converter used to bridge analog and digital circuitry. A/D converters can be either stand-alone microcomponents, or included in the functionality embedded in certain advanced processor types. adapter A type of middleware that combines design tools and runtime software to act as "glue" to link applications to the enterprise nervous system (ENS). Adapters perform a variety of tasks, including recognizing events, collecting and transforming data, and exchanging data with the ENS. They also handle exceptions and can often dynamically accommodate new revisions of back-end applications. See middleware and ENS. Adaptive Application Architecture (see A3) adaptive differential pulse code modulation (see ADPCM) adaptive routing Routing that automatically adjusts to network changes, such shifts in network traffic, to find the most efficient path for transmission. ADC (analog-to-digital converter) Component used to bridge the digital and analog circuitry contained in certain advanced integrated circuits. Also known as an A/D converter (see A/D). ADC (automated data collection) The automated conversion of disparate types of information into computer records. ADC devices and technologies include bar code systems, optical character recognition and speech recognition. address 1 Coded representation of the origin or destination of data on the Internet or another type of network. Each Web site, or each terminal on a communications line, has a unique address. 2 In software, a location in memory that can be specifically referred to in a program. Address Resolution Protocol (see ARP) address translation The process of changing the identifier associated with an item of data, or an instruction, to the actual location in main storage where it is held. ADE (application development environment) An product that offers a range of tools or features (for example, for programming, interface development and testing) to provide a complete "environment" for developing applications. ADF (Application Development Facility) An IBM program for developing Information Management System (IMS) applications. See IMS. ADF (automated document factory) Gartner's term for an architecture and set of processes to manage the creation and delivery of mission-critical, high-volume digital documents. The ADF applies factory production concepts to the document production � raw materials, including data and preparation instructions, enter the ADF, where they are transformed into digital documents and prepared for delivery. ADMF (Asynchronous Data Mover Facility) A IBM mainframe feature designed to enhance system performance in data moves between central and expanded storage. admission, discharge and transfer (see ADT) ADO (ActiveX Data Objects) A high-level data access object model introduced by Microsoft in 1996. ADP (Automatic Data Processing) A check-processing and payroll services company based in Roseland, New Jersey. ADPCM (adaptive differential pulse code modulation) A speech-coding method that calculates the difference between two consecutive speech samples in standard pulse code modulation (PCM) coded telecommunications voice signals. This calculation is encoded using an adaptive filter and, as a result, allows analog voice signals to be carried on a 32 Kbps digital channel in half the space PCM uses. ADSI (Active Directory Services Interface) A Microsoft Active Directory feature that enables Windows 2000 applications to interact with other directory services � such as NetWare or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directories � without the need to know the details of the underlying protocols. See Active Directory and LDAP. ADSI (Analog Display Services Interface) A protocol developed by Bellcore in the 1990s. ADSI enables information communicated over an analog phone line to be displayed on the screen of an ADSI-compatible device. ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) ADSL allows cable TV, video, telephony and other multimedia services to be sent over voice- grade twisted-pair cable carrying from 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) to 8 Mbps downstream, and from 16 kilobits per second (Kbps) to 640 Kbps upstream (hence the designation "asymmetric"), over distances ranging from two to six kilometers without the use of repeaters. ADSL uses adaptive digital filtering, which adjusts to compensate for noise and other problems on the line. ADSM (ADSTAR Distributed Storage Manager) An IBM software product for managing storage, data access and backup across multivendor enterprisewide networks. Following IBM's acquisition of Tivoli Systems in the 1996, ADSM was taken over by IBM Tivoli and eventually renamed Tivoli Storage Manager. ADSTAR (Automated Document Storage and Retrieval) IBM's name for its storage products business in the 1990s. ADSTAR Distributed Storage Manager (see ADSM) ADT (admission, discharge and transfer) A category of hospital software. An ADT system records admissions to, discharges from and transfers within a hospital, and maintains the hospital census. Advanced Business Application Programming (see ABAP) Advanced CMOS-ECL (see ACE) Advanced Communications Function (see ACF) Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (see ACPI) Advanced Function Printing (see AFP) Advanced Intelligent Network (see AIN) Advanced Intelligent Tape (see AIT) Advanced Interactive Executive (see AIX) Advanced Metal Evaporated (see AME) Advanced Micro Devices (see AMD) advanced mobile phone service (see AMPS) Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (see APPN) Advanced Planner and Optimizer (see APO) Advanced Program-to-Program Communication (see APPC) Advanced Queuing (see AQ) Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (see ARPANET) advance ship notice (see ASN) advanced technology A technology that is still immature but promises to deliver significant value, or that has some technical maturity but still has relatively few users; also known as an "emerging technology." Current examples include artificial intelligence, biometrics, e-tags, grid computing and wearable computers. Advanced Technology Attachment (see ATA) advanced technology group (see ATG) Advanced Visual Systems (see AVS) ADW (Active Data Warehouse) A relational database from i2 Technologies. The ADW serves as an operational data store for the data used in systems such as i2's Supply Chain Planner tool. AEC (architecture, engineering and construction) A market category for computer-aided design and engineering applications. AFC (antiferromagnetically coupled) A type of storage media that uses an advanced magnetic coating expected to dramatically increase hard disk drive (HDD) capacity. IBM shipped the first AVC-based storage products in 2001. affiliate An enterprise that sells products of other manufacturers or retailers (i.e., sponsoring merchants) on its Web site. Users select products at the affiliate Web site, but the sale is actually transacted at the sponsoring merchant's site. Affiliates are similar in concept to industry-based manufacturing representatives that sell multiple manufacturers' product lines. Affiliated Computer Services (see ACS) AFP (Advanced Function Printing) An IBM all-points-addressable enterprisewide print architecture. agent Software that acts as an intermediary for a person by performing an activity. Intelligent agents can "learn" an individual's preferences and act in the person's best interest. For example, an agent for a purchasing manager could learn corporate specifications, determine when inventory is low, search the Internet for the lowest-cost supplier, and even negotiate and complete transactions. See intelligent agent. aggregator An entity that enables buyers within a market to select among competitors by aggregating information about the market and its suppliers and providing this information via a Web site. Aggregators may provide decision-support applications that integrate supplier information with third-party information and with user requirements or preferences to allow users to differentiate the services and features of various competitors. Content aggregators aggregate information and match it to user preferences. These preferences may be declared actively (that is, if the user explicitly specifies them) or passively (for example, the software discerns preferences from patterns of user behavior or interest). AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) An Intel technology for desktop systems. It increases system performance by offloading graphic requirements from the system bus to a bus dedicated to video processing. AHP (analytical hierarchy process) A process that uses hierarchical decomposition to deal with complex information in multicriterion decision making, such as information technology vendor and product evaluation. It consists of three steps: 1 Developing the hierarchy of attributes germane to the selection of the IT vendor. 2 Identifying the relative importance of the attributes. 3 Scoring the alternatives' relative performance on each element of the hierarchy. Developed by Thomas Saaty while he was teaching at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, the AHP is recognized as the leading theory in multicriterion decision making. AI (artificial intelligence) A wide-ranging discipline of computer science that seeks to make computers become "intelligent" by enabling them to employ processes similar to those used by the human mind. The term was coined by John McCarthy of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1956. AI involves the capability of a machine to learn (to remember results produced on a previous trial and to modify the operation accordingly in subsequent trials) or to reason (to analyze the results produced in similar operations and select the most favorable outcome). Today's AI applications include voice recognition, robotics, neural nets and expert systems. AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group) An association of automotive companies which has defined a number of standards, including the E-5 standard for sending e-commerce transactions over the Automotive Network Exchange, an IP-based commerce network. The group's electronic data interchange (EDI) standards work includes implementation guides for X12 transactions, and the contribution of content to the AS2 specification. See EDI and AS2. AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) A U.S. association for accounting professionals. In the United States, the AICPA is the primary governing body for the interpretation of accounting rules. This group publishes guidelines and rulings designed to ensure consistent treatment of complex accounting issues, such as software revenue recognition. AIIM (Association for Information and Image Management) A Maryland-based organization dedicated to promoting development of systems that store, retrieve and manage document images. AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) The instant messaging (IM) technology offered in America Online's (AOL's) Internet service. AIM is among the most widely used IM services, with more than 60 million registered users worldwide. AIN (Advanced Intelligent Network) Introduced by AT&T Network Systems in 1991, AIN enables service providers to define, test and introduce new multimedia messaging, personal-communication and cell-routing services. See intelligent network. AIT (Advanced Intelligent Tape) An eight-millimeter helical-scan tape drive designed and manufactured by Sony. Sony has differentiated its AIT drive from other 8-millimeter tape drives with a unique media feature on the tape cartridge called memory in cassette (MIC). See MIC. AIX (Advanced Interactive Executive) A Unix-based operating system from IBM. A/L (Archive Link) An interface that enables enterprises to link traditional storage archives with SAP R/3. A/L is the product of a partnership between SAP and iXOS Software. alert A message displayed by an application or operating system to notify the user of certain conditions. algorithm A process for calculations involving the manipulation of numbers. ALL-IN-1 A VAX/VMS-based office information system that was a dominant player in corporate messaging in the late 1980s, from Digital Equipment (acquired in 1998 by Compaq Computer, which in turn was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2002). Alpha A 64-bit reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor from Compaq (now part of Hewlett-Packard), which acquired the technology with its 1998 purchase of Digital Equipment. alternate mark inversion (see AMI) alternate routing Method of routing wherein a secondary communications path is used if the usual one is not available (also called "alternative routing"). alternating current (see AC) alternative routing (see alternate routing) ALU (arithmetic logic unit) A central processing unit's (CPU's) core element, which carries out arithmetic computations. See CPU. AM (amplitude modulation) A means of modulating a wave signal to carry information. With AM, the amplitude of the carrier wave is varied in accordance with the information to be transmitted. See FM. AM (see asset management) AMA (automatic message accounting) A function that automatically documents billing data related to subscriber-dialed long- distance calls. ambient noise Communications interference present in a signal path at all times. ambulatory computer-based patient record (see A-CPR) ambulatory suite A healthcare application suite consisting of practice management, contract management and ambulatory computer-based patient record (A-CPR) application components. See A- CPR. AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) A microprocessor manufacturer headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. AME (Advanced Metal Evaporated) A media formulation manufactured by Sony for use in its consumer and computer product lines. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (see AICPA) American Management Systems (see AMS) American Medical Informatics Association (see AMIA) American National Standards Institute (see ANSI) American Society for Testing and Materials (see ASTM) American Standard Code for Information Interchange (see ASCII) America Online (see AOL) AMI (alternate mark inversion) A digital signaling method in which the signal carrying the binary value alternates between positive and negative polarities; zero and one values are represented by the signal amplitude at either polarity, while no-value "spaces" are at zero amplitude. Also called bipolar. AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association) A not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development and application of medical informatics in the support of patient care, teaching, research and healthcare administration. The AMIA serves as an authoritative body in the field of medical informatics and represents the United States in the informational arena of medical systems and informatics in international forums. AMIS (Audio Messaging Interchange Specification) An enhanced key system feature for voice/call processing that enables enterprise locations to transfer and forward voice messages between systems. It is a voice processing standard that specifies the procedures to network voice processing systems, regardless of who manufactures the system. AMO (application management outsourcing) The ongoing maintenance, management, conversion, enhancement and support of an application portfolio by an external company. AMO, a subset of application outsourcing (see separate entry), includes changes that generally take less than some predefined time to implement (for example, 10 days or 30 days). Examples of maintenance include regulatory changes, software upgrades, new release installations and "fix it if it breaks" troubleshooting. AMO may involve the transfer of people and application software to the vendor. amplifier An electronic component that boosts the strength or amplitude of a transmitted, usually analog, signal; functionally equivalent to a repeater in digital transmissions. amplitude A departure of the value of a wave or alternating current from its average value. amplitude modulation (see AM) AMPS (advanced mobile phone service) An AT&T-developed analog cellular radio technology, operating in the 800 megahertz frequency band. AMS (American Management Systems) A business and IT consulting firm headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. AMS (Application Management Specification) A set of application programming interfaces that enable the consistent definition of applications for deployment and management, from IBM's Tivoli subsidiary. analog Information presented in the form of a continuously varying signal (see analog signal) � in contrast to digital transmission, where information is conveyed in the form of discrete, digital units (see digital). analog signal A signal in the form of a continuous, wave-like pattern, with variations in the signal's properties (such as voltage) reflecting variations in the information carried (such as loudness of the human voice). An analog signal conveys information by modulating (i.e., varying) the frequency, amplitude or phase of the signal's carrier wave. Analog signaling is used in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and other audio and radio frequency facilities, such as broadcasting. A digital baseband signal generated by a data network must be converted to analog form to be transmitted over an analog facility, such as a voice grade telephone line. This process is performed by a modulation device, such as a modem. See modem, modulation and PSTN. analog-to-digital (see A/D) analog-to-digital converter (see ADC) analog transmission Transmission of a continuously variable signal, as opposed to a discretely variable (e.g., digital) one. See analog signal. analysis of variance (see ANOVA) analytical hierarchy process (see AHP) ANDF (Architecture-Neutral Distribution Format) The Open Group's format enabling distribution of a single version of an application to computers with different hardware and software architectures. Launched in the 1990s, ANDF failed to achieve widespread adoption. ANI (automatic number identification) A series of digits, in either analog or digital form, which tells a user the originating number of the incoming phone call. Caller ID is the most familiar form of ANI. angle of arrival (see AOA) ANOVA (analysis of variance) A form of statistical analysis. ANSI (American National Standards Institute) In the United States, ANSI serves as a quasi-national standards organization. It provides "area charters" for groups that establish standards in specific fields. These groups include the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA). ANSI is unique among the world's standards groups as a nongovernmental body granted the sole vote for the United States in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This status is part of the reason ANSI bends over backward to limit its role to that of facilitator, or catalyst, in the production of standards. See IEEE, EIA and ISO. ANSI X9.9 (see X9.9) ANSI X12 (see X12) antenna A device used to transmit or receive radio waves. The physical design of the antenna determines the frequency range of transmission and reception. antiferromagnetically coupled (see AFC) ANX (Automotive Network Exchange) Established by the Automotive Industry Action Group to offer extranet-based applications to suppliers of Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. AOA (angle of arrival) Based on triangulation, a method of processing cellular phone signals, AOA allows the physical position of switched-on wireless devices to be located. The position is determined by comparing the AOA of the existing reverse control channel at various cell sites. AOL (America Online) A company (now a subsidiary of Time Warner) that offers Web access, e-commerce and related Internet products and services. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, AOL initially offered limited, non-Web online services, but grew rapidly (to over 30 million subscribers) after making its services Web-based and aggressively marketing them as a simple, easy-to-use Internet access option for mass-market consumers. In 2000, AOL acquired media conglomerate Time Warner for over $300 million � at the time, the largest merger in U.S. corporate history. AOL Instant Messenger (see AIM) AP (see access point) Apache An open-source Web server platform. APACS (Association for Payment Clearing Services) The organization that manages U.K. payment systems. API (application programming interface) A set of calling conventions that defines how a service is invoked through software. An API enables programs written by users or third parties to communicate with certain vendor- supplied software. APO (Advanced Planner and Optimizer) A supply-chain-planning suite from SAP. APPC (Advanced Program-to-Program Communication) The programming interface to LU 6.2, IBM's protocol for peer-to-peer program communication under Systems Network Architecture (SNA). See LU 6.2 and SNA. Apple Computer A computer hardware and software vendor based in Cupertino, California. Apple revolutionized the personal-computing business in the 1980s with the launch of the Macintosh computer and its user-friendly interface and operating system. Although Apple remains a strong competitor in some computer markets (such as the consumer, education, graphic arts and publishing segments), it is no longer a major player in the mainstream business PC market, which is now dominated by IBM-compatible PCs running Microsoft Windows. AppleShare An Apple Computer operating-system feature that enables the sharing of files and network services. AppleTalk A proprietary network protocol from Apple Computer. AppleTalk has become a legacy network environment, as Apple now recommends that Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) be used to network Mac-based systems. See TCP/IP. applet A small program that runs within an application. Applets are commonly used to make otherwise static Web pages more interactive. Examples include animated graphics, games, configurable bar charts and scrolling messages. See Java applet. appliance (see computing appliance) Applicability Statement 1 (see AS1) Applicability Statement 2 (see AS2) applicant tracking system An application used to track resumes and data on job applicants. Typically, these applications include matching features, which rank candidates by matching them to criteria specified in the requisition for an open position. application A specific use for a computer or program, such as for accounts payable or payroll. The term is commonly used in place of the terms "application program," "software" or "program." Examples of programs and software include pre-packaged productivity software (such as spreadsheets and word processors) and larger, customized packages designed for multiple users (such as e-mail and workgroup applications). application architecture An architecture that describes the layout of an application's deployment. This generally includes partitioned application logic and deployment to application server engines. Application architectures rely less on specific tool or language technology than on standardized middleware options, communications protocols, data gateways, and platform infrastructures such as Component Object Model (COM), JavaBeans and Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). The application architect is tasked with specifying the architecture and supporting the deployment implementation. application binary interface (see ABI) Application Control and Management System (see ACMS) application database The initial point of capture for much of the data that enters an enterprise. Application databases are accessed and updated by end users through online transaction processing (OLTP) applications. These databases tend to contain detailed and up-todate data; however, because OLTP applications normally support specific business processes, application databases tend to be process-specific, rather than enterprisewide, in nature. They may support some degree of data analysis, but this tends to be secondary to OLTP activity. An application database is often a source for refinement of data into one or several of the other database implementation styles, such as a data warehouse or operational data store (ODS). See database, data warehouse and ODS. application development (see AD) application development environment (see ADE) Application Development Facility (see ADF) application generator A type of fourth-generation language (4GL) development tool used to create production applications. See 4GL. application hosting A service in which a vendor will house shared or dedicated servers and applications for an enterprise at the provider's controlled facilities. The vendor is responsible for day-to-day operations and maintenance of the application. Application hosting is typically based on service arrangements in which vendors provide the hardware, software and networking infrastructure that enables enterprises to run applications externally by connecting electronically using a browser. A vendor may offer the services directly or, more commonly, through an arrangement with an application service provider (ASP). See hosting and ASP. application integration The process of enabling independently designed applications to work together. This can range from simple approaches � such as providing users with access to data and functionality from multiple applications through a single user interface � to more sophisticated approaches involving integration brokers or middleware. See integration broker and middleware. application layer The top layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) network model, offering an interface to, and largely defined by, the network user. See OSI. application management outsourcing (see AMO) Application Management Specification (see AMS) application outsourcing An outsourcing arrangement for a wide variety of application services including new development, legacy system maintenance, offshore programming, management of packaged applications and staff augmentation. While this form of outsourcing generally involves a transfer of staff, the use of the term has recently broadened to include arrangements where this is not the case, as in staff augmentation. It does not include system integration activities. application platform suite (see APS) application portfolio The group of applications used and maintained by an enterprise � whether internally developed or externally sourced. application portfolio analysis A tool to divide established and proposed applications into three categories � utility, enhancement and frontier � based on the degree to which they contribute to the enterprise's performance. The utility category is essential but does not enhance the enterprise's performance (e.g., payroll); the enhancement category contains applications that improve the enterprise's performance based on the use of established technology (e.g., documentation automation); and the frontier category is aimed at greatly improving enterprise performance (e.g., through aggressive use of rules-based decision support) but usually entails substantial risk. The management issues for each category are, respectively, cost, opportunity identification and innovation. The planning process should consider the best balance among the three categories to gain optimal future performance and the appropriate value from the application of IT. application program A software program that performs a specific task or function � as differentiated from supervisory program (i.e., an operating system or other type of system software). Application programs (generally known by the less formal term "applications") contain instructions that transfer control to the system software to perform input/output and other routine operations, working through an application programming interface. application programming interface (see API) Application Response Measurement (see ARM) application server 1 A hardware server designated to run applications (but not a database). 2 System software used to host the business logic tier of applications. In three-tier applications, the application server manages business logic and enables it to be accessed from the user interface tier. In a service-oriented architecture (SOA), an application server hosts the application services and also plays the role of a fundamental enabling technology. Transaction-processing monitors (TPMs) and object transaction monitors (OTMs) are examples of native application server products. See SOA, OTM and TPM. Application Server Evaluation Model (see ASEM) application service provider (see ASP) application sharing The ability of two or more network-connected participants to have simultaneous control over the content of a document running in an application (such as a word-processing or spreadsheet application). A component of data conferencing, application sharing enables users in different locations to collaborate on creating or editing documents. application-specific integrated circuit (see ASIC) application-specific standard product (see ASSP) Application System/400 (see AS/400) APPN (Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking) An extension of IBM's Systems Network Architecture (SNA) that provides dynamic, multipath routing among computers in an SNA network. IBM launched APPN as a successor to Advanced Program-to-Program Communication (APPC), which requires more system configuration. APPN enables computers to dynamically exchange information, making it simpler to configure and maintain SNA networks. See SNA. APS (advanced planning and scheduling) A subcomponent of supply chain planning (SCP) that focuses on manufacturing planning and scheduling. See SCP. ARAD (architected rapid application development) An emerging approach that charts a middle ground between the rapid application development (RAD) approach used for small, short-lived projects and the "architected" approach used in large, heavily designed and systematic development efforts. The ARAD approach provides some reuse-based productivity, but with a preference for smaller and faster application efforts. With predefined design patterns and an architectural framework, application developers can determine whether projects are consistent with other applications in place or in progress. See RAD. Archie An early Internet search tool, used to locate document files via File Transfer Protocol. The name was derived from "archive." architected rapid application development (see ARAD) architecture 1 The overall design of a hardware, software or network system and the logical and physical relationships among its components. The architecture specifies the hardware, software, access methods and protocols used throughout the system. 2 A set of principles, guidelines and rules used by an enterprise to direct the process of acquiring, building, modifying and interfacing IT resources throughout the enterprise. These resources can include equipment, software, communications, development methodologies, modeling tools and organizational structures. architecture, engineering and construction (see AEC) Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data (AVVID) Architecture-Neutral Distribution Format (see ANDF) Archive Link (see A/L) Arden Syntax A de facto standard in healthcare for coding clinical information (e.g., to generate clinical alerts, suggest interpretations or diagnoses, and guide compliance with protocols). Ariba A business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce platform and network services provider. Among the early players in Internet-based procurement, Ariba is one of the largest B2B e- marketplace technology providers, which also include Commerce One and RosettaNet. It offers an XML-centric transactional infrastructure based on its Commerce XML (cXML) specification. (See cXML, Commerce One and RosettaNet.) arithmetic logic unit (see ALU) ARM (Application Response Measurement) A set of application programming interfaces enabling enterprises to measure application transaction response times across a distributed-computing infrastructure. Developed by Tivoli and Hewlett-Packard in the mid-1990s and approved as a standard by the Open Group, ARM enables enterprise management tools to be extended directly to applications, thus creating end-to-end management capabilities that include measuring application availability, performance, usage and response times. ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) An Internet Protocol (IP) specification used to map an IP address to a Media Access Control (MAC) address. See IP and MAC. ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network) The ARPANET, the forerunner of the Internet, was a pioneering long-haul network funded by the U.S. Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency. It served as the test bed for many areas of internetworking technology development and testing, and acted as the central backbone during the development of the Internet. The ARPANET was built using packet-switching computers interconnected by leased lines. ARQ (automatic repeat request) A network error control technique that requires retransmission of a data block containing detected errors. array control processor (see ACP) ARS (automatic route selection) Automatic routing of voice communications transmissions over the most economical facilities. artificial intelligence (see AI) artificial life A field of artificial intelligence (also called "emergent computation") that focuses on producing complex behavior from the interaction of many simple behaviors (as in societies of ants and bees). Uses include simulation and planning. Art Technology Group (see ATG) AS (see ambulatory suite) AS (autonomous system) A network administrative domain, within which all members that share route information can handle traffic to and from any destination. An AS is typically a network or group of networks owned and managed by a single entity, such as a carrier, Internet service provider, enterprise or university. It is the construct under which autonomous system numbers (ASNs) are assigned. See ASN. AS1 (Applicability Statement 1) An Internet Engineering Task Force draft specification for the secure exchange of electronic data interchange (EDI) data over the Internet. Based on Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), AS1 supports security features such as digital signatures, encryption and digitally signed return receipts. AS1 was last tested in November 1999. See AS2, EDI and SMTP. AS2 (Applicability Statement 2) A second IETF draft specification (after AS1 � see separate entry) to address security and interoperability issues in the exchange of electronic data interchange (EDI) data over the Internet. Based on Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP), AS2 expands on AS1 to include support for additional security features, such as digital signing via Secure Multipurpose Internet Messaging Extensions (S/MIME) and Open Specification for Pretty Good Privacy (OpenPGP). See EDI, HTTP, S/MIME and OpenPGP. AS/400 (Application System/400) A midrange computer system introduced by IBM in 1988 as a replacement for its System/36 and System/38 product families. ASA (average speed of answer) A standard quantitative method for measuring the speed at which call center calls are answered. ASC (Accredited Standards Committee) An organization, certified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), that produces standard communication protocols for electronic data interchange (EDI). See ANSI and EDI. ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) A standard table of seven-bit designations for digital representation of uppercase and lowercase Roman letters, numbers and special control characters in teletype, computer and word processor systems. Some IBM systems use similar code called Extended Binary-Coded Decimal Interchange Code (see EBCDIC). Since most computer systems use a full byte to send an ASCII character, many hardware and software companies have made their own nonstandard and mutually incompatible extensions of the official ASCII 128-character set into a 256-character set. ASEM (Application Server Evaluation Model) A Gartner server evaluation model that provides a standard set of selection criteria, which remain consistent for all application types. ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) An integrated circuit in which the pattern of connections has been set up exclusively for a specific function. ASN (advance ship notice) An electronic data interchange (EDI) message sent from the shipper to the receiver prior to a shipment's arrival. The message includes complete information about the shipment and its contents. ASN (autonomous system number) A number assigned to a local network, registered into the carrier's routing community and placed under the umbrella of an administrative domain called an autonomous system (see AS). ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation 1) A specification language adopted by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), described in ITU recommendations X.208 and X.209. ASN.1 notation is used to define the structure of various types of network messages. ASP (Active Server Pages) A technology introduced by the Mesa Group in1997 and now owned by Microsoft (which acquired Mesa Group in 1998). ASP automatically senses whether the user's browser supports ActiveX. If it does, an applet is downloaded; if not, ASP runs the applet on the server and broadcasts the result to the client. ASP (application service provider) A company that provides the use of applications and associated services across a network to multiple customers. ASPs deliver standardized software via a network � usually, but not necessarily, the Internet � through an outsourcing contract predicated on usage-based transaction pricing. ASPs may host applications on their customers' sites, but most do so in their own data centers, where they are responsible for maintaining the applications and all associated hardware, software and network services to link the applications to the customer base. Despite early promise that the ASP model would suit a broad range of application types, most ASP services to date have been limited to e-mail or enterprise resource planning. ASP (average selling price) A metric used in market research and asset valuation, representing the average price at which an item is sold over a specified period of time. ASR (automatic speech recognition) Another name for speech recognition technology. See speech recognition. asset management A system of practices to efficiently manage information technology and related assets throughout the life cycle phases of requisition, procurement, deployment, maintenance and retirement. At its core is an integrated data repository that contains: Asset tracking � technical information about the equipment or software Portfolio information � acquisition and financial details A contract database � summarizing key licensing and maintenance contract terms and conditions Association for Computing Machinery (see ACM) ASSP (application-specific standard product) An integrated circuit (IC) dedicated to a specific application market and sold to more than one user. A type of embedded programmable logic, ASSPs combine digital, mixed-signal and analog products. When sold to a single user, Gartner defines such ICs as "application- specific integrated circuits" (see ASIC). ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) An organization responsible for the development and publication of standards in a variety of industries and technical fields. Several key healthcare IT standards have been published by the ASTM's E31 Committee on Healthcare Informatics, including: E1460-92, covering the use of Arden Syntax in coding clinical information E1714-00, specifying the properties of a universal healthcare identifier (UHID) E1985-98, on user authentication and authorization to access healthcare information systems E2087-00, specifying quality indicators used in controlled medical vocabularies (CMVs) See Arden Syntax, authentication, CMV and UHID. asymmetric cryptography (see public-key cryptography) asymmetric digital subscriber line (see ADSL) asynchronous 1 Characterized by having a variable, rather than constant (i.e., synchronous), time interval between successive bits, characters or events. In asynchronous transmission, each information character � and sometimes each word or small block � is individually synchronized, usually through the use of start and stop bits. See synchronous and start- stop. 2 Designating processes or information exchanges that do not occur simultaneously. For example, e-mail is a form of asynchronous interpersonal communication, because the sending and receiving parties are not communicating at the same time. Asynchronous Data Mover Facility (see ADMF) asynchronous transfer mode (see ATM) ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) A disk drive interface standard, also known as Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE). See IDE. ATE (automatic test equipment) A type of equipment used to test electronic systems and components. ATG (advanced technology group) A group charged with researching, tracking and evaluating emerging technologies for an enterprise, and with prototyping and piloting advanced-technology projects prior to deployment. ATG (Art Technology Group) A developer of online customer relationship management applications, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ATL (automated tape library) A system used for high-capacity, tape-based data storage. ATLs typically have dozens of drives and can accommodate hundreds tape cartridges. ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) A wide-area network (WAN) technology. ATM is a transfer mode for switching and transmission that efficiently and flexibly organizes information into cells; it is asynchronous in the sense that the recurrence of cells depends on the required or instantaneous bit rate. Thus, empty cells do not go by when data is waiting. ATM's flexibility lies in its ability to provide a high-capacity, low-latency WAN switching fabric that is protocol-, speed- and distance-independent, and that can support multiple types of information (including data, video, image and voice). The greatest benefit of ATM is its ability to provide support for a wide range of communications services while providing transport independence from those services. ATM (automated teller machine) A public banking machine that customers can access by inserting or swiping a magnetic card and entering a password. ATMs are usually connected to central computers through leased local lines and multiplexed data networks. ATM access concentrator (see AAC) ATM adaptation layer (see AAL) ATM Forum An international body, mostly composed of networking vendors, that sets standards for � and promotes the use of � asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networking. See ATM. ATO (assemble to order) A strategy allowing a product or service to be made to meet the custom requirements of a specific order, where a large number of such customized products can be assembled in various forms from common components. This requires sophisticated planning processes to anticipate changing demand for internal components or accessories while focusing on product customizations for individual customers. atomicity, consistency, isolation, durability (see ACID) ATP (available to promise) The uncommitted portion of a company's inventory or planned production. This figure is frequently calculated from the master production schedule and is maintained as a tool for order promising. attachment unit interface (see AUI) attenuation A decrease in the magnitude of the current, voltage or power of a signal in transmission between points because of the transmission medium. Attenuation is usually expressed in decibels. attenuation-to-crosstalk ratio (see ACR) Audio Messaging Interchange Specification (see AMIS) audiotex Technology used to offer automated, phone-based services to callers (such as listening to prerecorded messages or engaging in group conversations) for entertainment or informational purposes. Callers are typically billed on a per-minute or per-call basis. AUI (attachment unit interface) A type of 15-pin connector used to connect Ethernet cables to network interface cards. Australian Communications Authority (see ACA) authentication The use of passwords, tokens (such as smart cards), digital certificates or biometrics to verify the identity of users before granting them access to a system, or entry into a facility. autodiscovery A category of tools that collect physical data on an enterprise's networked IT assets (such as memory, processor and software version), and record a history of changes made to the asset. The data collected by these tools is typically reconciled and fed into a repository for reporting, or it is often accessed by the IT service desk for rapid user profile identification. auto-identification technologies Technologies used to identify physical objects (including humans) automatically and transparently. They allow an object to declare its identity to an auto-identification reading device. Examples include: Bar code scanners Biometrics (for example, machine recognition of a unique human voice) Radio frequency identification (see RFID) Auto Industry Action Group (see AIAG) automated attendant A device, typically attached to a private branch exchange or voice mail system, that answers incoming calls. automated backup A function that automates most basic form of storage availability � recoverable data. With automated backup, labor-intensive, departmental data backup processes can be replaced with automated, enterprise-level solutions to increase availability. Automated Cartridge System Library Software (see ACSLS) automated clearinghouse (see ACH) automated data collection (see ADC) automated document factory (see ADF) automated tape library (see ATL) automated teller machine (see ATM) Automated Work Distributor (see AWD) automatic call distributor (see ACD) Automatic Data Processing (see ADP) automatic message accounting (see AMA) automatic number identification (see ANI) automatic repeat request (see ARQ) automatic restart Also known as "warm recovery," this is the resumption of operation after a system failure with minimal loss of work or processes (as opposed to a "cold" restart, which requires a complete reload of the system with no processes surviving). automatic route selection (see ARS) automatic speech recognition (see ASR) automatic test equipment (see ATE) Automotive Network Exchange (see ANX) auto-negotiation (see auto- sensing) autonomous system (see AS) autonomous system number (see ASN) auto- sensing A feature (also called "auto-negotiation") that enables network equipment to automatically sense and adjust to different transmission types or speeds. auto-topology A feature of network management systems that automates the creation of a graphical network configuration map. available bit rate (see ABR) available to promise (see ATP) availability The proportion of time a system is up an running, as compared to the time it is inoperable due to failures, natural disasters or malicious attacks. Also known as "uptime." average selling price (see ASP) average speed of answer (see ASA) AVS (Advanced Visual Systems) A vendor of data visualization technology, headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data) An architectural approach for integrating enterprise voice, video and data traffic over IP- based networks, introduced by Cisco Systems in 1999. AWD (Automated Work Distributor) A suite of imaging, telephony and work management software tools developed by DST Systems. B B1 A class of computer system security, as defined in the U.S. government's Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC). B1 systems offer a higher degree of security than C2 systems by enforcing the concept of information sensitivity classifications with corresponding user clearance requirements. See TCSEC. B2B (business-to-business) A form of e-commerce conducted among businesses, typically because of formal, contractual arrangements. B2B functions include: Sophisticated Web authorization and control for delivery of sensitive price, contract and content information for each partner Catalogs that provide custom views based on access controls and parametric searches Order entry functions such as standardized "ship to" locations, dynamic order recalculation and payment options B2C (business-to-consumer) A form of e-commerce conducted between businesses and consumers. B2C commerce includes both formal relationships (e.g., customers with subscription-based services or content) and ad hoc relationships (formed in real time to enable a new user to buy, sell or access information). B2E (business-to-employee) The use and leverage of e-business approaches and Internet technologies to deliver a comprehensive set of services to an enterprise's employees and their managers. B2E is the automated delivery of enterprise relationship management (ERM), but goes beyond ERM's support of human capital management (HCM) to include workforce management and workforce optimization. The full term is sometimes presented as "business-to-enterprise." See ERM and HCM. B2G (business-to-government) E-commerce between public- and private-sector enterprises. Government-tobusiness (G2B) is the more common term used to describe these relationships. See G2B. backbone A high-speed line or series of lines that forms the fastest (measured in bandwidth) path through a network. backbone network A high-speed transmission facility, or an arrangement of such facilities, designed to interconnect lower-speed distribution channels or clusters of dispersed user devices. backbone router A router designed to be used to construct backbone networks using leased lines. Backbone routers typically do not have any built-in digital dial-up access wide-area network interfaces. back end The server side of a client/server system, as distinguished to the front end (client side). See front end. background task A task performed by a system "in the background" while a primary application is running. backhaul The terrestrial link between an earth station and a switching or data center. back office A general term for the category of applications that support non-customer-facing, core enterprise functions. Examples include enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management (SCM) and human-resource systems. See ERP, SCM and front office. backplane The physical connection between the interface cards and the data and power distribution buses in a piece of computer hardware (such as a server) or a network device (such as a router, hub or switch). backup server A software or hardware system that copies or "shadows" the contents of a server, providing redundancy. backward explicit congestion notification (see BECN) balanced scorecard A measurement-based strategic management system � originated by Robert Kaplan and David Norton � that aligns business activities and strategy, and monitors performance in meeting strategic goals over time. Many enterprises use the balanced-scorecard approach to manage enterprise performance. BAM (business activity monitoring) A Gartner term that defines the concept of providing real-time access to critical business performance indicators to improve the speed and effectiveness of business operations. At its broadest level, BAM is the convergence of operational business intelligence and real-time application integration. Compared with traditional business event monitoring and reporting, BAM requires a higher degree of organizational and architectural planning and investment due to: Its focus on real-time data, as well as real-time access to data. The use of information from multiple application systems, and other internal and external sources (unlike traditional monitoring, which uses a single source). The delivery of information through alerts and graphical displays (dashboards), which are customized and optimized for different users across the enterprise. See application integration, business intelligence and ZLE. band 1 A range of frequencies between two defined limits. 2 In wide-area telephone service (WATS), the specific geographical area in which the customer is entitled to call. See WATS. bandwidth 1 The range of frequencies that can pass over a given transmission channel. The bandwidth determines the rate at which information can be transmitted through the circuit: the greater the bandwidth, the more information that can be sent in a given amount of time. Bandwidth is typically measured in bits per second. Increasing bandwidth potential has become a high priority for network planners due to the growth of multimedia, including videoconferencing, and the increased use of the Internet. 2 The range of frequencies � on either side of the carrier frequency � within which the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a modulated signal is tested. See SNR. Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (see BITS) banner An advertisement that appears on a Web site. The banner ad format combines graphic and textual content to induce the site user to "click through" for further information on an advertised product or service. BAPI (Biometric Application Programming Interface) A biometric interface specification developed by I/O Software. In 1998, I/O Software joined the BioAPI Consortium, and its work on BAPI was merged into the BioAPI specification. See BioAPI. BAPI (Business Application Programming Interface) A set of documented, server-side interfaces to one or more R/3 processes, from SAP. BAPI packages multiple internal functions to enable programmatic access to such higher-order tasks as checking customer numbers, providing product descriptions, selecting products, creating quotations or creating orders. baseband Transmitting a signal in its original, unmodulated form. A baseband signal can be analog (e.g., originating from a telephone) or digital (e.g., originating from a computer). base station Within a mobile radio system, a fixed radio station providing communication with mobile stations and, where applicable, with other base stations and the public telephone network. BASIC (Beginner's All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) A high-level algebraic programming language developed at Dartmouth College in the 1960s and widely taught to beginning programmers. It is simple to use but lacks speed. basic input/output system (see BIOS) basic phone A voice-centric device designed to provide only voice functions and limited contact management, as distinguished from an enhanced phone or smartphone (see separate entries). Basic Rate Access (see BRA) Basic Rate Interface (see BRI) Basis SAP's proprietary middleware between the SAP graphical user interface and R/3 application servers. See R/3. batch processing The processing of application programs and their data individually, with one batch being completed before the next is started. It is a planned processing procedure typically used for purposes such as preparing payrolls and maintaining inventory records. baud A unit of signaling speed. The speed in bauds is the number of discrete changes per second in some aspect of a signal (such as voltage in a wire). Transmission speeds are now more commonly measured bits per second (bps), rather than bauds. The two terms were roughly synonymous until modems began to exceed 2,400 bps, after which they diverged more widely as modem speed increased. Modems now use coding techniques to transmit more than one bit per baud, making their true baud ratings irrelevant. BBBOnLine The Better Business Bureau's Internet program. BBBOnLine's Privacy Seal identifies Internet companies that use appropriate processes and operations to protect the confidentiality of consumer information. Companies must reapply for licensing each year; during this process, their operations are re-evaluated to ensure that they meet all requirements for displaying the program emblem. BBP (Business-to-Business Procurement) A catalog-based procurement product from SAP. BBS (bulletin board system) A network-based system for communicating and sharing information in the form of posted messages, usually on the Web. (The full term is sometimes presented as "bulletin board service.") bCentral Microsoft's Web technology for running businesses. bCentral offers tools that include Web sites, business-class e-mail, and sales and customer management applications. B channel (bearer channel) One of two 64-kilobit-per-second data channels in the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) Basic Rate Interface (see BRI). BCP (business continuity planning) A broad approach to planning for the recovery of an enterprise's entire business process in event of a massive disruption caused by catastrophic event (such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack). BCP includes plans for work facilities, telephone service, workstations, servers, applications, network connections and any other resources required for the continuity of business operations � as well as processes for communicating critical information to enterprise personnel, and steps to address their safety and welfare. The term is often used interchangeably with "disaster recovery planning" (DRP); however, the latter term is more commonly associated with IT system recovery alone, without the broader business context. See DRP. BCV (business continuance volume) EMC's name for the data volumes created by its Symmetrix TimeFinder feature. BCVs are copies of active data volumes that are separately addressed from the source volume. Incremental updates can be made to the BCV, or the data on the BCV can be copied back to the source disk. bearer A communications term meaning "information-bearing." For example, a bearer channel (B channel) is one that bears the actual information (e.g., voice signals or data) being transmitted. See B channel. bearer channel (see B channel) bearer service A network technology or vendor that provides wireless transmission. Examples of bearer service technologies include Mobitex, cellular digital packet data (CDPD), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and general packet radio service (GPRS). The vendors are too numerous to mention, but consist of the world's prominent vendors of GSM, time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), packet radio and paging. See CDPD, GSM, GPRS, TDMA and CDMA. BECN (backward explicit congestion notification) Part of the explicit congestion notification (ECN) technique used in frame relay networks. The BECN is a one-bit field containing data sent by a frame relay assembler/disassembler (FRAD) on the receiving end of a transmission backward to the FRAD on the transmitting end. This data alerts the transmitting FRAD that there is congestion on the line, and that network resources are insufficient to support transmission at the current rate. See ECN and FRAD. Beginner's All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code (see BASIC) Bell Communications Research (see Bellcore) Bellcore (Bell Communications Research) A jointly owned, financed and centrally staffed organization of the regional holding companies formed after the AT&T divestiture in 1984, charged with establishing network standards and interfaces. Bellcore changed its name to Telcordia Technologies in 1999. Bell operating company (see BOC) benchmark A metric used to quantify performance for comparative purposes. See benchmarking. benchmarking 1 Measuring the performance of hardware components or systems (such as processors or servers) using standard benchmarks maintained by an independent organization, such as the Transaction Processing Performance Council (see TPC). 2 Measuring performance qualities (such as efficiency or spending) of enterprise organizations or processes (such IS) against comparative benchmarks. Such benchmarks can be external (for example, averages of industry peer performance) or internal (for example, measurements of an organization's performance in different time periods, or comparison to other organizations in the same enterprise). BER (bit error rate) A measurement of digital transmission quality � the lower the rate, the higher the quality. A minimum BER is often specified in service-level agreements between digital carriers and their customers. Berkeley Internet Name Domain (see BIND) Berkeley Software Distribution (see BSD) best-in-class The superior product within a category of hardware or software. It does not necessarily mean best product overall, however. For example, the best-in-class product in a low- priced category may be inferior to the best product on the market, which could sell for much more. See best-of-breed. best-of-breed A term used to denote applications that offer superior functionality to serve specific functions, as compared those that offer numerous functions bundled within an application suite. Enterprises often purchase software from different vendors to obtain the best-of- breed offering for each application area. For example, enterprises may purchase a sales force automation package from one vendor and a customer service package from another. best practice A group of tasks that optimizes the efficiency or effectiveness of the business discipline or process to which it contributes. Best practices are generally adaptable and replicable across similar organizations or enterprises � and sometimes across different functions or industries. beta test The stage at which a new product is tested under actual usage conditions prior to commercial release. BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) The interdomain routing protocol implemented in Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networks. See TCP/IP. BGP-4 (Border Gateway Protocol-4) A networking redundancy service based on Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). It enables an enterprise to route Information Protocol (IP) traffic destined for the same IP address via different network connections. In a BGP-4 environment, when a transmission comes from an Internet service provider's network, it will look for the primary router that connects to the enterprise's location. If that router becomes unavailable, the transmission will automatically be redirected to the backup router without interrupting the original transmission. See BGP. BI (see business intelligence) BIA (business impact analysis) An analysis of the costs (financial and nonfinancial) that would be incurred if a system or set of business processes failed to function properly. BIA is a required early step in the business continuity planning (BCP) process. Without this step, it is difficult to balance the cost of business continuity measures against potential losses. See BCP. BiCMOS (bipolar complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) A hybrid semiconductor technology that combines complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and bipolar circuitry. See bipolar and CMOS. bid 1 A network terminal's attempt to gain control over a line in order to transmit data, usually associated with the contention style of sharing a single line among several terminals. 2 A vendor's proposal to win a contract. big-endian A method of storing or transmitting data where the most significant bit or byte is presented first. (The name is an allusion to Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels," which contained characters so named because they believed that boiled eggs should be eaten from the "big end" first.) See little-endian. BiMOS (bipolar metal oxide semiconductor) A type of bipolar integrated circuit technology. See bipolar. binary code Code that uses combinations of two base values (generally represented using the digits "0" and "1") to represent information. For example, the number 17 is represented as "1001" in binary notation. binary-coded decimal A numeric notation in which each of decimal digit is represented by a binary numeral. For example, in BCD notation, the number 23 is represented as "0010 0011" (as compared to the representation "10111" in the pure binary numeration system). binary large object (see BLOB) BIND (Berkeley Internet Name Domain) Open-source software developed at the University of California at Berkeley, used in network domain name servers. See domain name. bindery A database used by a network operating system to store internal data such as user or node definitions. BioAPI A biometric application programming interface (API) specification from the BioAPI Consortium, whose members include Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Iridian Technologies and Saflink. The consortium was formed to develop a widely available and accepted API for a variety of biometric technologies. The BioAPI specification incorporates work from two prior standards: The U.S. Department of Defense's Human Authentication API (HA-API) and I/O Software's Biometric API (BAPI). See HA-API and BAPI. Biometric API (see BAPI) biometric authentication A form of user authentication based on a physical (e.g., fingerprint, iris, face or hand) or behavioral (e.g., signature or voice) characteristic. Because it is based on something the person "is," biometric authentication can provide a higher level of security than authentication based on something a person "knows" (e.g., a password) or something a person "has" (e.g., a magnetic card or hardware token). Biometric authentication systems require users to enroll to generate a template for later comparison and matching. biometrics Technologies that analyze and measure biological and behavioral characteristics of individuals, typically for identification or authentication purposes. See biometric authentication. BIOS (basic input/output system) The part of an operating system that links specific hardware devices to the software. It obtains the buffers required to send information from a program to the device receiving the information. bipolar 1 A signaling method used for digital transmission services, in which the signal carrying the binary value alternates between positive and negative polarities. Zero and one values are represented by the signal amplitude at either polarity, while no-value "spaces" are at zero amplitude. 2 A type of integrated circuit that uses both positively and negatively charged currents, characterized by high operational speed and cost. Also called alternate mark inversion. bipolar metal-oxide semiconductor (see BiMOS) B-ISDN (Broadband ISDN) An advanced, high-speed form of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) capable of carrying multimedia information at rates of hundreds of megabits per second. See ISDN. bit The minimum unit of binary information stored in a computer system. A bit can have only two states, on or off, which are commonly represented as ones and zeros. A string of eight bits forms the information unit known as a "byte." (See byte.) bit error rate (see BER) bitmap A representation of graphic image in the form of a series of bits, which correspond to a pattern of pixels on a video screen. bitmapped A term describing an image rendered through the use of a bitmap. See bitmap. BITS (Banking Industry Technology Secretariat) The technology arm of the Bankers Roundtable, whose membership comprises the top 125 bank holding companies in the United States. BITS' mission is to help banks develop electronic-banking and e-commerce initiatives, and to address and resolve critical industry issues (such as competitive disintermediation and reduction of infrastructure costs). bits per inch (see bpi) bits per second (see bps) BIW (Business Information Warehouse) A component of SAP's R/3 system. BizTalk A Microsoft Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema. See XML. BlackBerry A two-way wireless device developed by Research in Motion. It allows users to check e-mail and voice mail (translated into text) and to page other users via a wireless network service. The device has a miniature keyboard used to type messages, which are delivered using the Short Message Service (SMS) protocol. BlackBerry users must subscribe to a wireless service that allows for data transmission. See SMS. blanking interval The area in a video signal that falls between frames. It is often used to accommodate data such as synchronizing information. BLEC (building local-exchange carrier) A type of local-exchange carrier (LEC) that offers voice and data communications service over wiring it has installed itself within a building. BLECs typically install fiber wiring in vertical risers within the building, and connect it externally to their own point of presence or to another LEC, usually over a broadband circuit of at least DS-1 size. In addition to basic connectivity, some BLECs offer application and Internet services, typically to small and midsize businesses. BLECS are among the competitive LECs (CLECs) that have arisen in the wake of telecommunications deregulation. See CLEC. BLERT (block error rate test) A test conducted by transmitting a known blocked bit pattern, comparing the pattern received with the pattern transmitted, and counting the number of blocks containing errored bits. BLOB (binary large object) A generic term used to describe the handling and storage of long strings of data by database management systems. A BLOB is a category of data, characterized by large size (including media formats such as audio and video), which can place extreme demands on storage systems and network bandwidth. block A group of bits or bytes treated as a unit. block cipher An encryption code that works on one fixed-size block of data at a time � unlike a stream cipher, which encrypts data as a stream of bits, one bit at a time. Examples of block ciphers include Data Encryption Standard (DES), Rivest Cipher 2 (RS2) and Rivest Cipher 5 (RS5). See stream cipher, DES, RS2 and RS5. block error rate test (see BLERT) blog Slang for "weblog" � a whimsical truncation of the term. This slang term may also be used as a verb (as in "blogging"). See weblog. Blowfish A public-domain encryption algorithm developed by Bruce Schneier. Bluefin A specification introduced by a group of 16 storage companies in 2002 in an effort to improve the interoperability of storage management systems. The Bluefin specification, which the vendor group has submitted to the Storage Networking Industry Association, uses the Common Information Model (CIM) and Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) to discover and manage resources in a multivendor storage-area network (SAN) through common interfaces. See CIM, WBEM and SAN. Bluetooth A wireless networking technology with a range of about 10 meters and a raw data transmission rate of one megabit per second. Bluetooth supports ad hoc networking of up to 80 devices within a 10-meter radius (supporting voice and data). BOB (see best-of-breed) BOB (Business Object Broker) SAP's message broker for R/3. BOC (Bell operating company) Any of the 22 original companies (or their successors) that were created from the breakup of AT&T in 1983. They were reorganized into seven Bell regional holding companies (RHCs). (There are now five.) The divestiture distributed the right to provide local telephone service in a given geographic area. Before this, companies had existed as subsidiaries of AT&T and were called the "Bell System." The breakup was designed to create competition at both the local and long-distance service levels. As a group, companies that offer local telephone service are legally referred to as "local-exchange carriers." BOCs are not allowed to manufacture equipment and were initially not allowed to provide long-distance service. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 gave them permission to engage in long-distance business under certain circumstances. BOL (Books Online) A bookstore on the Internet created as a joint venture of German publisher Bertelsmann and French publisher Havas. It is designed to be pan-European with a Web site available in various local languages. BOM (bill of materials) A structured list of the raw materials, parts and assemblies that constitute a product to be manufactured, often used in manufacturing and supply chain management systems. bookmark A shortcut to an Internet address stored in a Web browser. Books Online (see BOL) Boolean A term that originated in the in the realm of mathematics, and that is now commonly known for its application to search engine logic. A Boolean search allows for the inclusion or exclusion of documents containing certain keywords, using Boolean operators such as "and," "not" and "or." For example: A search structured "Bush and China" would return all documents that refer to both "Bush" and "China," but not those that contain only one term or the other. "Bush not China" would return all documents referring to "Bush," except for those that also contain references to "China." "Bush or China" would return all documents that reference either "Bush" or "China," as well as those that reference both. Some Boolean search engines allow keywords and operators to be nested using parentheses. For example, a search structured as "Bush and (Japan or China)" would return all documents that reference both Bush and Japan, as well as those that reference both Bush and China. boot To start a computer system (also referred to as "booting up.") Restarting such a system (for example, due to a system crash) is known as "rebooting." BOOTP (Bootstrap Protocol) A protocol � defined in Internet Engineering Task Force Request for Comment 951 � that enables a diskless client machine connected to an Internet Protocol (IP) network to discover its own IP address and the address of a server running the protocol (known as a BOOTP server). A file can then be remotely loaded and executed on the client, without the need for a boot disk. Border Gateway Protocol (see BGP) Border Gateway Protocol-4 (see BGP-4) BOT (beginning of tape) In tape storage systems, the point at the start of the tape in a cartridge. Tape cartridge load times are often measured in terms of the time to BOT. BOT (build-operate-transfer) A process used in several Asia/Pacific countries that allows foreign companies to build a telecommunications network in the country, operate it for a period and then transfer ownership to the government. bottleneck The point or operation that has the least capacity in a system or network, where no alternative routings exist. bounce The return of an undeliverable e-mail. BPA (business process automation) The automation of complex business processes and functions beyond conventional data manipulation and record-keeping activities, usually through the use of advanced technologies. It focuses on "run the business" as opposed to "count the business" types of automation efforts and often deals with event-driven, mission-critical, core processes. BPA usually supports an enterprise's knowledge workers in satisfying the needs of its many constituencies. BPEL4WS (Business Process Execution Language for Web Services) A set of specifications released in 2002 by IBM and Microsoft, combining previously separate efforts of the two companies. BPEL4WS is designed to enable Web services to support workflow and business process execution. bpi (bits per inch) A measurement used to calculate the number of bits stored in a linear inch of a track on a disk, tape or other recording surface. BPM (business process management) A general term describing a set of services and tools that provide for explicit process management, including process analysis, definition, execution, monitoring and administration. Ideally, BPM should include support for both human and application-level interactions. The workflow market has been a significant source of BPM, although forms of BPM are now emerging from many other sources, such as collaborative applications, integration brokers, Web integration servers, development tools, rules engines and e- commerce offerings. BPM (business process modeling) A process that links business strategy to IT system development to ensure business value. It combines workflow, functional, organizational and data/resource views with underlying metrics such as costs, cycle times and responsibilities to provide a foundation for analyzing value chains, activity-based costs, bottlenecks, critical paths and inefficiencies. BPO (business process outsourcing) The delegation of one or more IT-intensive business processes to an external provider that, in turn, owns, administers and manages the selected processes, based on defined and measurable performance metrics. BPR (business process re-engineering) The fundamental analysis and radical redesign of business processes and management systems to accomplish change or performance improvement. BPR uses objective, quantitative methods and tools to analyze, redesign and transform business processes, including supporting organization structures, information systems, job responsibilities and performance standards. BPR methodology An integrated set of management policies, project management procedures, and modeling, analysis, design and testing techniques for analyzing established business processes and systems; designing new processes and systems; testing, simulating and prototyping new designs prior to implementation; and managing the implementation process. bps (bits per second) The basic unit of measurement for serial data transmission capacity. Related abbreviations used for higher speeds include Kbps (kilobits per second), Mbps (megabits per second) and Gbps (gigabits per second). See bit, kilobit and gigabit. BRA (Basic Rate Access) The name used in Canada and Europe for Basic Rate Interface (see BRI). brand service company A service model similar to that of "insourcing." A brand service company is one built to provide services to a large organization or a group of business-oriented companies. Services provided (which may include non-IT services and business processes) are carefully compared against those offered in the external service providers (ESP) market, and the brand service company may selectively outsource some of its services to ESPs. See ESP and insourcing. BRE (business rule engine) A software tool used to record, track, manage and revise enterprise business processes. Rules are set to stipulate and outline processes, and the BRE "externalizes" these rules for quick and easy modification. BREs (also known simply as "rule engines") can be used independently or in conjunction with other technology � such as business process management (BPM) and business activity monitoring (BAM) tools � to help achieve business goals and enable organizational change. The use of BREs can support business process re-engineering (BPR) and help an enterprise meet operational objectives, such as reducing maintenance costs, facilitating straight-through processing (STP) and enabling exception-based processing. See BAM, BPM, BPR and STP. BRI (Basic Rate Interface) An Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) channel configuration. BRI � known as Basic Rate Access (BRA) in Canada and Europe � consists of two 64 kilobit per second (Kbps) data or voice channels, which are designated as B (bearer) channels, and one 16- Kbps signaling or packet data channel, designated as the D (delta) channel. BRI is, therefore, often referred to as 2B+D. brick and mortar A term used differentiate a traditional company from an e-business. Specifically, a brick- and-mortar company has a physical (rather than virtual) presence and uses non-Web channels as the sales outlet for its products or services. See e-business. bridge A relatively simple network device that passes data without examining it. Bridges interconnect networks, or network segments, running the same protocols. Operating at the media access control (MAC) layer in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, bridges are protocol-independent; the decision as to whether to forward a signal depends only on the address. See OSI. bridge/router A hybrid network device. Strictly defined, a bridge/router provides bridging at Layer 2 and routing at Layer 3 of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) stack, but this precise meaning has been largely superseded by a looser categorization that includes any device that combines the functions of bridges and routers. See bridge, router and OSI. British Standard 7799 (see BS 7799) British Standards Institute (see BSI) broadband Transmission over coaxial or fiber-optic cables that have a wider bandwidth than conventional telephone lines, giving them the ability to carry video, voice and data simultaneously. Cable modems and digital subscriber line (DSL) technologies are examples of broadband connectivity. See DSL. Broadband ISDN (see B-ISDN) broadcast 1 Delivery of a transmission to two or more stations at the same time, such as over a bus-type local network or by satellite. 2 A protocol mechanism whereby group and universal addressing is supported. broadcast storm Excessive one-to-many or many-to-many transmissions, especially troublesome on Ethernet networks. broker Middleware that mediates communication between applications (including legacy and packaged applications) and enables them to share information. See integration broker, message broker and middleware. browser A software program (also known as a "Web browser") used to locate and display information on the Internet or an intranet. Examples include Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Netscape Communications' Navigator. Most browsers can display graphics, photographs and text; multimedia information (such as sound and video) may require additional software, known as "plug-ins." browsing The near-random search for content on the Internet. BS 7799 (British Standard 7799) A comprehensive standard from the British Standards Institute (BSI). Formally titled the "Code of Practice for Information Security Management," BS 7799 was significantly revised in 2000 and evolved into International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 17799 � see ISO 17799. BSA (Business Software Alliance) A software industry coalition whose stated missions include industry education and copyright enforcement. BSD (Berkeley Software Distribution) A version of Unix developed at the University of California at Berkeley. BSI (British Standards Institute) A U.K. standards body, headquartered in London. BSP (business service provider) A domain of enterprise application outsourcing best suited for confined processes with a few, well-defined interfaces to other business processes of the enterprise. BSP is the extension of the application service provider (ASP) model into business process management. A BSP manages and operates standardized business processes on behalf of its customers, delivering its service across a network to multiple customers using a "pay as you go" payment model. See ASP. BSS (business support system) A category of software and services used by telecommunications industry firms. In its market definitions, Gartner Dataquest defines BSS as software and services necessary to optimize and monetize networked services offered to corporate and residential users. BU (business unit) A general term for a high-level organizational component of an enterprise, such as a corporate division or subsidiary. buffer A technology element or component used to compensate for a difference in rate of data flow, or time of occurrence of events, when transmitting data from one device to another. bug An unexpected problem with software or hardware. Typical problems are often the result of external interference with the program's performance that was not anticipated by the developer. Minor bugs can cause small problems like frozen screens or unexplained error messages that do not significantly effect usage. Major bugs, however, may not only affect software and hardware, but could also have unintended effects on connected devices or integrated software and may damage data files. building local-exchange carrier (see BLEC) build-operate-transfer (see BOT) bulletin board system (see BBS) bundling Packaging multiple features or products together for a single price. burst In data communications, a sequence of signals counted as one unit in accordance with a specific criterion or measure. bursty A communications term describing data transmission that occurs in uneven spurts. bus 1 Physical transmission path or channel. Typically an electrical connection with one or more conductors, wherein all attached devices receive all transmissions at the same time. 2 A type of local network topology, such as that used in Ethernet, where all network nodes listen to all transmissions, selecting certain ones based on address identification. It involves some type of contention-control mechanism for accessing the bus transmission medium. business activity monitoring (see BAM) Business Application Programming Interface (see BAPI) business continuity manager The position responsible for business continuity planning (BCP) in an enterprise. See BCP. business continuity planning (see BCP) business continuance volume (see BCV) business impact analysis (see BIA) Business Information Warehouse (see BIW) business intelligence An interactive process for exploring and analyzing structured, domain-specific information (often stored in data warehouses) to discern business trends or patterns, thereby deriving insights and drawing conclusions. The business intelligence process includes communicating findings and effecting change. Domains include customers, suppliers, products, services and competitors. Business Object Broker (see BOB) business portal (see enterprise portal) business process An event-driven, end-to-end processing path that starts with a customer request and ends with a result for the customer. Business processes often cross departmental and even organizational boundaries. business process automation (see BPA) Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (see BPEL4WS) business process management (see BPM) business process modeling (see BPM) business process outsourcing (see BPO) business process re-engineering (see BPR) business rule engine (see BRE) business service marketplace A type of e-marketplace that offers content or services for specific business processes, such as financing, logistics, marketing and requests for quotations. Business service marketplaces aggregate the offerings of business service providers (BSPs), and will proliferate as outsourcing grows. Business service marketplaces are one of three types of public e-marketplaces (along with integration service marketplaces and commodity marketplaces) that Gartner has identified in the evolving public e-marketplace landscape. (See BSP, integration service marketplace and commodity marketplace.) business service provider (see BSP) Business Software Alliance (see BSA) business support system (see BSS) business-to-business (see B2B) Business-to-Business Procurement (see BBP) business-to-consumer (see B2C) business-to-employee (see B2E) business-to-enterprise� see "B2E (business-to-employee)" business unit (see BU) Business Workflow (see BW) bus topology An equal-access network design in which all devices are connected in a single line with two distinct ends. See bus. buy side A general term encompassing services or processes associated with the purchasing side of business-to-business transactions, such as requisitioning, product catalogs, approvals, user identification, purchase order creation, payment processing and integration with other systems. BW (Business Workflow) The workflow component introduced by SAP with release 3.0 of R/3. SAP Business Workflow provides the infrastructure and tools to allow business processes to be managed, automated and analyzed. byte A group of eight bits handled as a logical unit. In text files, a byte is equivalent to a single character such as a letter, number or punctuation mark. See bit. byte code The intermediate code compiled and executed by a virtual machine (VM). Byte code can be used unchanged on any platform on which the VM operates. See VM and Java. A programming language created by Dennis Ritchie at the former Bell Laboratories in 1972. C provides very precise control of the computer's operation. C++ An extension to the C language defined by Bjarne Stroustrop at Bell Laboratories in 1986. As a superset of C, it provides additional features for data abstraction and object-oriented programming. C++ can be used to develop programs for almost all computers. Together, C and C++ are the among the most common programming languages in use today. C# An object-oriented programming language from Microsoft based on C++. C# (pronounced "C sharp") has elements from Visual Basic and Java (e.g., automatic garbage collection), whereas C++ does not. C# supports Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and has access to the .NET class library. See XML, SOAP and .NET. CA (see certification authority) CA (Computer Associates) A business software vendor headquartered in Islandia, New York. (The full corporate name is "Computer Associates International, Inc.") cable An assembly of one or more conductors within a protective sheath. cable modem A device used for high-speed data access or Internet connectivity via a cable TV network. Fast cable modems can transfer a megabyte of information in less than one second. cache Used as a noun or a verb, this term refers to the temporary storage of instructions or data for quick access by a computer system. For example, data is often cached near a computer's central processing unit to replicate information from main memory or storage in a way that facilitates quicker access, using fewer resources than the original source. In an Internet context, cache refers to the storage of commonly accessed Web pages or graphics locally on a user's PC or a Web server. This helps to minimize download time and preserve bandwidth for frequently accessed Web sites, and to reduce the load on a Web server. caching server A server that efficiently stores frequently requested Internet or other network data, and can "prefetch" additional data at preset intervals. A network caching server can "listen" on the network and intercept data requests associated with known network ports. This alleviates the need to have the enterprise's browser configured to "know" where the server sits on the network. CAD (computer-aided design) High-speed systems that use specialized software and input devices (such as scanners) for architectural, electrical or mechanical design. With few exceptions, CAD systems rely extensively on graphics. CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) A broad category of systems and software encompassing both computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) functionality. See CAD and CAM. CAE (computer-aided engineering) An area of automated manufacturing and design technology for product engineering that has its roots in finite-element methods, but today includes all types of performance systems (e.g., heat transfer, structural, electromagnetic, aeronautics and acoustic analysis). Major improvements have been to support the architectural, mechanical, electronic and electrical-engineering disciplines. CAFM (computer-aided facilities management) The category of applications used to manage the physical space and assets within buildings leased or owned by an enterprise. This includes tracking office space allocations, layouts and furnishings. Typically, CAFM applications interact with computer- aided design (CAD) systems to facilitate space planning, and the management of additions and changes to office arrangements. See CAD. CAGR (compound annual growth rate) Average yearly growth rate over a specified multiyear period. CA-IDMS (Computer Associates Integrated Data Management System) � see IDMS CAI (Common Air Interface) A standard that defines technical parameters for control and information signals passed between a radio transmitter and receiver, so that communication may take place between equipment manufactured by different companies. It is often associated with Cordless Telephone 2 (CT2) wireless telephony. See CT2. CAL (Client Access License) A Microsoft software license program. call In networking, a call is any demand to set up a connection. In telecommunications, it is a unit of telephone traffic. call accounting system A system that records data on outgoing calls for tracking and reporting purposes. call center A group or department where employees receive and make high volumes of telephone calls. Call centers may serve internal customers (for example, help desks) or external customers (for example, customer service and support centers). These centers use a variety of technologies to improve the management and servicing of calls. A center that use both phone- and non-phone-based communication channels (such as e-mail or the Web) is known as a "contact center." See call center suite and contact center. call center suite A product that offers a suite of integrated components to support a call center (e.g., a help desk or a customer service and support center). In the past, integrating these components often required the services of an independent integrator; however, as call center functions move to open software platforms, many vendors now offer bundled suites of call center functionality. An all-in-one call center suite provides a complete set of call center functions as a single platform, within the control of a single administrative view. Components include: An open computing platform (such as Windows or Unix) Telephone switch functionality and computer-telephony integration (CTI) Intelligent routing, based on business rules or agent skills Automatic call distribution (ACD), interactive voice response (IVR) and voice mail functions Outbound (e.g., predictive) dialing Application integration interfaces and tools "Cradle to grave" contact reporting, and component administration A multifunction call center suite differs from an all-in-one suite in that it does not require switching integration. Instead, the switch functionality can be on a separate platform, controlled via CTI links and administered separately. See call center, contact center and contact center suite. call detail recording (see CDR) caller ID A telephone service that records the telephone numbers of incoming calls; it is a form of automatic number identification (ANI). Caller ID systems can be integrated with customer databases to streamline call management processes. This integration gives the agent receiving a call instantaneous access to relevant information about the caller. For example, when a customer calls, that customer's name immediately appears on the agent's computer screen. The screen might include information about the product a customer purchased and the purchase date. The system could also display the client's previous call history, information about other products the customer owns and price promotions on products that might also be appealing to that caller, based on a profile in the database. CallPath A call center application and technology platform, originally developed by IBM and purchased by Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, an Alcatel subsidiary, in 2001. call processing The sequence of operations performed by a switching system, from the acceptance of an incoming call through the final disposition of the call. call record All recorded data pertaining to a single call. CALS (Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support) A joint project of industry and the U.S. Department of Defense to exchange technical- support information in digital form. (The acronym originally stood for "Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistics Systems," and is now sometimes expanded as "Commerce at Light Speed.") It has become a common set of programs for integrating electronic commerce initiatives, intended to enhance the development of pro forma and de facto standards (particularly for graphics exchanges) and to drive new methods for concurrent manufacturing in the automotive, aerospace, electronics and heavy-equipment industries. CALS is a useful way for manufacturing enterprises to combine a number of productivity- enhancing initiatives under one umbrella. CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) The manufacturing of goods controlled and automated via computer and robot. Frequently used in conjunction with computer-aided design (CAD). See CAD/CAM. CAMA (centralized automatic message accounting) An automatic message-accounting system that is located at a single exchange and serves adjacent exchanges. campaign management system (see CMS) Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (see CRTC) CAP (carrierless amplitude phase modulation) A multilevel, multiphase encoding method for transmitting data over twisted pair lines. It is a superset of the legacy protocol used by analog modems. CAP is simple to implement in silicon, uses less power than the discrete multitone (DMT) method, and is in use in several Internet service providers' digital subscriber line (DSL) services. See DMT and DSL. CAP (competitive access provider) A U.S. provider of bypass services for telecommunications. Capability Maturity Model (see CMM) capacity requirements planning (see CRP) Capacity Upgrade on Demand (see CUoD) CAPE (concurrent art-to-product environment) A design approach that brings together a variety of synergistic applications, including visualization, rapid prototyping, analysis, materials selection, machining and cost estimation. Key to CAPE are application frameworks, data management and product geometry exchanges, so that any person who is involved in product design and approval can participate in the process. Seven elements comprise the technological foundation of the CAPE system architecture: Hardware independence Software architecture Framework incorporation Application integration Data exchange Data management Enterprise pricing policies Beyond these base elements, CAPE systems include technological components targeted to specific application areas. These application-specific elements are grouped into three markets � mechanical design, process plant design and electronics design � which account for the majority of industrial design activity. CAR (committed access rate) A metric used in network quality-of-service agreements to classify and limit customer traffic and manage excess traffic according to the network policy. card A removable board that carries the necessary circuits for a particular computer function. Cards are designed to fit expansion slots provided by computer manufacturers. card cage A frame for holding circuit cards in a computer system. Also referred to as a card chassis. care delivery organization (see CDO) CareEnhance Resource Management Software (see CRMS) carrier A communications term, used to refer to a wave that carries a signal, or to a provider of voice or data communications services. carrier frequency The frequency of a carrier wave, measured in cycles per second, or Hertz, that is modulated to transmit signals. carrierless amplitude phase modulation (see CAP) carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (see CSMA/CD) cartridge In data storage technology, an enclosure, generally of plastic, in which an storage medium (such as tape or an optical disk) is kept for protection; also called a "cassette." The medium may be permanently contained in the cartridge, or temporarily removed from it once inside the drive. Cascading Style Sheets (see CSS) CASE (computer-aided software engineering) An umbrella term for a collection of application development tools designed to increase programmer productivity. They include technologies such as application generators and PC- based workstations that provide graphics-oriented automation of the front end of the development process. case-based reasoning (see CBR) cash concentration and disbursement plus addenda (see CCD+) CAT (Communications Authority of Thailand) The exclusive operator of Thailand's international telecommunications services to the rest of the world. In addition to telecommunications services, it provides data communications, mobile and satellite services. It also has some regulatory and licensing powers and operates Thailand's postal service. catalog content management Processes, services and applications used to create and update electronic catalogs in an e- commerce environment. Catalog Interchange Format (see CIF) Category 3 One of five grades of unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling defined by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) in their EIA/TIA-568 standard. Category 3 UTP cable is used in 10Base-T (Ethernet) networks. See 10Base-T and Ethernet. Category 5 A series of five grades of unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling defined by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) in their EIA/TIA-568 standard. Category 5 UTP cable, used in 100Base-T (Fast Ethernet) local-area networks, supports speeds of up to 100 megabits per second. See 100Base-T and Fast Ethernet. See UTP and EIA/TIA. cathode-ray tube (see CRT) CATI (computer-aided telephone interviewing) Technology used facilitate information gathering via phone interviews (for example, for survey purposes). CATIA (Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application) A computer-aided design and product life cycle management product from IBM and Dassault Systemes. CATV (community antenna television) 1 Commonly known as "cable TV." Television signals are received at a selected site and retransmitted to subscribers via a cable network. Additional channels, not normally available in that area, can also be transmitted. 2 Data communications based on radio frequency transmission, generally using 75ohm coaxial cable as the transmission medium. CATV offers multiple frequency-divided channels, allowing mixed transmissions to be carried simultaneously. CAV (constant angular velocity) One of two standards for rotating storage media, in which the disk spins at the same rate at all times. The other, constant linear velocity (CLV), spins the disk more slowly on the inside tracks where the circumference is smaller. See CLV. C-band The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, approximately 4 gigahertz (GHz) to 6 GHz, used primarily for satellite and microwave transmission. CBC (cipher block chaining) A Data Encryption Standard (DES) mode of operation. See DES. CBD (component-based development) A set of reuse-enabling technologies, tools and techniques that allow application development (AD) organizations to go through the entire AD process (i.e., analysis design, construction and assembly) or through any particular stage via the use of predefined component-enabling technologies (such as AD patterns, frameworks and design templates) and application building blocks. CBDS (Connectionless Broadband Data Service) A European metropolitan-area network (MAN) service, similar in many respects to Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS). See MAN and SMDS. CBL (Common Business Language) Commerce One's Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema development effort. See XML. CBP (constraint-based planning) A technique (also called "constraint-based programming") that seeks a workable solution by reducing the search space (that is, possibilities), through processing of the various conditions that need to be satisfied. Configuration engines, planning and scheduling systems are among its most successful applications. CBR (case-based reasoning) An artificial intelligence (AI) problem-solving technique that catalogs experience into "cases" and correlates the current problem to an experience. CBR is used in many areas, including pattern recognition, diagnosis, troubleshooting and planning. These systems are easy to maintain in comparison to rule-based expert systems. See AI. CBR (constant bit rate) An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) service category, defined by the ATM Forum, that guarantees a constant bandwidth with low delay, jitter and cell loss. Circuit emulation is a typical application. See ATM. CBR (content-based retrieval) A search methodology in which information is retrieved based on words or phrases in the text. CBT (computer-based training) A training method that uses a mixture of software, disks and manuals to convey information. Trainees work at their own pace, often over an extended period. CC (competence center) A permanent center of expertise in an enterprise that supports implementation, enhancement and maintenance of common business processes and systems built around SAP's R/3. (When they are not SAP-related, such organizations are more commonly referred to as "competency centers." See competency center.) CCD (charge-coupled device) A semiconductor device capable of both photo-detection and memory, which converts light to electronic impulses. CCD arrays are used in scanners to perform the first stage in converting an image into digital data. The signals received from each detector can be stepped across the array in response to a clock signal, permitting each scan line to be read through a single electrical connection. CCD+ (Cash Concentration and Disbursement plus addenda) One of the primary message formats necessary for enterprise-initiated payments to traverse the U.S. national banks' clearinghouse system. The format is limited to a single addendum record (one invoice, one payment), and many banks can process it. CCIR (Comite Consultatif International des Radio Communications) Abbreviation of the French name for the International Radio Communications Consultative Committee, now part of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). See ITU. CCIS (common channel interoffice signaling) An electronic means of signaling between any two switching systems independent of the voice path. CCITT (Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique) Abbreviation of the French name for the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee. In March 1993, the name was changed to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunications Standards Sector. See ITU. CCITT Group 3 Also now called ITU Group 3, this is the original standard for compression and decompression of facsimile transmissions. CCITT Group 4 Also now called ITU Group 4, this is an optimized standard for the transmission of black- and-white office documents. Neither Group 3 nor Group 4 handles color. Both are required to reduce bandwidth and storage demand. CCMS (Computing Center Management System) A management framework developed by SAP that provides an event console, a set of management services and sets of application programming interfaces to be integrated with third-party management tools. ccNUMA (cache-coherent nonuniform memory access) A category of high-performance computing (HPC) systems. See HPC. c-commerce (collaborative commerce) Collaborative, electronically enabled business interactions among an enterprise's internal personnel, business partners and customers throughout a trading community. The trading community could be an industry, industry segment, supply chain or supply chain segment. CCOW (Clinical Context Object Workgroup) A group that defines standards for collaboration among applications on clinical workstations. Originally an independent consortium, CCOW is now technical committee of the Health Level Seven (HL7) standards organization. See HL7. CCS (hundred call seconds) A metric used in calculating call center enquiry volume or efficiency. CCTA (Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency) A U.K. government agency, which became part of the Office of Government and Commerce in April 2001. CD (compact disc) The trademarked name for the laser-read digital audio disc, 12 centimeters in diameter, developed jointly by Philips and Sony. CDBS (Connectionless Broadband Data Service) A European high-speed, packet switched wide-area networking standard, similar to Switched Multimegabit Data Service (see SMDS). CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface) An American National Standards Institute specification for transmitting Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) signals over copper media. CDDI runs on both shielded and unshielded twisted-pair cabling. See FDDI. CDE (Common Desktop Environment) The first user interface specification (based on Motif) from the now-defunct Common Open Software Environment (COSE) group, a consortium of major vendors that was dedicated to standardizing Unix. CDE later became a specification of the Open Group. CDF (Channel Definition Format) A format introduced by Microsoft in 1997 in an effort at standardizing the marketplace for "push" delivery of Web content. CDG (CDMA Development Group) An international consortium of companies that focuses on the adoption and evolution of code division multiple access (CDMA) wireless systems. See CDMA. CDI (customer data integration) The combination of technology, software, processes and services needed to achieve a single, accurate and complete view of the customer across multiple sources of customer data, databases and business lines. Bringing together the core data functions of data hygiene, linking (i.e., matching records), grouping (i.e., viewing records based on business rules) and customer recognition, CDI can reduce operational and marketing costs and enhance revenue-generating opportunities through increased customer satisfaction and the identification of new customers. CDM (Common Data Model) A metadata rendering of the data elements used within i2 Technologies' products. CDMA (code division multiple access) A digital wireless technology used in radio communication for transmission between a mobile phone and a radio base station. CDMA was developed by Qualcomm, and commercially introduced in 1995. It enables the simultaneous transmission and reception of several messages, each of which has a coded identity to distinguish it from the other messages. CDMA2000 An updated version of CDMA technology, developed by Qualcomm. It doubles the voice capacity of cdmaOne systems and also supports high-speed data services. See cdmaOne. cdmaOne A standard based on code division multiple access (CDMA), offering increased voice capacity over analog systems and data speeds from 14.4 kilobits per second (Kbps) to 64 Kbps. cdmaOne was developed by Qualcomm and endorsed by the International Standards Organization (IS-95A/B). See CDMA. CDO (care delivery organization) A category of enterprises that use healthcare information systems. CDOs are organizations, such as hospitals and physician practices, whose primary mission is to deliver healthcare- related services. CDPD (cellular digital packet data) An IP-based network technology that allows cellular providers to offer remote and mobile computing by transmitting digital data over their networks. In early deployments, packet data moved at 19.2 kilobits per second over ever-changing unused intervals in the voice channels. Modern deployments use dedicated data channels. CDR (call detail recording) A means of capturing telephone system information on calls made for processing into management reports (also known as "station message detail recording," or SMDR). Captured information includes who made the call, where it went and what time of day it was made. With such information, it is easier to spot exceptions to regular calling patterns such as out-of-hours calling, international calls, significant variances from previous reporting periods and call destinations that do not reflect normal calling patterns for the enterprise. CDR (clinical data repository) A database for storage of clinical information in a computer-based patient record (see CPR). CD-R (compact disc recordable) A standard and technology that enables systems to record data on a compact disc (CD). Unlike CD rewritable (CD-RW) discs, CD-R discs can be recorded only once. See CD and CD-RW. CD-ROM (compact disc read-only memory) A version of the standard compact disc (CD) intended to store general-purpose digital data. CD-ROMs can store a wide variety of data, such as music, video and graphics. They are often used by software companies to deliver programs like word processing or spreadsheet applications, because they store significantly more data (650 megabytes) than a typical floppy disk. See CD. CD-RW (compact disc rewritable) A standard and technology that enables a system to write, erase or rewrite data to a compact disc (CD). Unlike CD recordable (CD-R) discs, CD-RW discs can be written to multiple times. See CD and CD-R. CDS (cell directory service) A core Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) server component provided for applications to locate resources. It functions primarily as a naming service, which provides a mapping between a logical name and a physical address. See DCE. CDSS (clinical decision support system) An application that enhances decision making by caregivers by providing context- sensitive advice relating to clinical situations. CDV (cell delay variation) One of three negotiated quality of service (QOS) parameters for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), defined by the ATM Forum. See ATM and QOS. CE (see Windows CE) CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) A U.S. trade group representing the consumer electronics industry, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. CEC (central electronics complex) A term generically used to refer to a central processing unit, including the power unit, service units, console and other units, but not any peripherals. Within a sysplex or coupled complex it is any serial-numbered processor (which may be made up of multiple engines). Within a Parallel Sysplex complex, it is a single parallel processor that can house multiple engines. (Today this is an uncommon configuration.) CEFACT (Center for Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport) A body that operates under the auspices of the United Nations' (UN's) Economic Commission for Europe, and that is responsible for the UN's rules for Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport (see EDIFACT). cell 1 In data transmission, a fixed number of bytes of data sent together. Unlike a frame, a cell has a fixed, rather than variable, length. Cells are the fundamental building blocks of asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks. See ATM and cell relay. 2 The area covered by a single fixed transceiver in a cellular radio network. A cell may vary in radius from less than one kilometer to 50 kilometers, depending on the technology, capacity and power. See cellular radio. 3 The storage position of one unit of information, such as a character, bit or word. 4 The location in an electronic spreadsheet where specific row and column coordinates intersect. cell controller A supervisory computer used to sequence and coordinate multiple machines and operations. cell delay variation (see CDV) cell directory service (see CDS) cell loss ratio (see CLR) cell of origin A type of wireless location service that requires no modification to the handset or the cellular network. This method is fast (about three seconds), but its accuracy depends on the radius of cells � which can range from 100 meters in urban areas to several kilometers in rural ones. See location service. cell relay A transmission mode that utilizes fixed-length cells as the bearer mechanism, as with asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), which uses 48 bytes of payload plus five overhead bytes as the standard cell size. See ATM. cell transfer delay (see CTD) cellular A general term used to refer to wireless voice and data communications using cellular radio transmission. See cellular radio. cellular digital packet data (see CDPD) Cellular MultiProcessing (see CMP) cellular radio Technology employing low-power radio transmission as an alternative to local loops for accessing the switched telephone network. It differs from older forms of mobile telephony in that service is provided through a large number of areas or cells that are served by a low-power transmitter in each cell, rather than through a single high-power transmitter for the entire region. Because any given frequency can be reused in each cell, the number of subscribers that can be served is multiplied dramatically. CEM (contract equipment manufacturer) A company that manufactures electronics components on a contract basis (also known as a "contract electronics manufacturer.") When such firms provide services beyond manufacturing, they are more commonly known as electronics manufacturing service (EMS) providers (see EMS). CEN (Comite Europeen de Normalisation) French name of the European Committee for Standardization, a Brussels-based standards body. Center for Facilitation of Procedures and Practices for Administration, Commerce and Transport (see CEFACT) center of excellence A central clearinghouse for knowledge capital that is used across all business transformation projects. central electronics complex (see CEC) centralized automatic message accounting(see CAMA) central office (see CO) central processing unit (see CPU) Centrex Switching equipment that enables subscribers to access facilities normally provided by a separate private branch exchange (PBX). It can be located in a central office (CO) or on a large customer's premises. See PBX and CO. CEPS (Common Electronic Purse Standard) A standard endorsed by Visa and American Express for electronic purse (e-purse) or stored- value applications on smart cards. See e-purse. CEPT (Conference Europeenne des Administration des Postes et des Telecommunications) French name of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations. Formed in 1959, CEPT underwent a major reform during the early 1990s. CEPT's involvement in standardization and operational activities has been transferred to other bodies, leaving CEPT to deal solely with the regulatory issues affecting postal and telecommunications sectors across Europe. CERN (Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire) The original, French name of the European Organization for Nuclear Research, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. CERN scientists developed the original World Wide Web, as a means of sharing scientific papers with other scientists around the world. See Internet and Web. CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) A group formed in 1998 by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency � and coordinated through Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute (SEI) � to research and report on Internet-related security problems. SEI's CERT Coordination Center publishes security information and advisory bulletins through its Web site at www.cert.org. CERT (computer emergency response team) � see CIRT (computer incident response team) certificate (see digital certificate) certificate authority (see certification authority) certificate management system (see CMS) certificate revocation list (see CRL) certification authority Also known as a "certificate authority," this is an internal or third-party entity that creates, signs and revokes digital certificates that bind public keys to user identities. A repository or directory stores digital certificates and certificate revocation lists (CRLs) to allow users to obtain the public keys of other users and determine revocation status. Typically, the repository is a traditional X.500 directory or a database that supports Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP). See CRL, digital certificate, X.500 and LDAP. certification practice statement (see CPS) CES (Consumer Electronics Show) An annual trade show sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association. CF (coupling facility) The hardware element that provides high-speed caching, list processing and locking functions in a system using Parallel Sysplex (IBM's mainframe clustering technology). CFCC (Coupling Facility Control Code) The operating system that runs on the coupling facility (CF) in an IBM Parallel Sysplex system. See CF. CFML (ColdFusion Markup Language) The server-side declarative script used in Macromedia's (formerly Allaire's) ColdFusion Web development product. CFO (chief financial officer) The top financial executive in a corporation. The position usually reports directly to the president or chief executive officer. CGA (Color Graphics Adapter) An early color video format for computer display monitors, introduced by IBM in 1981. CGA is limited to 16 colors and has a maximum resolution of 640x200. CGI (Common Gateway Interface) A data-passing specification used when a Web server must send or receive data from an application such as a database. A CGI script passes the request from the Web server to a database, obtains the output and returns it to the Web client. Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (see CHAP) change management A set of management disciplines and best practices used to ensure a smooth transition and minimal disruption when system or process changes are introduced in an organization. In a traditional software development context, the term "change management" is sometimes used to refer to software version control or configuration management (see software change management). In a broader business context, however, the term applies to the activities necessary to introduce change of all types to an organization. These includes not only development activities, but also broader concerns such as process re-engineering and the impact of change on people, including: Ensuring that employee communication and needs are met Reassuring people concerning the career impact the change (both for those whose jobs have changed, and for those who will be forced into new jobs inside or outside of the organization) Persuading key stakeholders to accept and embrace the change channel 1 A route through which products, services or marketing messages reach consumer or business customers. Beyond traditional retail, sales or distribution channels, such routes also include newer electronic channels (e-channels) such as the Web. See e-channel. 2 An electronic path or frequency band dedicated to the transmission of a signal � whether an electronic signal (for example, in circuitry) or a broadcast signal (for example, in wireless communications). channel analytics A superset of Web analytics (see separate entry), channel analytics are not restricted to Web channels, but include direct mail, the customer contact center, mass media, store or branch locations, and all other distribution or customer-contact channels. The different elements of business � for example, payment and shipment processes, and customer support and authentication � need to be measured and analyzed. Channel analytics examine costs, usage, efficiency, integrity, integration with other systems and the value of each channel, separately and in relation to each other. channel assembly A sales channel initiative aimed at offloading much of the system assembly task from the initial manufacturers to an intermediate dealer or distributor. The reseller or distributor then assembles the system to the buyer's specifications. channel bank Equipment used in a telephone central office that to multiplex lower-speed, digital channels into a higher-speed, composite one. The channel bank also detects and transmits signaling information for each channel, and transmits framing information so that time slots allocated to each channel can be identified by the receiver. Channel Definition Format (see CDF) channel integration Strategies aimed at consolidating � either physically or logically � customer information and its use to provide an all-encompassing view of the customer. channel service unit (see CSU) CHAP (Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol) A security protocol used by a server to grant or deny system access based on a client- supplied password, which � unlike the method used in Password Authentication Protocol (PAP) � is encrypted prior to transmission. In the CHAP authentication procedure, the server sends the client a random token, which is used by the client to encrypt and send back the user's password. If the server recognizes the password, an acknowledgment is sent; if not, the connection is terminated. See PAP. chargeback An IT cost recovery model, in which business units' use of IT resources is tracked in detail through job-accounting and other resource consumption mechanisms. The internal cost of this resource usage is then "charged back" to the business units for internal financial- accounting purposes. The goals of the practice include encouraging IS organization cost- efficiency, obtaining accurate IT usage data and providing a pricing mechanism by which to discourage unbridled resource consumption. charge-coupled device (see CCD) chat A real-time, text-based conference between two or more network-connected users. See IRC (Internet Relay Chat) and instant messaging. chat room The "location" in which an interactive keyboard discussion takes place over a network (usually the Internet). Chat rooms can be accessed via Web sites or the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) system (the Internet's traditional means of conferencing by computer). See IRC. check digit A number appended to string of digits (such as a piece of binary code or a numeric identifier). By applying a mathematical formula, the check digit can be used to detect errors. See parity bit. checksum A value calculated from a block of data, used to detect errors in transmitted data. chemical vapor deposition (see CVD) chief financial officer (see CFO) chief information officer (see CIO) chief information security officer (see CISO) chief knowledge officer (see CKO) chief sourcing officer (see CSO) chief technology officer (see CTO) CHIME (College of Healthcare Information Management Executives) An organization formed in 1992 to advocate more effective use of information management in healthcare, and to meet the professional-development needs of healthcare CIOs. CHIN (community health information network) A generic term describing any community-based information network open to all healthcare organizations. chip An integrated circuit housed on a small base wafer (usually composed of silicon). Chips are at the foundation of modern computing and electronics. They hold the logic circuitry that processes the basic instructions that run all types of computers, and are also used in a variety of electronics systems and consumer devices, such as watches and calculators. chip card A general category that includes smart cards and memory cards. A smart card includes embedded microcontroller silicon. A memory card includes embedded silicon memory and possibly other functions, such as cryptography, but no microprocessor. CHIPCo (Clearing House Interbank Payments Company) A private company responsible for the Clearing House Interbank Payments System (CHIPS). See CHIPS. CHIPS (Clearing House Interbank Payments System) A clearing system that processes very large payments (valued at an average of $1.4 trillion a day) in more than 27 countries. chip scale package (see CSP) CHRP (Common Hardware Reference Platform) An effort launched in the 1990s (and subsequently abandoned) by Apple Computer, IBM and others to establish a multivendor system architecture for the PowerPC processor. cHTML (Compact Hypertext Markup Language) A proprietary version of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) adopted by NTT DoCoMo for i-mode. See i-mode and HTML. CI (see competitive intelligence) CICS (Customer Information Control System) IBM's online transaction processing (OLTP) platform. A general-purpose subsystem for implementing transaction-processing applications, CICS invokes customer-written application programs in response to transactions entered at client terminals, and provides the services needed by those applications to retrieve and update data in files and respond to the terminal that invoked them. See OLTP. CIF (Catalog Interchange Format) A lightweight specification from Ariba used to communicate catalog information between selling and buying organizations. CIF is a public-domain specification used by corporations to exchange contract information about product and service offerings. CIF (Common Intermediate Format) A video specification designed to accommodate both the North American National Television System Committee (NTSC) and European Phase Alternate Line (PAL) protocols. The accommodation is accomplished by using the NTSC frame rate and the PAL resolution in a compromise ("intermediate") format, of which there are two versions: Full CIF (FCIF) and Quarter CIF (QCIF, providing a picture resolution one-quarter that of FCIF). See FCIF and QCIF. CIF (customer information file) A system that consolidates customer account information and combines it with basic demographic information to create a current snapshot of a customer relationship. CIFs are often a central component of integrated banking application packages, and are primarily used to support operational activities with both current and historical customer data. When designed specifically to support marketing, rather than operational, activities, CIFs are often known as a marketing customer information files (MCIFs). See MCIF. CIFS (Common Internet File System) A remote file system access protocol that allows groups of users to work together and share documents via the Internet or their corporate intranets. CIFS is an open, cross- platform technology based on the native file-sharing protocols built into Microsoft Windows and other operating systems, and is supported on numerous platforms, including Unix. Microsoft submitted a preliminary draft of the CIFS 1.0 protocol specification to the Internet Engineering Task Force in 1997. CIH (customer interaction hub) The next evolution of the contact center. The creation of an integrated CIH will provide a real-time (and thorough) view of the customer across channels, to all relevant customer-facing employees. This framework will include: A segmented, analytical evaluation of the specific customer A determination of the service resources to apply to the customer, based on the customer's profile A customer interaction hub involves many components; it takes advantage of knowledge management applications, natural-language processing (NLP) tools and knowledge repositories to create information once and use it throughout the enterprise. See contact center, knowledge management and NLP. CIM (Common Information Model) A modeling schema that describes managed system, hardware, software and storage objects. CIM is part of the Web-Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) standard, originally introduced by Microsoft, Intel, Cisco and other vendors in 1996 and now controlled by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF). CIM and WBEM were both used as part of the Bluefin specification, launched in 2002 in an effort to improve storage management system interoperability. See WBEM, DMTF and Bluefin. CIM (computer-integrated manufacturing) The integration of information technology with manufacturing systems and processes, with the goal of manufacturing products more efficiently and effectively. CIM (customer information management) The systematic support of business strategy through customer knowledge. CIMA (customer information management and application) A six-step process, starting with a business plan for managing customer information and following with a technology plan for applying it in support of the business strategy. The six steps are: Planning Information acquisition Information compilation, storage and maintenance Information analysis Information application Information distribution CIO (chief information officer) The top executive in charge of information technology (IT) in an enterprise. CIOs typically oversee development of the enterprise IT strategy and architecture, alignment of IT with the business strategy; internal and external IT sourcing; and the development of an IT governance framework that defines the working relationships and sharing of IT components among various IT groups within the enterprise. cipher block chaining (see CBC) CIR (committed information rate) The average data rate that a carrier commits to support over a given virtual circuit between two end-user sites. The commitment is over a specified period of time, typically one month. Carriers often have various service plans that peg the CIR at different levels in relation to the overall access rate (for example, 50 percent). circuit 1 A continuous electrical connection between any two points. 2 A group of electronic components connected to perform a specific function. See integrated circuit. 3 A voice or data communications channel between two or more points. See circuit switching and virtual circuit. circuit board An insulated panel containing interconnected circuits and electronic components. circuit-switched A descriptive term denoting a network or communications technology that employs circuit switching as the method of establishing a temporary connection. See circuit switching. circuit switching Temporary direct connection of one or more channels between two or more points to provide the user with exclusive use of an open channel with which to exchange information. A discrete circuit path is set up for the communications session, in contrast to packet- switching, in which no such physical path is established. See packet switching. CIRT (cyberincident response team) Also known as a "computer incident response team," this group is responsible for responding to security breaches, viruses and other potentially catastrophic incidents in enterprises that face significant security risks. In addition to technical specialists capable of dealing with specific threats, it should include experts who can guide enterprise executives on appropriate communication in the wake of such incidents. The CIRT normally operates in conjunction with other enterprise groups, such as site security, public-relations and disaster recovery teams. See cyberincident. CIS (clinical information system) A system used by physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists and other caregivers to develop patient care plans, document care and interventions, monitor and record patient vital signs, manage orders and results, document medication administration, and measure patient outcomes. CISs have evolved from basic nursing documentation and orders/results applications to sophisticated, multidisciplinary information systems used in a variety of care environments. CIS (customer information system) An operational data store (ODS) that brings customer information into a single, rapidly accessible profile. CISs contain transactional information necessary to support customer inquiries, and can be made accessible to customer-facing staff to help provide a consistent customer experience, regardless of the point of contact. Many CISs are designed not just to store information generated from customer interactions with the enterprise, but also to store third-party data, such as demographic information. See ODS. CISC (complex instruction set computer) An processing architecture for mainframe computing, in which individual instructions may perform many operations and take many cycles to execute, in contrast to the reduced instruction set computer (RISC) architecture. Examples include IBM's S/370 and Hewlett- Packard's (originally Digital Equipment's) VAX. See RISC. CISO (chief information security officer) The chief executive responsible for information security in an enterprise. The CISO's responsibilities often bridge the gap between technical security measures and security- related business practices and policies. CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) A certification program administered by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)2. See (ISC)2 . CKO (chief knowledge officer) The enterprise position responsible for articulating and championing an enterprise's knowledge management (KM) vision, and for providing enterprise level leadership for implementing and managing the KM program. See KM. CLA (Corporate License Agreement) A licensing agreement option under Novell's "Customer Connections" program. It offers an alternative for midsize organizations that cannot qualify for Novell's Master License Agreement. cladding In fiber-optic cable, a colored, low refractive index material that surrounds the core, providing optical insulation and protection. clamshell A computer system that weighs less than 3 pounds and opens lengthwise to expose a keyboard and screen. class A specification that defines the operations and the data attributes for a set of data objects. CLASS (Custom Local Area Signaling Services) A bundle of telephone features introduced by U.S. telephone companies in the late 1980s to offer users more control over incoming calls. CLASS features include caller ID, anonymous call rejection, automatic callback, automatic recall, caller ID blocking, distinctive ringing, call waiting, selective call rejection, call trace, selective call acceptance and selective call forwarding. Classical IP over ATM A specification for running Internet Protocol (IP) over asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, defined in 1993 in request for comment (RFC) 1577 from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Classical IP, as defined by IETF, does not include Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), which uses broadcasts to learn remote addresses. RFC 1577 was later obsoleted by RFC 2225, "Classical IP and ARP over ATM," which provides specifications for both types of IP-over-ATM networking. See ARP, ATM and IP. class of service (see COS) Clearing House Interbank Payments Company (see CHIPCo) Clearing House Interbank Payments System (see CHIPS) clear text Text that has not been encrypted or formatted; also known as "plain text." CLEC (competitive local-exchange carrier) A carrier that provides competition in the local telephone services market. CLECs include local-services resellers or aggregators, which buy local services in volume at wholesale prices and resells them to the market, as well as "hybrid" resellers � carriers that build portions of the local network band and buy the remaining service components. CLI (command line interface) A user interface to an operating system or application in which the user types instructions at "command line" prompt displayed on the screen. CLI (Common Language Infrastructure) A platform-independent development system from Microsoft that enables programs written in different programming languages to run on different types of hardware. CLI is part of Microsoft's .NET platform and was approved by the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) as an ECMA standard in December 2001. No matter which programming language they are written in, CLI applications are compiled into Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL), which is further compiled into the target machine language by the Common Language Runtime (CLR) software. See .NET, CLR and MSIL. click and mortar Slang term used to describe a hybrid between an e-business and "brick and mortar" business. This might take the form of a traditional business that has responded to Internet threats by creating a Web front end with links to back-end systems � or, alternatively, a dot-com (i.e., a virtual company) that is creating traditional infrastructure (such as a warehouse and logistics system) to meet customer expectations. See brick and mortar. clicks and bricks The combining of e-business channels and network-based processes with selective investment in physical locations to control local markets, distribution channels and critical labor accessibility. clickstream analysis A form of Web analytics, clickstream analysis is the tracking and analysis of visits to Web sites. Although there are other ways to collect this data, clickstream analysis typically uses the Web server log files to monitor and measure Web site activity. This analysis can be used to report user behavior on a specific Web site, such as routing, stickiness (a user's tendency to remain at the Web site), where users come from and where they go from the site. It can also be used for more aggregate measurements, such as the number of hits (visits), page views, and unique and repeat visitors, which are of value in understanding how the Web site operates from a technical, user experience and business perspective. See Web analytics. click-through Term applied to the act of clicking with a mouse button on a Web page advertisement, which brings the user to the advertiser's site. See CTR (click-through rate). click-through rate (see CTR) click-wrapped License terms for downloaded software that are accepted by the user by clicking the mouse on a button labeled "I accept" or similar words. See shrink-wrapped. client A system or a program that requests the activity of one or more other systems or programs, called servers, to accomplish specific tasks. In a client/server environment, the workstation is usually the client. See server and client/server. client appliance A type of computing appliance that provides end-user access to applications. Examples include network computers and certain handheld computers. See computing appliance. client/server The splitting of an application into tasks performed on separate, network-connected computers, at least one of which is a programmable workstation such as PC. In most cases, the "client" is a desktop computing device (e.g., a PC) or a program "served" by another networked computing device (i.e., the "server"). Gartner has defined five styles of client/server computing, based on how presentation, application logic and data management functions are partitioned between the client and server device � see distributed presentation, remote presentation, distributed function, remote data management and distributed data management. Clinical Context Object Workgroup (see CCOW) clinical data repository (see CDR) clinical decision support system (see CDSS) clinical information system (see CIS) clock An electronics term, used as a noun or verb (as in "clocking") to describe repetitive, regularly timed signals used to control synchronous processes. See clock speed. clocking (see clock) clock speed The number of processing cycles (or "clock cycles") a microprocessor performs per second. Until recently, the fastest desktop processors had clock speeds measured in thousands of cycles per second (megahertz), but the latest, high-speed chips have clock speeds topping the million-cycle (gigahertz) level. See clock. closed user group (see CUG) CLR (cell loss ratio) One of three quality of service (QOS) parameters (along with cell delay variation and cell transfer delay) defined by the Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Forum. See ATM and QOS. CLR (Common Language Runtime) The runtime engine for the .NET Web services platform. Part of Microsoft's Common Language Infrastructure (CLI), the CLR executes Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) code or compiles it into machine language, and contains object-oriented and security services that all .NET applications can utilize. See CLI, MSIL and .NET. cluster Used as a noun or verb (as in "clustered" or "clustering"), this term refers to the loose coupling of multiple systems (such as mainframe or midrange servers) for improved availability and scalability. Clusters (also known as "clustered systems") consist of interconnected nodes (i.e., systems), each running its own copy of the operating system and usually sharing common disk storage. Cluster software coordinates communication between nodes. Clusters are possible in all types of architectures, but are most common in symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) systems. See SMP. clustered system (see cluster) clustering (see cluster) CLV (constant linear velocity) One of two standards for rotating storage media, in which the disk spins at a higher speed on the outside tracks than on the inside tracks (where the circumference is smaller), so that all data moves past the head at the same rate. The other standard is constant angular velocity (CAV), in which the disk spins at the same rate at all times. See CAV. CM (see configuration management) CM (see content management) CMIP (Common Management Information Protocol) The protocol for the exchange of network management information defined in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) network reference model. Network products completely implementing CMIP have not become widely available, owing in part to the slow development of the standard. An additional contributor to the slow uptake of CMIP has been the overwhelming success of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), which, while less sophisticated than CMIP, is also less complex and expensive to implement. See OSI and SNMP. CMM (Capability Maturity Model) A model from the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) used to assess the maturity of an organization's application development (AD) capabilities and processes, and to provide a road map for improvement. The CMM is a highly popular approach to AD process management and improvement. Five levels are defined in the model: Level 1: Ad Hoc � No development methodology and few, if any, controls are in place. Progress, if attainable, may not be recognized due to lack of measurement. Level 2: Repeatable � A set of tasks and processes has been defined well enough to forecast project results with reasonable accuracy. However, no method for forecasting improvements or making trade-offs has been implemented. Level 3: Defined � The development process is implemented and understood. Measurements are taken, and the process is predictable enough to forecast the effect of implementing new technologies. Level 4: Managed � Significant quantitative and qualitative improvements are possible because the process is managed and evolutionary. Each technology implementation is part of an overall architecture. Level 5: Optimized � A theoretical level in the development organization where the environment drives the process. Effort can be channeled into improving the process rather than executing it. CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) Application software used to provide for work and materials management of maintenance activities in a manufacturing organization. See EAM (enterprise asset management). CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) A semiconductor technology that uses less power and generates less heat (enabling higher circuit density) than bipolar semiconductor technologies, but is typically slower as well. See bipolar. CMP (Cellular MultiProcessing) A heterogeneous server technology from Unisys that can run any combination of operating systems. CMS (campaign management system) An application used by marketers to design multichannel marketing campaigns and track the effect of those campaigns, by customer segment, over time. CMS (certificate management system) A system that manages digital certificates in a public-key infrastructure (PKI) security implementation. See digital certificate and PKI. CMS (Conversational Monitor System) A single-user, interactive operating system that was implemented for, and together with, IBM's Virtual Machine (VM) environment. See VM. CMS (course management system) A platform for delivering distributed-learning courseware. See distributed learning and courseware. CMV (controlled medical vocabulary) An approved list of medical terms coded in a fashion that facilitates the use of the computer. In technical terms, a CMV is a standard code set and an associated semantic network that represents the information within a major domain of medicine. Each concept in the code set should have a preferred (or canonical) code and may have any number of additional synonyms. The CMV should be as comprehensive as possible within its target clinical domain. CMVs are essential if clinical applications are to function as intended. Widely used systems include Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED). See CPT, ICD and SNOMED. CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) An abbreviation denoting the traditional four-color printing process; the name derives from the four ink colors used. The majority of printed color paper and photographic documents incorporate the CMYK process. CNS (converged network services) The delivery of voice, data, video and other forms of network services with the following characteristics: Services are usually provided from a customer-premises-based access concentrator, owned by a network service provider, that converts traffic to an asynchronous transfer mode or Internet Protocol stream. Services are delivered via one means of access and transmitted via one facility, with one switching infrastructure. CO (central office) The telephone company's centralized switching facility, where subscriber loops terminate. The CO handles a specific geographic area (known as a local exchange), identified in the United States by the first three digits of the local telephone number. See exchange. coaxial cable Cable consisting of an outer conductor surrounding an inner conductor, with a layer of insulating material in between. Such cable can carry a much higher bandwidth than a wire pair. COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology) An auditing standard developed by the Information Security Audit and Control Association for assessing information security risk. COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) One of the earliest high-level programming languages, invented in the late 1950s and first standardized by the American National Standards Institute a decade later. COBOL compiles code written using English-language words to machine language. codec 1 Short for "compressor/decompressor," an algorithm, program or device used to convert a digital bit stream from its original format to a compressed one � for example, from QuickTime to Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) format � and also to perform the reverse, decompression procedure. See MPEG. 2 Short for "coder/decoder," a communications device used to convert analog signals to digital form for transmission over a digital medium, and back again to the original analog form. One is required at each end of the channel. code division multiple access (see CDMA) coder/decoder (see codec) COLD (computer output to laserdisc) A microfiche replacement system. COLD systems offer economies as a replacement medium when rapid or frequent access to archived documents is necessary. Typically, a 12-inch optical-disc platter holds approximately 1.4 million pages of information, equal to 7,000 fiche masters. ColdFusion A Web development tool from Macromedia (which acquired the product's originator, Allaire, in 2001). ColdFusion Markup Language (see CFML) collaborative commerce (see c-commerce) collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment (see CPFR) collaborative product commerce (see CPC) College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (see CHIME) collision A communications term for overlapping transmissions that interfere with one another. This occurs when two or more devices attempt to transmit at or about the same time. Color Graphics Adapter (see CGA) COM (communications port) A port that allows an application to access a modem. COM (Component Object Model) Microsoft's component software model, introduced in 1993. A distributed version of COM, the Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM), enables the development of applications in which components are distributed over several computers (for example, a client and one or more servers). See DCOM. COM (computer output to microfiche) A system (also called "computer output to microfilm") in which digital data is converted into an image on dry-processed microfilm. COM+ A successor to Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM), introduced in 1998. COM+ is essentially an extension of Microsoft's application server � the Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS) � enhanced with advanced features (called "COM+ Services") such as thread isolation, security, memory management and system management. Microsoft initially intended COM+ to be a new programming model, enhancing and extending COM for server applications. While COM+ fulfilled this goal to a certain extent, the scope of these original plans was reduced over time. See COM and MTS. Comdex A computer industry trade show � held biannually in the United States and annually in other international locations � produced by Key3 Media Group. Comite Consultatif International de Radio Communications (see CCIR) Comite Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique (see CCITT) Comite Europeen de Normalisation (see CEN) command line interface (see CLI) Commerce One An e-marketplace software company based in Pleasanton, California. Originally founded in 1994 as DistriVision, the company changed its name to Commerce One in 1997 and went public in 1999. Commerce One's e-marketplace technology uses an XML-centric transactional infrastructure, based on the XML Common Business Library (xCBL) specification. See xCBL. commerce service provider (see CSP) Commerce XML (see cXML) commercial off- the-shelf (see COTS) committed access rate (see CAR) committed information rate (see CIR) commodity marketplace A type of e-marketplace that enables suppliers to mitigate risk and enables investors to speculate on commodity values. The presence of commodity marketplaces will be limited to industries with fungible products, such as energy, agribusiness or bulk commodity chemicals. The commodity marketplace is one of three types of emerging e-marketplaces identified by Gartner � see business service marketplace and integration service marketplace. Common Air Interface (see CAI) Common Business Oriented Language (see COBOL) common carrier An organization in the business of providing regulated telephone, data or other communications services. common channel interoffice signaling (see CCIS) Common Data Model (see CDM) Common Desktop Environment (see CDE) Common Electronic Purse Standard (see CEPS) Common Gateway Interface (see CGI) Common Hardware Reference Platform (see CHRP) Common Information Model (see CIM) Common Intermediate Format (see CIF) Common Internet File System (see CIFS) Common Language Infrastructure (see CLI) Common Language Runtime (see CLR) Common Management Information Protocol (see CMIP) Common Object Request Broker Architecture (see CORBA) Common Open Software Environment (see COSE) Common Programming Interface for Communications (see CPI-C) communication controller A dedicated computer with special processing capabilities for organizing and checking data and handling information traffic to and from remote terminals or computers, including functions such as message switching. communication protocol The exchange of a special sequence of control characters between a computer and a remote terminal to establish synchronous communications. communication satellite An satellite designed to act as a telecommunications radio relay. A communication satellite is usually positioned in geosynchronous orbit above the equator so that it appears from earth to be stationary in space. Communications Authority of Thailand (see CAT) community antenna television (see CATV) community health information network (see CHIN) community of practice People associated and interlinked in a communication or knowledge network because of their shared interest or shared responsibility for a subject area. Examples are people who hold similar job functions (such as project managers, department managers, team leaders or customer service agents); all the people on a project team; and people interested in specific technologies (such as e-commerce or network management). Communities continually emerge and dissolve, and their membership, processes and knowledge continually change and evolve. compact disc (see CD) compact disc read-only memory (see CD-ROM) Compact Hypertext Markup Language (see cHTML) COMPARE (Compliance Progress and Readiness) A scale introduced by Gartner in 1997 to assist business units, enterprises or business partners in measuring their progress toward year 2000 compliance. COMPARE Operational Readiness Evaluation (see CORE) compatibility The characteristic of computer hardware or software by which one machine or program may accept and process data prepared by another without conversion or code modification. competence center (see CC) competency center An organizational structure used to coordinate an enterprise's expertise in a given IT or business discipline. Competency centers typically provide expertise for project or program support, acting both as repositories of knowledge and resource pools for multiple business areas. Skills-based competency centers, the most common type in an IS organization, are used for skill areas such as programming languages, data management, Internet development and network design. Repository-based competency centers act exclusively as sources of information. Outside the IS organization, it is increasingly common to find competency centers (or shared services) for travel, finance and human resources. competitive access provider (see CAP) competitive intelligence Analysis of an enterprise's marketplace to understand what is happening, what will happen and what it means to the enterprise. Competitive-intelligence business goals may be offensive (to position the company in the marketplace, plot a course for the future and allocate resources) or defensive (to react to unfolding or potential market developments). competitive local-exchange carrier (see CLEC) complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (see CMOS) complex instruction set computer (see CISC) Compliance Progress and Readiness (see COMPARE) component Technically, a dynamically bindable package of functionality that is managed as a unit and accessed through documented interfaces that can be discovered at runtime. Pragmatically, components tend to fall into two major groups: technical components, which perform a technology-specific task that is application-independent (e.g., a graphical user interface control), and business components, which encapsulate a piece of business functionality. component-based development (see CBD) Component Broker An IBM object request broker technology aimed at solving application integration issues. The product never fully matured and was used by only a handful of clients. It was eventually withdrawn from the market and replaced by WebSphere for z/OS. Component Object Model (see COM) component and supplier management (see CSM) composite application An emerging application architecture in which functionality and data from multiple applications are exploited to present an integrated user interface. A composite application has the appearance of a single application (from the perspective of the end user) but is, in fact, composed of multiple, independently designed applications. The enabling technology required for composite applications includes a hub or integration broker for connections between back-end (often legacy) systems and systems designed to interact with end users, such as Windows clients and Web servers. compound document Any document containing more than one data type, which may include rich text, vector graphics and raster images. Compressed Serial Link Internet Protocol (see CSLIP) compression The application of any of several techniques that reduce the number of bits required to represent information in data transmission or storage, therefore reducing bandwidth or storage requirements. Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistics Systems (see CALS) computer-aided design (see CAD) computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (see CAD/CAM) computer-aided engineering (see CAE) computer-aided facilities management (see CAFM) computer-aided manufacturing (see CAM) computer-aided software engineering (see CASE) Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application (see CATIA) computer-based patient record (see CPR) computer-based training (see CBT) Computer Emergency Response Team (see CERT) computer incident response team (see CIRT) computer-integrated manufacturing (see CIM) computerized maintenance management system (see CMMS) computer network An interconnection of two or more computer systems, terminals or communications facilities. computer output to laserdisc (see COLD) computer output to microfiche or microfilm (see COM) computer output to microfiche replacement (see COM-R) Computer Sciences Corp. (see CSC) Computer Supported Telecommunications Applications (see CSTA) Computer Task Group (see CTG) computer-telephony integration (see CTI) computing appliance A computing device that provides pre-defined services, and that has its underlying operating (OS) software hidden beneath an application-specific interface. Computing appliances offer reduced complexity (e.g., installation, administration and maintenance) and faster deployment by hiding the operating software and embedding the application within the device. A computing appliance may be based on a general-purpose OS (such as Windows, Solaris or Linux) if the OS's complexity is hidden and the ability to load arbitrary services is removed. Computing appliances can provide one or more services; however, they are not general-purpose devices in that they are not flexible in the services they provide. Administrators do not need platform expertise � just limited application and appliance-specific expertise. Gartner has defined four fundamental types of computing appliances � see server appliance, storage appliance, network appliance and client appliance. Computing Center Management System (see CCMS) COM-R (computer output to microfiche replacement) Alternative technologies to computer output to microfiche (COM) for creating and storing images of digital output. COM-R technologies include computer output to laserdisc (COLD). See COM and COLD. concentrator A device that merges many low-speed asynchronous channels into one or more high-speed synchronous channels to achieve economies of data transmission. concurrent art-to-product environment (see CAPE) concurrent backup and restore A system-level facility that allows a database or disk file to be backed up to, or restored from, disk or tape storage while the database or file is still open for application access. concurrent engineering A collaborative, team-based approach to product design that combines multiple departments and disciplines into a project team. concurrent use A way to measure the usage of software licenses. Rather than limiting usage based on the number of people who are entitled to use the software, a concurrent-use license places a limit on the number of people who may do so simultaneously. conductor Any medium, such as a wire or cable, that can carry an electric current. Conference Europeenne des Administration des Postes et des Telecommunications (see CEPT) configuration management The process of managing the configuration of enterprise software or system components (such as PCs, networks or applications) to achieve benefits such as increased efficiency or interoperability. Historically, maintaining configuration consistency across an infrastructure has largely been a process-driven endeavor using point tools to automate change across the silos of the infrastructure. Configuration management products oriented to desktop PCs, mobile devices and servers have added an important technology component to facilitate just-in-time configuration. connectionless An interconnection model in which communication takes place without first establishing a connection � that is, an end-to-end communication path set up through mutually recognized protocols. Unlike a connection-oriented service, a connectionless service does not establish a fixed path between sender and recipient. Every unit of data exchanged contains all the necessary control and address information to ensure correct delivery. See connection-oriented. Connectionless Broadband Data Service (see CBDS) connection-oriented A communication service in which a connection (real or virtual) is set up and maintained for the duration of the communication. See connectionless and circuit switching. connect time The amount of time that a circuit, typically in a circuit-switched environment, is in use. See holding time. Conseil Europeen pour la Recherche Nucleaire (see CERN) console An interface or piece of equipment used to control, monitor or communicate with a system. Consoles may be hardware-based (for example, the control panels used to operate machinery and some early computer systems) or software-based (for example, the administrative consoles provided with some system or network management applications). consolidated security administration � see EUA (enterprise user administration) consolidated service desk (see CSD) consolidated user administration � see EUA (enterprise user administration) constant angular velocity (see CAV) constant bit rate (see CBR) constant linear velocity (see CLV) constraint-based planning or programming (see CBP) consulting Third-party advice and guidance on enterprise management or IT issues. Gartner has defined three categories of consulting services: Management consulting, which includes assistance with the development or execution of corporate business strategy, business processes or change management. IS consulting, which includes system architecture design or development, and IS organizational planning. Application or technical consulting, which includes application project management and development, technology assessment, and product tuning. Consumer Electronics Association (see CEA) Consumer Electronics Show (see CES) consumer packaged goods (see CPG) contact center Also called a "customer contact center," this includes all customer contact channels, including telephone, interactive voice response (IVR), speech recognition, e-mail, Web and fax. This is an inbound and outbound service-based environment in which customer service representatives handle all types of contacts regarding sales, customer service and support (CSS), marketing and other functions. See IVR, CSS and contact center suite. contact center suite This contains all the components of a call center suite (see separate entry) with additional functions to support non-phone-based inquiry channels such as Web and e-mail communication. This added functionality includes: Web contact functions (e.g., Web chat and collaborative browsing) E-mail response management system (ERMS) functions Unified messaging Tools for integration with front- and back-office applications, or with applications that support customer relationship management (CRM) strategies In this definition, the CRM applications that support marketing, sales, customer service and support, or field service and dispatch are not considered part of the suite. However, contact center suite functionality is often included with CRM applications and sold as a bundled CRM suite. See call center, contact center, ERMS and CRM. contact card A type of smart card that contains a contact chip, and that must be inserted into a reader to conduct transactions or pass information from the card to the reader. See smart card, contact chip and contactless card. contact chip An integrated circuit � used in a type of smart card known as a contact card � which must come in contact with a reader to conduct transactions or exchange information � unlike a contactless chip, which can perform these functions by being passed near a reader. See smart card, contact card and contactless chip. contact database A database containing names, addresses and other information on sales contacts, used for contact-tracking and management purposes. contactless card A smart card that uses radio frequencies to exchange information. Unlike a contact card, it needs no physical contact to be read by readers or terminals. Containing an embedded integrated circuit known as a "contactless chip," the card needs only to be waved near a reader to record transactions or to identify the user. Contactless-card systems are either passive, with the readers generating the frequency, or active, in which the card activates the reader. See smart card, contact card and contactless chip. contactless chip The type of integrated circuit contained in a contactless smart card. Contactless chips, which can exchange information by being passed near a reader, are often preferred for use in applications where speed is essential. See contactless card and smart card. content In commercial publishing, content refers to graphic or textual information contained in documents, or to amalgamations of documents that have been combined to produce larger articles or complete publications. On the Internet, the term refers to the content of Web sites. content aggregation The presentation of content from multiple sources at a single Web location for review by the customer. content-based retrieval (see CBR) content filtering (see filtering) content management A broad term referring to applications and processes for managing Web, document and e- commerce-focused content. content provider An enterprise with information-based products that can be used to supply content for Web sites. Such providers may also offer services to access and manage the content. contention A method of line control in which a terminal sends out a request to transmit information over the network. If the channel is free, transmission proceeds; if not, the terminal must wait until it becomes free. Content Vectoring Protocol (see CVP) Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support (see CALS) continuous improvement An iterative methodology for product, process or system development, whereby operational or customer feedback provides input into continuous enhancements made to improve quality, performance or efficiency. continuous operations The characteristics of a system that reduce or eliminate the need for planned downtime, such as scheduled maintenance. continuous process improvement (see CPI) continuous production A production system in which the productive units are organized and sequenced according to the steps to produce the product. The routing of the jobs is fixed, and setups are seldom changed. continuous quality improvement (see CQI) continuous speech recognition (see CSR) contract equipment (or electronics) manufacturer (see CEM) control character A character inserted into a data stream as a signal to the receiving station to perform a function or to identify the structure of the message. Newer protocols are moving away from character-oriented control procedures toward bit-oriented ones. control code A multibit code reserved for controlling hardware, such as printers. controlled authoring Methods for limiting the vocabulary and complexity of text. Controlled authoring is usually used to help with machine translation, but can also be used anytime writers must be compelled to use simple sentences and a limited vocabulary. It is impractical and counterproductive to impose controlled-authoring methods on most business users. It is most widely used for producing complex technical documents. controlled medical vocabulary (see CMV) Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (see COBIT) Control Program for Microcomputers (see CP/M) converged network services (see CNS) Conversational Monitor System (see CMS) cookie A file placed on a computer's hard drive by a Web site that the computer user has visited. A code in this file uniquely identifies, or "registers," that user and can be accessed for a number of marketing and site-tracking purposes. COOL (C++ Object Oriented Language) A Microsoft application development tool initiative and language; a predecessor to C#. See C++ and C#. cooperative processing The splitting of an application into tasks performed on separate computers. If one or more of these computers is a programmable workstation, cooperative processing is commonly referred to as client/server computing (see client/server). Physical connectivity can occur via a direct channel connection, a local-area network, a peer-to-peer communication link or a master/slave link. The application software can exist in a distributed processing environment, but this is not a requirement. COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) Legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in 1998 prohibiting the use of unfair or deceptive practices to gather personal information about individuals under the age of 13. Copper Distributed Data Interface (see CDDI) COPS (Common Open Policy Service) A protocol developed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to provide a common way for policy servers to communicate with devices that apply priority to traffic. The COPS protocol is described in IETF request for comment 2748, issued in January 2000. CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) A set of standards specified by the Object Management Group. It defines a distributed computing architecture based on the notion of objects invoking each other through formal protocols and interfaces. CORBA products enable enterprises to implement very large, business-critical distributed applications by incorporating legacy systems. Adoption of CORBA products had been limited, because their high cost and complexity narrow their use to the most demanding, systematic projects. Cordless Telephone 2 (see CT2) CORE (COMPARE Operational Readiness Evaluation) Gartner's CORE risk assessment and reporting steps are used to define business operational risks, to report risks to management, investors, regulators and customers in a consistent form, and to determine when contingency and recovery strategies are required. core banking system A back-end banking system that processes daily transactions and posts updates to accounts and other financial records. Core banking systems typically include account, loan and credit processing capabilities, interfaces to general-ledger systems, and reporting tools. Corporate License Agreement (see CLA) corporate portal (see enterprise portal) COS (class of service) A network or Internet service provider offering that prioritizes which traffic is delivered before other traffic. When a service provider's network is not congested, all traffic is treated equally. When the network is congested, however, traffic that has been designated as a higher priority will be delivered first, while lower priority traffic will be held in a queue until the higher-class traffic has been transmitted. COSE (Common Open Software Environment) A now-defunct vendor consortium, which was formed to promote interoperability and portability across Unix platforms. The group's first project was the Common Desktop Environment (CDE) specification. See CDE. cost per thousand (see CPM) COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) Descriptive term for software that can be purchased from an external supplier, as opposed to that which is developed within the enterprise. country code In direct distance dialing, a code characterizing a particular country. Codes corresponding to the world numbering plan start with a single digit that identifies a particular geographical area. This can be followed by one or two extra digits. coupling facility (see CF) Coupling Facility Control Code (see CFCC) coupling link Specialized hardware providing high-speed communication between each node in a Parallel Sysplex and the coupling facility (CF). See Parallel Sysplex and CF. course management system (see CMS) courseware Technology-enabled content for an education or training course. Courseware technology includes the content and functionality required to view and navigate a learning session. Related functionality, such as course registration and student or course tracking, is not included in courseware. These related functions are provided by learning management systems (LMSs) and other courseware administration technology. See LMS. CPC (collaborative product commerce) An e-business strategy for exploiting Web-based commerce opportunities across product development and product life cycle processes. These include both business-to-business and business-to-consumer commerce opportunities such as collaborative product development, customer-driven design, collaborative product and component sourcing, supply chain collaboration, and product maintenance self-service portals. CPE (customer premises equipment) Any telephone apparatus � including telephone handsets, private branch exchange (PBX) switching equipment, key and hybrid telephone systems, and add-on devices � that is physically located on a customer's property, as opposed to being housed in the telephone company's central office (CO) or elsewhere in the network. See PBX and CO. CPFR (collaborative planning, forecasting and replenishment) A collection of business practices that leverage the Internet and electronic data interchange to reduce inventories and expenses while improving customer service. CPFR is a cross between continuous replenishment and vendor-managed inventory. CPG (consumer packaged goods) The industry segment comprising businesses that manufacture or sell packaged goods for individual (as opposed to commercial) consumption. CPI (continuous process improvement) An iterative methodology for improving production, driven by formal metrics and measurement programs. CPI-C (Common Programming Interface for Communications) A IBM communications technology that provides a high-level interface to Advanced Program-to-Program Communication (APPC). See APPC. CPM (cost per thousand) A marketing metric which refers to the cost to reach every thousand people with an advertising message. In Internet advertising, CPM is commonly used to measure the cost per thousand "impressions" (i.e., views) of an advertiser's message. CPM (critical-path method) A dependency analysis technique used to predict the duration of a project or process by analyzing the sequence of activities that do not have built-in slack time. Any task in the critical path that takes longer than expected lengthens the total time of the project. CP/M (Control Program for Microcomputers) The first major operating system for personal computers, introduced by Digital Research in the late 1970s. In 1981, it was largely supplanted by PC-DOS from IBM, licensed from Microsoft. CPR (computer-based patient record) A system that contains electronically maintained information about an individual's health status and care. It focuses on tasks directly related to patient care, unlike other healthcare information systems that support providers' and payers' operational processes (which may, however, serve as source or feeder systems for the CPR). The CPR completely replaces the paper medical chart and thus must meet all clinical, legal and administrative requirements. cps (characters per second) A measure of the speed of hard-copy output devices, such as line printers. CPS (certification practice statement) A document defining all the operational practices that will be used to maintain the required level of public-key infrastructure (PKI) security. To prove that issued certificates are valid, an enterprise must demonstrate (usually through an audit) adherence to its CPS. The Internet Engineering Task Force's request for comment 2527 contains draft guidelines for the format and content of a CPS. See PKI. CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) A widely used controlled medical vocabulary (CMV) authored by the American Medical Association, originally created in 1966. The latest version � CPT, Fourth Edition (CPT-4) � describes medical and surgical procedures in a hierarchical format with six major sections and more than 8,000 codes. A series of two-digit modifiers are used to increase specificity, allowing the reporting of a procedure under specific circumstances. See CMV. CPT-4 (Current Procedural Terminology, Fourth Edition) � see CPT CPU (central processing unit) The component of a computer system that controls the interpretation and execution of instructions. The CPU of a PC consists of a single microprocessor, while the CPU of a more powerful mainframe consists of multiple processing devices, and in some cases, hundreds of them. The term "processor" is often used to refer to a CPU. CQI (continuous quality improvement) A methodology for continuous improvement of the quality of an enterprise's products, services or internal processes. CRC (cyclic redundancy check) An error detection technique that uses a series of two eight-bit block check characters to represent an entire block of data. These block check characters are incorporated into the transmission frame and then checked at the receiving end. critical path The sequence of activities in a process that do not have built-in slack time, and for which any delays will therefore cause commensurate delays in the overall process. critical-path method (see CPM) critical-path scheduling A project planning and monitoring method. It is used to schedule and track events and milestones associated with a project's critical-path activities. See critical path. critical success factor (see CSF) CRL (certificate revocation list) A "hot list" that identifies digital certificates that have been withdrawn, canceled or compromised, or that should not be trusted because of other identified reasons. CRLs should be replicated to all subscribing servers to a specific root certification authority. See digital certificate and certification authority. CRM (customer relationship management) A business strategy designed to optimize profitability, revenue and customer satisfaction by organizing the enterprise around customer segments, fostering customer-centric behavior and implementing customer-centric processes. The application domains of CRM include technology-enabled selling (TES), customer service and support (CSS), and technology- enabled marketing (TEM). CRM optimized through Web channels is known as e-channel CRM (e-CRM). See TES, CSS, TEM and e-CRM. CRM analytics A set of analyses that support customer relationship management (CRM) on both an individual-customer and an aggregate level, including the real-time monitoring of day-to- day operations. A significant aspect of performing true CRM analytics (as opposed to product or channel analytics) is the capability to integrate data and analyses across various distribution channels and business units, creating a holistic understanding of relationships. CRMS (CareEnhance Resource Management Software) An integrated suite of care delivery decision support tools, once a product of HBO & Company's (HBOC's) Payor Solutions Group (which called it "Clinical Resource Management System") and now a product of McKesson (which acquired HBOC in 1999). The CRMS suite merges clinical and financial data for reporting on costs, quality, accreditation, regulatory compliance and other healthcare management issues. CRM technologies Technologies that support customer relationship management (CRM) by enabling: Greater customer insight Increased customer access More effective interactions Integration throughout customer channels and back-office enterprise functions CRO (customer relationship optimization) Applying customer insight to plan the execution of customer interactions. CRO tools and strategies focus on determining what an enterprise's strategy should be during each customer interaction. These interactions fall into three categories: outbound campaigns, event-triggered interactions and inbound interactions. crossbar switch A switch with multiple vertical and horizontal paths, and relays enabling any of the vertical paths to be connected to any of the horizontal ones. cross-certification A process by which two enterprises can recognize and trust each other's digital certificates in a public-key infrastructure (PKI) security implementation. See digital certificate and PKI. cross-compiler A program that translates instructions from a high-level language on one computer to the machine language of another computer � the one on which the program is to be run. cross-docking The planning of warehouse "put away" assignments so that inventory can be moved from one shipment to another on a dock without movement to a rack or warehouse location. Although this type of inventory movement may violate lot and code date movement parameters, cross-dock planning is used frequently to minimize labor costs and handling in warehouses and distribution centers. cross-media publishing (see multichannel publishing) crossover cable A cable with wires that cross over so the terminating ends of the cable have opposite wire assignments. See straight-through cable. crosspoint 1 A mechanical or electronic switching element in a network switch. 2 A two-state semiconductor switching device having a low transmission system impedance in one state and a high one in the other. crosstalk Interference or an unwanted signal from one transmission circuit detected on another, usually parallel, circuit. CRP (capacity requirements planning) The process of specifying the level of resources (including facilities, equipment and labor) that best supports the enterprise's competitive strategy for production. CRT (cathode-ray tube) A display technology used in televisions and computer monitors. Within a CRT, focused electron streams illuminate dots on a fluorescent screen to produce moving images. CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) The regulatory authority for communications in Canada. C/S (see client/server) CSA (consolidated security administration) � see EUA (enterprise user administration) CSC (Computer Sciences Corp.) An IT consulting, outsourcing and system integration firm, founded in 1959 and headquartered in El Segundo, California. CSD (consolidated service desk) The hub where the needs of IT support groups, distributors, suppliers and customers are consolidated, and where network and system management tools are integrated. The CSD serves as an integration point for multiple management disciplines, the single point of contact for providing IS services to end users, and the source of automation for workflow processes. CSF (critical success factor) A methodology, management tool or design technique that enables the effective development and deployment of a project or process. CSLIP (Compressed Serial Line Internet Protocol) An extension of Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) that allows just the header information to be sent on a SLIP connection. See SLIP. CSM (component and supplier management) A category of applications designed to increase design reuse of proprietary and standard components, and to lower the cost of procuring components, by improving the ability to manage component and supplier issues. Elements of a CSM system include: Part classification and retrieval, providing the ability to classify parts using attributes and a classification scheme, along with a robust retrieval mechanism for searching and selecting parts. Component libraries, which are CD-ROM or Web catalogs that contain standard or commonly used components that can be purchased from external suppliers. Web component cataloging, for posting part and product specifications on an intranet or the Internet. Some CSM vendors provide Web authoring tools to enable enterprises to build their own part catalogs. Component and supplier process management, enabling part and supplier selection to be linked to, and managed with, the procurement process. CSMA/CD (carrier sense multiple access with collision detection) The access method used in Ethernet local-area networks. With CSMA/CD (also called "contention access"), a station initiating data transmission can detect when this transmission "collides" with that of another station connected to the same channel, and defer transmission until the channel is no longer active. CSO (chief sourcing officer) An enterprise executive responsible for the implementation of successful dynamic sourcing strategies, and effecting these strategies through IT service delivery that uses an ever-changing resource pool. To accomplish these responsibilities, CSOs have three focus points � communication, coordination and integration. CSP (chip scale package) A miniature semiconductor package, roughly the size of a chip. By industry definition, a true CSP has a die size no larger than 1.2 times the size of the chip design. CSP (commerce service provider) A service provider that specializes in Web-enabled e-commerce services, and offers software or outsourcing support for these services. CSPs provide payment processing bundled with front-end commerce features, such as hosted catalogs and shopping-cart functionality. CSR (continuous speech recognition) Technology that can understand continuous human speech, rather than just discrete words or phrases separated by pauses. See speech recognition. CSR (customer service representative) An employee who communicates with customers in a call or contact center. See call center, contact center and CSS. CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) A specification from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that provides a simple mechanism for adding text styles to Web documents. CSS defines a fixed set of presentation controls and formats associated with Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) elements. It can also control presentation of Extensible Markup Language (XML) elements embedded in an HTML text stream, but only when they are identical to the HTML elements defined within CSS. A presentation standard better-suited to XML's extensibility is provided in W3C's Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL). See XML and XSL. CSS (customer service and support) Once known as the "complaint department," CSS is responsible for retaining and extending customer relationships once a product or service is sold. Due to the increasing complexity of customer interactions, customer service organizations need a complex technological infrastructure that is flexible, extensible and scalable, and that integrates front-office applications with back-end processes and data. The components of CSS include: Call management � The core functionality of CSS applications. This component is used to log all incoming telephone calls and transactions and to manage the transaction from initiation through closure. Internet-based customer service suites � Also known as e-service suites, these applications and tools empower customers, partners and prospects for self-service and interactions with the enterprise via the Web. Field service and dispatch (FS/D) systems �FS/D software is evolving from solely back-office functionality to an enterprise system that tightly couples the back office with the front-office servicing systems. Contact centers � Traditional call centers handle voice-only customer contact, whereas contact centers include all types of channels of customer contact, including voice, the Web, fax and e-mail. CSTA (Computer Supported Telecommunications Applications) A European Computer Manufacturers Association standard for linking computers to telephone systems. CSU (channel service unit) A device found on digital links that transfers data faster than a modem but does not permit dial-up functions. It also performs certain line-conditioning and equalization functions, and responds to loop-back commands sent from a central office. A CSU is the link between digital lines from the central office and devices such as channel banks or data communications devices. CT2 (Cordless Telephone 2) A standard for digital mobile telephony, using a channel frequency between 864.1 megahertz (MHz) and 868.1 MHz. Common Air Interface (CAI) enables CT2 manufacturers' handsets to communicate with other manufacturers' base stations. See CAI. CTD (cell transfer delay) One of three negotiated quality of service (QOS) parameters for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks, defined by the ATM Forum. See ATM and QOS. CTG (Computer Task Group) An IT staffing, outsourcing and integration services firm headquartered in Buffalo, New York. CTI (computer-telephony integration) The intelligent linking of computers with switches, enabling coordinated voice and data transfers to the desktop. CTO (chief technology officer) The enterprise position responsible for managing technology infrastructure and resources, including technology deployment, network and system management, integration testing, and developing technical operations personnel. CTOs also manage client relations to ensure that service objectives and expectations are developed and managed for IT operations. CTP (capable to promise) A system that allows an enterprise to commit orders against available capacity, as well as inventory. These systems are evolving to include multiple sites, as well as the entire distribution network. CTR (click-through rate) The number of times a Web page advertisement is clicked, compared to the number of times it is displayed. Royalties are often based on CTR. This term is also used in reference a Web site's ability to persuade a visitor to "click through" to another site. CUA (consolidated user administration) � see EUA (enterprise user administration) CUG (closed user group) A setup that restricts access to and from one or more terminals to other members of the user group (found on packet-switched systems, e-mail, etc.). CUoD (Capacity Upgrade on Demand) An option available on certain IBM systems that allows a customer to activate additional processor capacity when needed. Current Procedural Terminology (see CPT) customer contact center (see contact center) customer data integration (see CDI) Customer Information Control System (see CICS) customer information file (see CIF) customer information management (see CIM) customer information management and application (see CIMA) customer information system (see CIS) customer interaction hub (see CIH) customer premises equipment (see CPE) customer profile A definition of customer preferences, behaviors or demographics. customer relationship management (see CRM) customer relationship optimization (see CRO) customer service and support (see CSS) customer service representative (see CSR) Custom Local Area Signaling Services (see CLASS) CVD (chemical vapor deposition) A process for depositing thin films on wafers that function as dielectrics, conductors or semiconductors. In CVD, the constituents in the vapor phase react chemically at the wafer surface to deposit the solid film. Gaseous byproducts of the reaction are removed (pumped away) from the chamber. CVP (Content Vectoring Protocol) A specification developed by Check Point Software, used for content screening and antivirus checking. cXML (Commerce XML) An XML-based specification for managing inventory control, purchase orders, purchase documentation and bidding procedures in Ariba marketplaces. cyberincident Any real or perceived event that could be considered a threat, encompasses some form of technology and has the potential to cause significant business disruption at a level that impacts the enterprise's infrastructure, customers or reputation. See CIRT. cyberincident response team (see CIRT) cyberbrochure Slang term for a corporate Web site that offers nothing but marketing and public- relations information. cyclic redundancy check (see CRC) D DA (data administration) � see DBA (database administration) DA (data administrator) � see DBA (database administrator) D/A (digital-to-analog) The term used to describe a type of converter used to bridge digital and analog circuitry. D/A converters can either be stand-alone microcomponents, or included in the functionality embedded in advanced integrated circuits. DAA (data access arrangement) An interface device once used to interconnect customer-owned data terminal equipment (DTE) to a telephone network. This interface is now generally integrated into such equipment. See DTE. DAC (digital-to-analog converter) Component used to bridge the digital and analog circuitry contained in certain advanced integrated circuits. Also known as a "D/A converter." DAC (Design Automation Conference) Annual electronics industry conference devoted to electronic design automation (EDA) methodologies and tools. See EDA. DAE (Disk Array Enclosure) A type of disk array module offered in EMC's CLARiiON storage systems. daemon A program that runs in the background and provides system services on an ongoing, indefinite basis for one or more client applications, such as printing files on a shared printer. daisy chain The connection of multiple devices in a serial fashion. An advantage of daisy-chaining is savings in transmission facilities. A disadvantage is that if a device malfunctions, all of the devices daisy-chained behind it are disabled. DAMA (demand assigned multiple access) Allocation of communication satellite time to earth stations as the need arises. DAO (Data Access Objects) The programming interface for the Microsoft Jet database engine; a precursor to ActiveX Data Objects (see ADO). DAP (Directory Access Protocol) An X.500 protocol for client access to server directories. A less complex version DAP, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), has emerged as the as the favored method of interfacing among different directories, especially for Internet use. See X.500 and LDAP. DAPP (data analysis and provider profiling) A category of healthcare value-added applications that support analysis of administrative data for the purposes of network management, actuarial and underwriting functions, medical management, and performance measurement. dark fiber Fiber-optic cable deployments that are not yet being used to carry network traffic. (The word "dark" refers to the fact that no light is passing through the optical fibers.) DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) The U.S. Defense Department agency that developed the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET, the forerunner of today's Internet) and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). See Internet and TCP/IP. DAS (direct-attached storage) A broad category of storage technology that includes: Redundant array of independent disks (RAID) storage that is internal and host- attached (both the RAID controller and software technologies and the hard disk drives are housed within the server) Host-attached, external RAID storage (the RAID controller and software technologies are housed within the server, and the hard disk drives are housed separately from the server in a high-availability RAID enclosure) RAID controller-based storage (a separate enclosure � incorporating both the RAID controller and software technologies and the hard disk drives � is attached directly to the server). See RAID. DASD (direct-access storage device) Generic nomenclature for a storage peripheral that can respond directly to random requests for information. The term usually denotes a disk drive. DASS (Digital Access Signaling System) The original British Telecom (BT) Integrated Services Distributed Network (ISDN) signaling system developed for single-line and multiline digital access to the public network, but used in the BT ISDN pilot service for single-line access only. DASS2 (Digital Access Signaling System 2) A message-based signaling system developed by BT and its suppliers for multiline integrated digital access to the public network; an updated version of Digital Access Signaling System (see DASS). DAT (digital audiotape) A magnetic tape that stores audio data in digital form. data Raw facts and figures that a computer processes into usable information. Data such as cash receipts mean little until processed into information such as an open receivable balance. data access arrangement (see DAA) Data Access Objects (see DAO) data administration � see DBA (database administration) data administrator � see DBA (database administrator) data analysis and provider profiling (see DAPP) data archive A static, independent copy of a related set of files for intermediate or long-term storage, usually to satisfy financial-reporting, audit, regulatory and ad hoc retrieval requirements. The primary files can be left intact or deleted when the archive is created. database An electronic filing system organized by fields, records and files. A field is a single piece of information, a record is a set of fields and a file is a collection of records. Database 2 (see DB2) database administration/administrator (see DBA) database management system (see DBMS) database marketing The process of analyzing database-captured customer, product and purchasing information in order to allocate marketing resources to those activities that have the greatest impact and return on profitable customer relationships. database partitioning The practice of separating a database into portions that may reside on more than one disk volume or more than one system. data center The department in an enterprise that houses and maintains back-end information technology (IT) systems and data stores � its mainframes, servers and databases. In the days of large, centralized IT operations, this department and all the systems resided in one physical place, hence the name "data center." With today's more distributed computing methods, single data center sites are still common, but are becoming less so. The term continues to be used to refer to the department that has responsibility for these systems, no matter how dispersed they are. Datacenter Server (see DCS) data circuit A communications facility that enables transmission of data in either direction, in either analog or digital form. data circuit-terminating equipment � see DCE (data communications equipment) data communications The transmission, reception and validation of data � specifically, the transfer of data over one or more communications links, using appropriate protocols, by means of an electromagnetic or optical transmission system. data communications equipment (see DCE) data compression A technique that saves storage space or bandwidth consumption by eliminating gaps, empty fields, redundancies or unnecessary information to shorten the length of data records or blocks. data control language (see DCL) data conversion The process of changing data from one form of representation to another. data definition language (see DDL) data dictionary A repository of information about data that supplies the meaning of the data, its relationship to other data, its origin, its usage and its format. The dictionary assists management, database administrators, system analysts and application programmers in effectively planning, controlling and evaluating the collection, storage and use of data. A data dictionary manages data categories such as aliases, elements, records, structure, stores, models, flows, relationships, processes, functions, dynamics, size, resource consumption and other, user-defined data attributes. Data Encryption Standard (see DES) data exchange interface (see DXI) Data Facility Storage Management Subsystem (see DFSMS) datagram A packet of data that can be transmitted over a packet-switched system in a connectionless mode. This is a type of "fire and forget" mechanism that has no concept of a transaction or acknowledgment. data integrity The assurance that data has not been lost or corrupted in the course of being stored or communicated. Aside from hackers or deliberate destruction, the main threats to data integrity include network transmission errors such as dropped packets, storage hardware errors such as bad disk sectors, and application errors such as database replication errors. Methods of ensuring data integrity include redundancy and parity checking for data storage and transmission, and two-phase commit and template filtering for data entry and database management. Data Interchange Format (see DIF) Data Language I (see DL/I) data link Any serial data communications transmission path, generally between two adjacent nodes or devices and without any intermediate switching nodes. See data link layer. data link layer The layer in the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model concerned with transmission of data between adjacent network nodes. It is the second layer in the OSI model, between Layer 1 (the physical layer) and Layer 3 (the network layer). See data link and OSI. Data Link Switching (see DLSw) data local-exchange carrier (see DLEC) data logging Recording data about events in the time sequence in which they occur. data manipulation language (see DML) data mart A system that provides access to a limited number of data sources and a data model to aid in decision making for a specific business or application � in contrast to the enterprisewide, strategic focus of the data warehouse. See data warehouse. data mining The process of discovering meaningful correlations, patterns and trends by sifting through large amounts of data stored in repositories. Data mining employs pattern recognition technologies, as well as statistical and mathematical techniques. Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specification (see DOCSIS) data PBX A private branch exchange (PBX) devoted to data, rather than voice, communications. See PBX. data processing Rapid processing of large amounts of information through mechanical or electronic means � a function originally performed by tabulating machines, and today performed by computers. data rate The speed at which a channel carries data, typically measured in bits per second. data service unit (see DSU) data synchronization A form of embedded middleware that allows applications to update data on two systems so that the data sets are identical. These services can run via a variety of different transports but typically require some application-specific knowledge of the context and notion of the data being synchronized. data terminal equipment (see DTE) Data Universal Numbering System (see DUNS) data VPN A virtual private network (VPN) devoted to data, rather than voice, communications. See VPN. data warehouse A storage architecture designed to hold data extracted from transaction systems, operational data stores (ODSs) and external sources. The warehouse then combines that data in an aggregate, summary form suitable for enterprisewide data analysis and reporting for predefined business needs. The five components of a data warehouse are: Production data sources Data extraction and conversion The data warehouse database management system (DBMS) Data warehouse administration Business intelligence tools See DBMS, ODS and business intelligence. dB (decibel) The unit for measuring the relative strength of a signal, equal to 10 times the logarithm of the ratio of one signal's power to that of another � or to a reference level (typically one milliwatt, in electronics and radio). DB (see database) DB2 (Database 2) IBM's relational database management system (RDBMS) offering, originally built for Multiple Virtual Storage (MVS) systems. It uses Structured Query Language (SQL) as its data manipulation and definition language. IBM has released versions of DB2 for several other operating systems, such as Windows and Unix. See RDBMS, MVS and SQL. DBA (database administration) The role of a database administrator, i.e., managing the data contained in a database. Also known as "data administration." DBA (database administrator) The person responsible for managing data, namely data set placement, database performance, and data recovery and integrity at a physical level. Also known as a "data administrator." DBCS (double-byte character set) A type of character set large enough to support languages with high numbers of characters (notably Asian languages such as Kanji). DBM (see database marketing) DBMS (database management system) A system that enables end users or application programmers to share data. It provides a systematic method of creating, updating, retrieving and storing information in a database. DBMSs also typically perform data integrity, data access control, and automated rollback, restart and recovery functions. See database. DBS (direct broadcast satellite) A wireless technology for broadcasting by transmitting a compressed high-speed signal via satellite. DC (direct current) Type of power supply in which the electric current flows in only one direction, as distinguished from an alternating current (AC). See AC. DCA (distributed component architecture) An architecture in which the various logical functions of an integration broker (such as message capture, transformation, routing and delivery) are implemented as separate components that can be executed on different machines. DCD (Document Content Description) A World Wide Web Consortium specification for expressing Extensible Markup Language (XML) data types and value constraints. See XML. DCE (data communications equipment) Equipment (also known as "data circuit-terminating equipment") that performs the functions required to connect data terminal equipment (DTE) to a data circuit. In the Electronic Industry Alliance's RS-232 specification, designation as either DTE or DCE determines the signaling role in handshaking. See DTE and RS-232. DCE (Distributed Computing Environment) A vendor-neutral framework created by the Open Software Foundation (now The Open Group) to support distributed applications by integrating the appropriate technologies into a single environment while addressing interoperability, standards and security. DCE integrates remote procedure calls, presentation services, a naming directory, security, threads (sequential flows of control similar to tasks), time services (to synchronize clocks) and a distributed file system. DCE (distributed computing environment) Generic term for a computing environment in which data and applications are distributed among disparate computers or systems, but are connected and integrated such that they function as a single environment. data control language DCL (data control language) Statements used to grant or revoke data access and update privileges in Structured Query Language (SQL). See SQL. DCM (document component management) A concept that applies the principles of managing entire documents to managing parts of documents. Every significant unit of information is identifiable as a separate entity and is subject to the same core library services (such as check in/check out, version control and security) that integrated document management (IDM) provides on complete documents or sections of documents. Structural markup within the document (for example, using XML) identifies the components of information. Unlike IDM, information about the content � metadata or attributes � is captured on the inside and embedded in the content rather than stored on the outside as a separate index of information. This is essential when pointing to information elements required for selective reuse, updating, associating data with related information, storing translations, validity checking and other component-level processes. See IDM. DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) A version of Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) that enables application components to be distributed over several computers through the use of a remote procedure call (RPC). See COM and RPC. DCS (Datacenter Server) A Microsoft product focused on the highest end of the Windows 2000 server market. It provides support for up to 32-way systems, as much as 64 gigabytes of physical memory, and four-node, high-availability clustering. DCS-1800 (Digital Cellular Service 1800) A GSM-based standard for digital cellular communications in the 1.8-GHz frequency range, introduced in Europe and Asia in the mid-1990s. DCS (digital cross-connect system) A computerized facility allowing 1.544-Mbps DS1 lines to be remapped electronically at the 64-Kbps DS0 level. This means that DS0 channels can be individually rerouted and reconfigured into different DS1 lines. See DSx series. DCS (distributed control system) A form of direct digital control for process automation, distributing specialty-purpose controllers across a common communication network throughout a manufacturing plant. In a DCS, measurement, control and communications are distributed in function and location. By partitioning and distributing control functions, local controllers throughout the plant remain in control of the process if central control room consoles are lost. Likewise, if one local control station fails, other local controllers continue to operate. DCSs are usually deployed in fault-tolerant modes using redundant system configurations to achieve high measures of system availability. DCT (discrete cosine transform) An algorithm used for video compression. DDA (Distributed Data Architecture) Groupe Bull's scheme for data interoperability. DDBMS (distributed database management system) A database management system (DBMS) that enables end users or application programmers to view a collection of physically separate databases as a logical single-system image. The concept that is most fundamental to the DDBMS is location transparency, meaning the user should not be conscious of the actual location of data. See DBMS. DDD (direct distance dialing) A telephone exchange service that enables telephone users to place long-distance calls without operator assistance. DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) A Microsoft technology for sharing data between two applications or files. DDE enables data used in one file to be automatically updated in the other. Both applications must be in use, and DDE does not work over a network. Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) provides a more sophisticated approach. See OLE. DDL (data definition language) A language used to describe the data model for a Structured Query Language (SQL) database � that is, the names and access paths for the data and how they are interrelated. See SQL. DDM (see distributed data management) DDN (Digital Data Network) A network service established in China in 1994, connecting Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai and other provincial capitals. Each post and telecommunications administration in China has a department regulating DDN service in its region. DDNS (Dynamic Domain Name System) A technology that automatically updates the logical names of dynamically assigned Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in the Domain Name System (DNS) server of an IP network. Specifications for a standard approach to DDNS were defined in Request for Comment 2136, introduced in 1997. See IP and DNS. DDS (digital data service) A dedicated data transmission service that operates over interconnected digital private lines. DDS (Digital Data Storage) A format for digital tape storage, originally introduced in 1988 by Hewlett-Packard and Sony. decibel (see dB) decision support system (see DSS) DECnet A family of peer-to-peer, Ethernet-based network products from Compaq (formerly Digital Equipment), now part of Hewlett-Packard. DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) An interface specification for European digital mobile telephony. DECT employs 10 carrier frequencies between 1.88 gigahertz (GHz) and 1.9 GHz, and has a transmission speed of 144 kilobits per second. It is typically used for short-range communications and wireless- local-loop applications. dedicated circuit A communications line dedicated for private enterprise or personal use. deep packet inspection (see DPI) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (see DARPA) degaussing A technique used to permanently erase any trace of data from magnetic media and hard drives. When done properly, it renders any previously stored data unreadable. Degaussing requires the purchase of a degaussing product, frequent product testing and a skilled operator. Unfortunately, some degaussers will also damage the electronics on a hard drive, thereby permanently disabling the data and the device. delay distortion The change in a signal from the transmitting end to the receiving end, resulting from the tendency of some frequency components within a channel to take longer to be propagated than others. delimiter In data communications, a character that separates and organizes elements of data. delta modulation A method of representing a speech waveform (or other analog signal) in which successive bits represent increments of the waveform. The increment size is not necessarily constant. demand assigned multiple access (see DAMA) demand planning The process of forecasting and managing the demand for products and services by end users, as well as by intermediate supply chain members. demand management The process of matching future demand with (sometimes constrained) projected available supply. demilitarized zone (see DMZ) demodulation The process of retrieving data from a modulated carrier wave; the reverse of modulation. DEN (Directory-Enabled Networks) An initiative formed by Microsoft and Cisco to define a directory schema foundation for common network objects, and for the use of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) as a query protocol. Microsoft and Cisco turned over control of DEN to the Distributed Management Task Force, which has incorporated the specification under its Common Information Model (CIM). See LDAP and CIM. denial of service (see DoS) dense wave division multiplexing (see DWDM) DES (Data Encryption Standard) A security specification developed by IBM in 1977. Still in use today, it is available at no charge from many online bulletin boards and is based on a single-key encryption algorithm. If user A wants to send an encrypted file to user B, user A would first encrypt it with a secret key. User B would then decrypt the file using the same key. Recipients must prearrange for possession of the appropriate key for decryption to take place. Design Automation Conference (see DAC) design for logistics (see DFL) design for manufacturability (see DFM) desktop alternative A computer system that meets all the criteria for a notebook PC but is designed to replicate the functionality of a desktop. It weighs 6 pounds or more. The screen can be as large as 16 inches, with Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) resolution or higher. Target markets include engineers and other users who require certain desktop features and functions in a portable format. Desktop Management Interface (see DMI) desktop management services The management and optimization of an enterprise's distributed desktop and associated network environment � as opposed to a stand-alone PC or workstation environment. Desktop management typically involves long-term contractual relationships � as opposed to finite projects � and involves the management of one or more IT functions in a customer's distributed desktop infrastructure. The primary focus of outsourced services is on operational aspects of a customer's distributed desktop environment. These services include, but are not limited to, the following: Consulting Design Procurement Integration Hardware and software maintenance Help desk management Asset management Desktop Management Task Force (see DMTF) desktop publishing The process of designing and publishing documents using desktop software and hardware, such as PCs, printers and scanners. The desktop-publishing software category includes page layout and design applications from vendors such as Adobe Systems and Quark. desktop services Acquisition, maintenance and ongoing management of PC hardware and software assets. desktop videoconferencing The ability of two or more geographically separated users to meet via their personal computers. A typical system involves a PC, a monitor-mounted camera, a network connection, and special software that facilitates the exchange of video and audio. Deutsches Institut fur Normung (see DIN) device relationship management (see DRM) DFL (design for logistics) A product design approach that considers logistical issues, such the manner in which the product will be stored or transported. DFM (design for manufacturability) An approach for designing products in ways that optimize their manufacture. Dfs (Distributed File System) A Microsoft Windows 2000 feature that allows multiple servers to provide file shares under the hierarchy of a common logical share. Multiple servers can sponsor identical file shares to provide redundancy and differing levels of response time. DFS (Distributed File System) A Distributed Computing Environment (DCE) standard that provides users with a common file system across different operating systems. When a file is moved, DFS tracks the new location by storing its address in a database. DFS also eases backup difficulties by automating regular backup routines across each cell through a backup server. See DCE. DFSMS (Data Facility Storage Management Subsystem) The conceptual repackaging of IBM's Data Facility family of products and Resource Access Control Facility (RACF). It is intended to simplify the management and use of external storage resources by providing a device-independent means of requesting services by data set. See RACF. DFSMSdfp (DFSMS Data Facility Product) One of four components of IBM's Data Facility Storage Management Subsystem (DFSMS). DFSMSdfp provides data access and catalog management functions. See DFSMS. DFSMSdss (DFSMS Data Set Services) An IBM software product that provides copy, dump-restore and storage space management functions. It is one of the four modules of IBM's Data Facility Storage Management Subsystem (DFSMS). See DFSMS. DFSMShsm (DFSMS Hierarchical Storage Manager) The module of IBM's Data Facility Storage Management Subsystem (DFSMS) that provides automatic space and availability management within a storage hierarchy. See DFSMS. DFSMSrmm (DFSMS Removable Media Manager) The tape management module in IBM's Data Facility Storage Management Subsystem (DFSMS). DFSMSrmm is used to track the location of all tapes, including those at remote sites or in transit. See DFSMS. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) An Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) specification for allocating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and other configuration information based on network adapter addresses. It enables address pooling and allocation and simplifies TCP/IP installation and administration. See IETF, IP and TCP/IP. DHTML (Dynamic HTML) Netscape and Microsoft technology that offers client-side mechanisms for enhancing the capabilities of Web browsers and Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) documents. DHTML is often confused with dynamically generated HTML, which is HTML is generated by a program or service. Dynamically generated HTML might contain DHTML, but the terms are no synonymous. See HTML. diagnostic program A software routine used to check equipment malfunctions and to pinpoint faulty components. Dialed Number Identification Service (see DNIS) dial-up The process of, or the equipment or facilities involved in, establishing a temporary network connection via the public switched telephone network. DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) A communication standard developed by the American College of Radiology and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association for use in digital radiology systems (such as computed-radiography, computed-tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems). DIF (Data Interchange Format) A file format developed for VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet. Still used today as a means for transferring files to and from spreadsheets. DIF (Directory Interoperability Forum) Coalition formed in 1999 by IBM, Novell, Oracle, Lotus Development and Isocor to promote the use of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) by developers, and to accelerate directory interoperability standards. See LDAP. Diffie-Hellman The first widely deployed public-key algorithm. Initially owned by Cylink, it passed into the public domain in 1997. DiffServ (Differentiated Services) A protocol that helps support network quality of service. DiffServ enables data packet fields to carry information about the specific level of service a packet should receive on the network. digital Of or related to the representation, transmission or storage of information in the form of strings of binary digits � rather than in the form of a continuously varying signal (i.e., analog form). See analog. Digital Access Signaling System (see DASS) Digital Access Signaling System 2 (see DASS2) digital audiotape (see DAT) Digital Cellular Service 1800 (see DCS-1800) digital certificate An encrypted code issued to two or more parties by a certification authority, and used to verify these parties' identities through the exchange of their public keys. See certification authority. digital cross-connect system (see DCS) Digital Data Network (see DDN) digital data service (see DDS) Digital Data Storage (see DDS) digital dial tone A Gartner term describing the combination of Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Internet transport protocols � such as Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) and File Transfer Protocol (FTP) � to create a ubiquitous capability to exchange structured information. The metaphor relies on the contrast between traditional business to business (B2B) message exchanges � such as electronic data exchange (EDI) and various vertical- industry-specific standards � and the unstructured communications media of telephone and fax. The former required considerable investment and the interposition of a private network � or substantial bilateral negotiation � to achieve interoperability, while the latter are ubiquitous and broadly interoperable. With the Internet and ubiquitous software to implement Internet transport protocols, business partners can reduce the cost, delay and risk of implementing B2B messaging. Internet transport protocols by themselves do not constitute a complete digital-dialtone solution; communicating systems must be programmed to additional specifications in key areas such as security, routing and access control. Ubiquity will not be achieved until integration products agree on standards for meeting these requirements. See XML, HTTP, FTP and EDI. digital divide The lack of opportunities experienced by those with limited accessibility to technology, especially the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, accessibility challenges in the following areas: Cultural (e.g., membership of a community that prohibits or restricts access to technology) Physical (e.g., having a disability that make it difficult or impossible to use a computer) Economic (e.g., being unable to afford a computer) Educational (e.g., not knowing how to use a computer) Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications(see DECT) Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (see DICOM) digital linear tape (see DLT) digital mock-up (see DMU) digital modem A modem used for digital, rather than analog, data transmission. Examples include the digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable modems used for high-speed Internet access. See modem, cable modem and DSL modem. digital network A network incorporating both digital switching and digital transmission. Digital Private Network Signaling System (see DPNSS) digital rights management (see DRM) digital signal A discrete or discontinuous signal; one whose various states are discrete intervals apart. Digital Signal Cross-Connect Level 1 (see DSX-1) Digital Signal Cross-Connect Level 3 (see DSX-3) Digital Signal Level 0 (see DS0) Digital Signal Level 1 (see DS1) Digital Signal Level 3 (see DS3) digital signal processor (see DSP) digital signature A core component of a public key infrastructure (PKI) security installation. A digital signature can prove identity because it is created with the private key portion (which only the key holder should access) of a public/private key pair. Anyone with the sender's widely published public key can decrypt the signature and, by doing so, receive the assurance that the data must have come from the sender (nonrepudiation of the sender) and that the data has not changed (integrity). The data that is encrypted with the private key is not the entire message, but a short, fixed-length block of data that is computed from the message using a so-called "hash" function. See PKI. Digital Signature Algorithm (see DSA) digital subscriber line (see DSL) digital subscriber line access multiplexer (see DSLAM) digital subscriber line modem (see DSL modem) digital television (see DTV) digital-to-analog converter (see DAC) digital versatile disc (see DVD) digital versatile disc read-only memory (see DVD-ROM) digital videodisc (see DVD) Digital Video Interface (see DVI) digitization The conversion of paper-based or analog information into a digital data format. digitizer Input technology that digitally captures handwritten letters or images recorded with a pen or stylus on an electronic pad (for example, in a personal digital assistant or tablet PC). DIMM (dual in-line memory module) A memory packaging form factor that allows for a wider data path to memory, higher memory capacities in systems, and potentially easier upgrading than traditional single in-line memory modules (SIMMs). See SIMM. DIN (Deutsches Institut fur Normung) A German standards body. The acronym is also the common name of a multipin connector format defined by this body. DIN connectors are often used in computer hardware such as PCs and notebooks. DIP (dual in-line package) A method of packaging electronic components for mounting on printed circuit boards. direct-access storage device (see DASD) direct-attached storage (see DAS) direct broadcast satellite (see DBS) direct dial The ability to place calls directly to an extension, bypassing the switchboard operator. direct distance dialing (see DDD) direct memory access (see DMA) Directory Access Protocol (see DAP) Directory- Enabled Networks (see DEN) Directory Interoperability Forum (see DIF) directory service A service that maps logical names to physical addresses in a network. In addition to address naming, directory services include network resource location and mapping. Directory Services Markup Language (see DSML) Directory XML (see DirXML) direct-sequence spread spectrum (see DSSS) DirXML (Directory XML) A version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) offered by Novell for enterprisewide directory integration. DirXML uses XML formats in a metadirectory store of data common to all directories. disaster recovery Methods and procedures for returning a system, network or data center to full operation after a catastrophic interruption � including the recovery of lost data, the use of alternative network channels if the primary channels are disconnected or malfunctioning. disaster recovery planning (see DRP) discrete cosine transform (see DCT) discrete manufacturing The production of a discrete category of goods (such as automobiles, aircraft, computers or component assemblies). discrete multitone (see DMT) Disk Array Enclosure (see DAE) disk drive A computer device that reads from, and stores information on, a floppy or hard disk. disk mirroring The duplication of disks and controllers so that two access paths exist in case a failure occurs on one of them. Disk Operating System (see DOS) distance learning (see distributed learning) Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol (see DVMRP) distortion An unwanted change in a waveform that occurs between points in a transmission system. distributed component architecture (see DCA) Distributed Component Object Model (see DCOM) distributed computing A form of computing in which data and applications are distributed among disparate computers or systems, but are connected and integrated by means of network services and interoperability standards so that they function as a single environment. See DCE (distributed computing environment). Distributed Computing Environment (see DCE) distributed computing environment (see DCE) distributed control system (see DCS) Distributed Data Architecture (see DDA) distributed database A database whose objects (tables, views, columns and files) reside on more than one system in a network, and can be accessed or updated from any system in the network. distributed database management system (see DDBMS) distributed data management A form of client/server computing in which some portion of the application data executes on two or more computers. One of the five styles of client/server defined by Gartner. See client/server. Distributed File System (see DFS and Dfs) distributed function A form of client/server computing in which some of the application program logic executes on one computer, possibly with a database, and the rest of the application resides on another computer, possibly along with presentation services. One of the five styles of client/server defined by Gartner. See client/server. Distributed interNet Applications (see DNA) distributed learning The distribution of the learning environment across boundaries of time and space (also known as "distance learning"). Distributed learning includes e-learning (the network-enabled delivery of digital learning content), but also includes other types of learning that don't involve computers. For example, correspondence courses and classes taught via videotape or closed-circuit television are forms of distributed learning. See e-learning. distributed lock manager (see DLM) Distributed Management Environment (see DME) Distributed Management Task Force (see DMTF) distributed memory parallel processor (see DMPP) distributed output management (see DOM) distributed presentation A form of client/server computing in which some of the presentation handling executes on one computer and the rest of the presentation, along with the remainder of the application and the database, executes on another. One of the five styles of client/server defined by Gartner. See client/server. distributed processing The ability of an application to run on one or more nodes of a multiplatform network. The user need not be aware of the physical location of the data or the application software. The application can operate using cooperative processing, but this condition is not necessary. See cooperative processing. Distributed Relational Data Architecture (see DRDA) Distributed System Object Model (see DSOM) distributed systems Computer systems in multiple locations throughout an enterprise working in a cooperative fashion. The system at each location serves the needs of that location but also is able to receive information from, and supply information to, other systems within the network. distributed system management (see DSM) distributed transaction processing (see DTP) distribution and logistics A category of product distribution management and warehousing functions that includes physically moving parts, components, spares and products between two or more locations. The processes involved include rating and routing of both inbound and outbound freight, tracking and tracing of shipments, freight bill payment and auditing, import and export compliance and documentation, and load optimization. Advanced concepts utilize logistics modeling, financial optimization and third-party logistics management tools. distribution channel A selling channel supported by an enterprise. Distribution channels may include retail sales, distribution partners, original equipment manufacturers and Internet channels. distribution management system (see DMS) distribution requirements planning (see DRP) DL (see distributed learning) DLEC (data local-exchange carrier) A local-exchange carrier (LEC) that specializes in broadband data services, such as digital subscriber line (DSL) service. In the late 1990s, many believed that DLEC service would be a booming market; by 2001, however, as DSL growth fell short of expectation, it became clear that DLEC business model was unlikely to be a commercially viable one. See LEC and DSL. DL/I (Data Language I) The language in which application programmers specify requirements to IBM's Information Management System Database Manager (IMS DB). See IMS and IMS DB. DLL (dynamic link library) A Windows mechanism that links executable code modules to an application program or process. A DLL is loaded at runtime by the application or process that invokes it. DLM (distributed lock manager) A mechanism used to synchronize data access and updates in a shared-disk cluster to ensure transaction integrity and data consistency. See cluster. DLSw (Data Link Switching) An IBM-developed technique for carrying Systems Network Architecture (SNA) traffic over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network. DLSw "tunnels" or encapsulates SNA traffic using the transport services of TCP/IP. See SNA and TCP/IP. DLT (digital linear tape) A linear recording tape drive designed by Digital Equipment and sold to Quantum in 1993. The technology became a de facto standard for backup and archive applications in 1997. DM (see data mart) DMA (direct memory access) A facility in a computer's processor architecture that permits data to be sent directly to or from system memory without passing through the processor's general registers. DME (Distributed Management Environment) A mix of network management specifications introduced by the Open Software Foundation (OSF) in the early 1990s. See OSF. DMI (Desktop Management Interface) An architecture specification defined by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF), designed to give vendors and users a common vendor- and protocol-neutral framework to manage desktop systems, servers, peripherals and components. See DMTF. DML (data manipulation language) A set of commands used by a Structured Query Language (SQL) programmer to access and manipulate data. See SQL. DMPP (distributed memory parallel processor) A massively parallel processing system without shared-memory capabilities; also known as "loosely coupled." DMS (distribution management system) Another term for warehouse management system (WMS). Some people use the term DMS because the system is used to control the activities within a distribution center. See WMS. DMT (discrete multitone) A frequency division method for transmitting data over twisted-pair lines using 256 frequencies in the 64 kilohertz to 1.1 megahertz range. Used in digital subscriber line (DSL) service, DMT is a sophisticated signaling method, with robust error correction and bandwidth management features. See DSL. DMTF (Distributed Management Task Force) An industry organization (formerly known as the Desktop Management Task Force) promoting the development, adoption and unification of management standards and initiatives for desktop, enterprise and Internet environments. DMU (digital mock-up) A 3-D application used to simulate mechanical designs. DMZ (demilitarized zone) Technical jargon for the protected subnet between an intranet and the public Internet. DNA (Distributed interNet Applications) A Microsoft application development framework. DNAfs (Distributed interNet Applications for Financial services) An application development framework from Microsoft that contains industry-neutral object libraries, along with financial-services-specific extensions and logic. The extensions support industry standards (such as Open Financial Exchange), while the logic includes standard definitions for various transaction participants. DNA-M (Distributed interNet Applications for Manufacturing) A Microsoft development framework for manufacturing applications, including plant system integration and supply chain planning. DNIS (Dialed Number Identification Service) A feature of toll-free phone service that identifies the number a caller dialed to place an incoming call. DNIS is typically used when multiple organizations share common call facilities that can be reached through multiple toll-free numbers. DNS (Domain Name System) The system that serves as the map between logical names and network addresses in an Internet Protocol (IP) network. See IP. DOCSIS (Data-Over-Cable Service Interface Specification) A set of communications and operations support specifications for residential cable modem technology. Developed by vendors in the U.S. cable technology industry, DOCSIS has been accepted as a worldwide standard by the International Telecommunication Union. More than 90 percent of the world's cable modems are DOCSIS-compliant. document component management (see DCM) Document Content Description (see DCD) document imaging The conversion of paper documents into digital images through the use of a scanner or similar device, and the storage and management of electronic documents created through this process. document management A function in which applications or middleware perform data management tasks tailored for typical unstructured documents (including compound documents). It may also be used to manage the flow of documents through their life cycles. Document Object Model (see DOM) document type definition (see DTD) DOM (distributed output management) Middleware that drives the output process and supports the automated creation and delivery of documents. Key DOM capabilities include the ability to deliver documents to hard-copy output devices, such as printers or fax machines, as well as electronically via e- mail or Web servers. DOM (Document Object Model) A language-neutral interface from the World Wide Web Consortium, designed to enable programs and scripts to dynamically access and update the content, structure and style of documents. domain A group of nodes on a network that form an administrative entity. In the Internet naming hierarchy, a domain is a grouping of networks based on organization type or geography. domain name A unique identifier for an Internet site or Internet Protocol (IP) network address, consisting of at least two segments separated by periods. Enterprises must register top- level domains with the Web Internet Registry and pay a yearly fee to maintain the registry. Domain Name System (see DNS) DoS (denial of service) The inability of a Web site or other server to respond to legitimate connections. DoS attacks are used to block access to a target Internet site. DOS (Disk Operating System) A command-driven PC operating system (OS) that resides in main memory and uses disks for data storage. It was once the standard OS for IBM-compatible PCs. Early versions of Microsoft Windows ran on top of DOS. dot-com Slang term for a company that conducts all or most of its business over the Internet. The term derives from the ".com" characters that appears at the end of many commercial Web site addresses. dots per inch (see dpi) double-byte character set (see DBCS) double supertwisted nematic (see DSTN) downlink The portion of a satellite circuit extending from the satellite to the earth. download The process of copying a file onto a computer through a network, typically from a server or other computing device. Download times can be greatly affected by the transmission speed of a network connection. Download Fun A specification that supports secure downloading of consumer-oriented content using Internet-enabled mobile devices. Developed by Openwave, Download Fun is part of the GSM Association's Mobile Services (M-Services) initiative. See M-Services. downtime The total time a system is out of service. DP (see data processing) DPI (deep packet inspection) An advanced form of firewall technology that looks deeper into the packet stream than traditional packet inspection approaches to identify attempts at malicious behavior and block them. DPI uses capabilities such as signature inspection to look for known attacks, recognize "normal" traffic and block protocol anomalies. dpi (dots per inch) A measurement of image resolution; for example, the number of pixels per inch on a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display. See CRT. DPNSS (Digital Private Network Signaling System) A standard developed by British Telecommunications and other U.K. private branch exchange (PBX) suppliers. It enables PBXs from different vendors to be connected with E1 lines to pass calls transparently between each PBX. See E1 and PBX. DR (see disaster recovery) DRAM (dynamic random-access memory) A computer memory chip that requires electronic refresh cycles to preserve data stored for manipulation by logic chips. DRDA (Distributed Relational Data Architecture) An architecture for enterprisewide data access, introduced by IBM in 1990. It was designed to homogenize data definition and access across IBM's different hardware and software platforms. DRM (device relationship management) Technology to automate the management and reporting of remote devices � anything from a photocopy machine to the refrigerated trailer in a truck � through the capture and use of real-time information. DRM (digital rights management) Trusted exchange of digital information over the Internet whereby the user is granted only the privileges that the document sender allows. DRP (disaster recovery planning) Planning to ensure the timely recovery of information technology assets and services following a catastrophe, such as fire, flood or hardware failure. As such planning is increasingly coordinated with broader business recovery plans that go beyond IT, it is now commonly referred to as business continuity planning (BCP). See BCP. DRP (distribution requirements planning) The process of assessing the locations from which products should be deployed, and developing local-level stock replenishment plans. DS0 (Digital Signal Level 0) A standard 64-kilobit-per-second signal or channel carried over a T-carrier or E-carrier digital telecommunications facility. (Also presented as DS-0.) See T-carrier, E-carrier and DSx series. DS-0 (see DS0) DS1 (Digital Signal Level 1) An arrangement for carrying multiple signals over a digital telecommunications line. DS1 (also presented as DS-1) is used to multiplex 24 DS0 channels into one 1.544 megabit per second (Mbps) T1 line (in the United States), or 32 DS0 channels onto one 2.048 Mbps E1 line (in Europe). See DS0, T1 and E1. DS-1 (see DS1) DS3 (Digital Signal Level 3) An arrangement for carrying multiple signals over a digital telecommunications line. DS3 (also presented as DS-3) is used to multiplex 672 DS0 channels onto a 44.736 megabit per second (Mbps) T3 line (in the United States), or 480 DS0 channels onto a 34.368 Mbps E3 line (in Europe). See DS0, T3 and E3. DS-3 (see DS3) DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm) An encryption algorithm for digital signatures, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for use with NIST's Digital Signature Standard. See digital signature. DSA (Dynamic Scalable Architecture) A database server architecture offered as part of IBM's Informix Dynamic Server product line, designed to help enterprises manage increasingly large and complex databases while improving overall system performance and scalability. DSL (digital subscriber line) An "always-on" access technology that uses public switched telephone network (PSTN) infrastructure to offer high-speed access to the Internet. The technology exploits the unused capacity of the twisted-pair copper wire used in the PSTN. Various types of DSL technology include asymmetric DSL (ADSL), high-bit-rate DSL (HDSL), symmetric DSL (SDSL) and very-high-bit-rate DSL (VDSL). The whole group is sometimes referred to as "xDSL." See ADSL, HDSL, SDSL and VDSL. DSLAM (digital subscriber line access multiplexer) A traffic aggregation device that multiplexes upstream and downstream information in a digital subscriber line (DSL) network. In most cases, the DSLAM is located in the central office (CO) and connects to the CO switch to support analog voice service. On the network side, the DSLAM can interface with asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), Internet Protocol (IP) or another broadband service. On the local-loop side, it supports various types of DSL or a remote-access multiplexer (MUX). See DSL, ATM, IP, CO and MUX. DSL modem (digital subscriber line modem) An access device that enables computer equipment to connect to the Internet and other network services over the public switched telephone network, using digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. See modem and DSL. DSM (distributed system management) Processes or technology for managing distributed systems. DSM tools are capable of dealing with a limited number of distinct elements and require a strong directory. DSML (Directory Services Markup Language) An extensible markup language (XML) vocabulary for working with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directories. DSML development is overseen by a working group of the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS). The first version provided a format for representing the structure of a directory as an XML document, so that clients could read the directory using XML. Version 2 also supplies XML formats for directory queries, protocol bindings, operations on a directory and the results of these operations. Since version 2 implements LDAP using XML, it can bring LDAP functionality to clients that are incompatible with LDAP (such as mobile devices) or unable to access LDAP directories through firewalls. See XML, LDAP and OASIS. DSOM (Distributed System Object Model) An object-oriented technology introduced by IBM in the mid-1990s. It never evolved into a commercially successful product. DSP (digital signal processor) A specialized computer chip optimized for high data rates needed to process digitized wave forms, particularly those derived from analog sources. Often used in equipment requiring voice digitization. DSS (decision support system) A system designed to support strategic (vs. operating) decisions. DSSs tend to be user- friendly and emphasize ad hoc query, reporting and analysis capabilities. DSSS (direct-sequence spread spectrum) A technology for third-generation wireless LAN (WLAN) systems. DSSS is a type of spread- spectrum technology, which enables multiple signals to share a single radio band. It has the ability to deliver twice the bandwidth per node, per access point than frequency- hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) and is more resilient to certain types of multipath interference. See FHSS and WLAN. DSTN (double supertwisted nematic) A type of flat-panel display screen. DSU (data service unit) A simplified modem for the transmission of digital data over a private line or for limited- distance communications over the public switched telephone network (PSTN), where it is not necessary to comply with all the requirements for a high-speed modem. DSx series (Digital Signal Level x series) In the T-carrier and E-carrier systems, a series of digital signal levels (with "x" representing the level number), each providing a specific number of channels over a specific bandwidth. See DS0, DS1, DS3, T-carrier and E-carrier. DSX-1 (Digital Signal Cross-Connect Level 1) A standard electrical interface used to cross-connect T1 digital telecommunications lines and equipment running Digital Signal Level 1 (DS1) service. See T1 and DS1. DSX-3 (Digital Signal Cross-Connect Level 3) A standard electrical interface used to cross-connect T3 digital telecommunications lines and equipment running Digital Signal Level 3 (DS3) service. See T3 and DS3. DTD (document type definition) Document grammar defined in Extensible Markup Language (XML), describing an XML document's data elements and markup tags, along with any other defined data element attributes. Using a DTD, an XML parser can validate a document for conformance to a particular document type. See XML. DTE (data terminal equipment) End-user devices � such as terminals and computers connected to data communications equipment (DCE) � that either generate or receive the data carried by a network. In the Electronic Industry Alliance's RS-232 specification, designation as DTE or DCE determines the signaling role in handshaking. See RS-232. DTMF (dual-tone multifrequency signaling) The basis for operation of touch-tone telephones. DTMF is a method of signaling in which a matrix combination of two tones is used to transmit numerical information. DTP (see desktop publishing) DTP (distributed transaction processing) Transaction processing using distributed systems, rather than mainframes. A DTP monitor is a transaction-processing monitor (TPM) that serves as a middleware component, helps manage distributed servers on the network, and aids programmers by making the location of services transparent and decreasing their need to deal with database and low-level network protocols. The word "distributed" often qualifies "TPM" to denote that this component is a network tool rather than a mainframe one. However, the mainframe environment is where TPMs were first developed. See transaction processing and TPM. DTV (digital television) Technology for broadcasting and viewing digital television signals. Such technology includes DTV sets, which are specially designed to receive, demodulate and decompress digital terrestrial television signals, and provide complete systems for receiving and viewing digital entertainment. dual in-line memory module (see DIMM) dual in-line package (see DIP) dual-tone multifrequency signaling (see DTMF) dumb terminal A terminal that does not perform local processing of entered information, but serves only as an input/output device for an attached or network-linked processor. dump As a verb or noun, refers to the transfer all information from a stored record to another storage medium for output device � for example, outputting data from a file to a printer. DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) A system of classification that uses a nine-digit number assigned by Dun and Bradstreet Information Services to identify unique business entities. duplex A form of data transmission in which signals travel in both directions simultaneously (also known as "full duplex"). See half duplex and simplex. DVD (digital versatile disc) An optical disk (also known as a "digital videodisc") with the ability to store several gigabytes of data. DVD-ROM (digital versatile disc read-only memory) A read-only digital versatile disc (DVD) format designed specifically for the PC market. DVD-ROMs are the same size as compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) discs, but are loaded much more densely with data, with storage capacities starting at 4.7 gigabytes. See DVD and CD-ROM. DVI (Digital Video Interface) A specification for a computer monitor interface capable of carrying both analog and digital signals. DVI was developed by the Digital Display Working Group, an industry group formed by Intel and other vendors. DVI connectors can be used for analog monitor technologies such as cathode-ray tube (CRT), as well as digital ones such as liquid crystal display (LCD). For LCD displays, the use of a digital interface is needed to ensure a quality image and minimize setup requirements. See CRT and LCD. DVMRP (Distance Vector Multicast Routing Protocol) A protocol used for Internet Protocol (IP) multicast routing. See IP multicast. DW (see data warehouse) DWDM (dense wave division multiplexing) A technology used to increase fiber-optic transmission capacity (also called wave division multiplexing, or WDM). In fiber-optic networks such as Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), DWDM permits fibers to carry up to eight wavelengths of light, thus multiplying their capacity by the number of wavelengths carried. DWDM has been applied to a number of international submarine optical cables to increase capacity. See fiber optics and SONET. DXI (data exchange interface) A standard interface enabling customer premises equipment (such as routers) to access an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) or Switched Multimegabit Data Service (SMDS) network. See ATM and SMDS. dyadic A multiprocessor design term that IBM introduced with the 3081 Processor Complex. In the dyadic design, two processors share storage and operated under a single control program. dynamic bandwidth allocation The process of monitoring the traffic loads over a communications channel, and automatically increasing or decreasing the bandwidth of the channel to optimize overall network utilization efficiency. dynamic content Web site content that is continually refreshed to provide new or updated information to attract new viewers and to keep prior viewers returning to the site. Dynamic Data Exchange (see DDE) Dynamic Domain Name System (see DDNS) Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (see DHCP) Dynamic HTML (see DHTML) dynamic link library (see DLL) dynamic RAM (see DRAM) dynamic routing A method of network transmission that uses a router to select the most appropriate path for each section of data packet transmission along a network. Dynamic Scalable Architecture (see DSA) E E1 A European digital communications line with a transmission speed of 2.048 megabits per second (Mbps), as defined under the E-carrier system (see E-carrier). For Digital Signal Level 1 (DS1), 32 digital voice channels are multiplexed onto one E1 channel (see DS1). E.164 The International Telecommunications Union recommendation defining the format of international long-distance telephone numbers. E2 A digital telecommunications connection category defined under the European E-carrier system (see E-carrier). An E2 line has an aggregate capacity of 8.448 megabits per second. E3 A European digital telecommunications facility with a transmission speed of 34.368 megabits per second. For Digital Signal Level 3 (DS3), 32 voice channels are multiplexed onto one E3 channel. See E-carrier and DS3. EA (Enterprise Agreement) A Microsoft volume software agreement. E-AD (enterprise application development) A category of tools designed for use in developing enterprise (rather than departmental or workgroup) applications. Platform-specific E-AD tools are optimized for specific environments (such as the AS/400 or Unix), generally at the expense of supporting more heterogeneous environments. EAI (enterprise application integration) An emerging category of products that provide messaging, data transformation, process flow and other capabilities to simplify the integration of enterprise resource planning, legacy and other applications. EAM (enterprise asset management) A strategy to increase plant capacity, using IT in lieu of new construction, in large, asset- intensive enterprises. EAM systems, including computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) functionality, have traditionally been a key tool in maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) procurement. EAM integrates key open control systems (OCSs), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and maintenance activity and functions to reduce downtime without significantly increasing maintenance spending. See CMMS, MRO, OCS and ERP. EAM (equipment asset management) The optimal acquisition, deployment and use of enterprise IT equipment assets, such as hardware and peripherals, to reduce total cost of ownership and improve efficiency. EAM and software asset management (SAM) are among the components of an enterprise IT asset management (ITAM) discipline. See SAM and ITAM. EAN (European Article Numbering) A retail bar code system (the European equivalent of the UCC system in the United States) managed by EAN International, a group founded in 1974 by 12 European countries and set up as a not-for-profit international association under Belgian law in 1977. Today, EAN International has 97 member organizations representing 141 countries. EAO (enterprise application outsourcing) Outsourcing the maintenance or hosting of enterprise application software (EAS), such as an PeopleSoft or SAP implementations, to a third party. See EAS and application outsourcing. EAROM (electrically alterable read-only memory) A type of read-only memory (ROM) that can have its initial programming electrically altered by original equipment manufacturers, or even end buyers. EAROM devices are a type of electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), which can be erased using the electrical signals even after it has been soldered into the end equipment. See ROM and EEPROM. earth station An assemblage of communications equipment � including a signal generator, transmitter, receiver and antenna � that receives and transmits signals to and from a communications satellite; also called a "ground station." EAS (enterprise application software) The software market category comprising enterprise application packages used to automate back-office and front-office operations. These include traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) and supply chain management (SCM) applications. See ERP, CRM and SCM. EASDAQ (European Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) An electronic pan-European stock exchange founded by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission, closely modeled on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) exchange in the United States. In 2001, NASDAQ acquired a 58 percent stake in EASDAQ and renamed it NASDAQ Europe. EBCDIC (Extended Binary-Coded Decimal Interchange Code) An IBM-developed code designating a standard table of alphanumeric characters, similar to (and now largely eclipsed by) American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII). See ASCII. e-bill (electronic bill) A bill presented or delivered via e-mail or the Internet. EBIS (enterprise business intelligence suite) A suite that offers multiple styles of common business intelligence functionality, including ad hoc query, reporting, charting, online analytical processing (OLAP) and trend analysis. See business intelligence and OLAP. e-book (electronic book) A book stored in digitized form, which can be downloaded over the Web and read on a PC, tablet computer, personal digital assistant, e-book reader or other electronic device. e-book reader A book-size device that contain a high-resolution screen with local storage and limited processing capability. Users subscribe to a service that allows them to download electronic books (e-books) to the device, directly from a Web site. See e-book. EBP (electronic bill presentment) The ability for consumers to view their bills electronically (for example, on the Web). Unlike electronic bill presentment and payment (EBPP), EBP does not include online payment capability. See EBPP. EBPP (electronic bill presentment and payment) The ability for consumers to view and pay their bills online (for example, via the Web or e- mail). EBR (electronic batch record) A transaction that captures all of the relevant steps and measurements associated with a product's production using batch-manufacturing methods. EBT (electronic benefits transfer) The delivery of benefits payments to recipients via electronic funds transfer, rather than the mailing of paper checks. e-business (electronic business) Any Internet-enabled business activity that transforms internal and external relationships to create value and exploit market opportunities driven by the new rules of the "connected economy." e-business platform The tools, methodology and engine necessary to provide the basic building blocks for e- business applications. ebXML (Electronic Business XML) A joint project of the United Nations Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (CEFACT) and the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS), whose goal is to develop a framework for consistent use of Extensible Markup Language (XML) in business-to-business application standards. The ebXML framework provides a dictionary of common business objects (such as names and postal addresses) and an overarching protocol for communicating transactions. Industry consortia and other standards development groups are invited to use this framework to define application standards. Among the aims of the initiative is to lower the entry cost for e-commerce, particularly for small and midsize enterprises and developing nations. See CEFACT, OASIS and XML. EC (see engineering change) EC (European Commission) � see EU (European Union) EC (European Community) � see EU (European Union) EC (see e-commerce) ECAE (electronic computer-aided engineering) A category of electronic design automation (EDA) tools. ECAE applications are computer- aided tools used in the engineering or design (as opposed to the physical layout) phase of electronic product development. Examples include schematic-capture and simulation tools. See EDA. E-carrier A hierarchical system for multiplexing digitized voice signals over a communications networks in Europe, similar to the T-carrier system in the United States (see T-carrier). Various levels in the hierarchy define the digital transmission capacity of a line � see E1, E2 and E3. Among E-carrier services, which were defined by the Conference Europeenne des Administration des Postes et des Telecommunications (CEPT), only E1 and E3 are widely supported. See CEPT. E-CASE (enterprise computer-aided software engineering) A category of enterprise application development (E-AD) tools that are generally noninterpretive, generate COBOL or C, and may have modeling capabilities in their integrated development environments (IDEs). See AD, E-AD, IDE and CASE (computer- aided software engineering). e-cash (electronic cash) Currency that can be loaded onto smart cards, PCs, remote servers or handheld devices and used to purchase goods and services. It is typically used for low-value transactions and allows anonymous purchasing. e-catalog (electronic catalog) The presentation of information on goods or services � often including online purchasing capabilities � via the Internet or another network-based medium. E-catalogs are a common feature of electronic marketplaces (e-marketplaces). See e-marketplace. ECC (elliptic curve cryptography) An cryptographic algorithm introduced for commercial use by security vendor Certicom. It is implemented using public-key algorithms combined with elliptic curves. The curves construct "elements" and "rules of combining" to produce groups which, in turn, create cryptographic algorithms. ECC (error-correcting code) Diagnostic code used to correct data-storage errors and isolate hardware failures. Based on a concept of simultaneous polynomial equations, the read-back process generates a correction profile over the incorrect data. All ECCs have a very small but finite failure rate (i.e., some uncorrectable errors will either appear as correctable or appear as having no error at all). In either situation, bad data is passed as verified and valid. ECD (electrochemical deposition) An electrochemical plating process used to deposit thin metallic films on wafers used for semiconductors and related electronic components. ECD equipment includes both electroplating and "electroless" tools. e-channel customer relationship management (see e-CRM) echo A wave that has been reflected or otherwise returned with sufficient magnitude and delay for it to be perceived as a wave distinct from the one directly transmitted. echo cancellation A technique used in high-speed modems to isolate and filter out unwanted signal energy generated by echoes from the main transmitted signal. ECL (emitter-coupled logic) In chip design, a type of bipolar transistor characterized by extremely fast switching speeds. ECMA (European Computer Manufacturers Association) An industry trade group headquartered in Geneva. The ECMA has developed more than 200 computer standards. ECMAscript A standardized version of JavaScript introduced by the European Computer Manufacturers Association (ECMA) in 1997. ECN (electronic communications network) An anonymous e-market maker (EMM) that automatically pairs up and executes matching buy and sell orders. See EMM. ECN (engineering change notice) � see engineering change ECN (explicit congestion notification) A technique used in frame relay networks to detect and address network congestion. It has two components: forward ECN (FECN) and backward ECN (BECN). See BECN, FECN and frame relay. ECO (engineering change order) � see engineering change e-commerce (electronic commerce) The use of information and communication technologies to transmit business information and transact business. The term is most commonly associated with Internet-based commerce, but this is only one of several advanced forms of e-commerce that use technology, integrated applications and business processes to link enterprises. e-community (electronic community) Groups of people collaborating and sharing ideas over an electronic network. Communities optimize their collective power by affiliation around a common interest, by the compression of the time between member interactions (i.e., communicating in real time), and by asynchronous "postings" that potentially reach more participants and allow for more reflection time than real-time interactions. economic and monetary union (see EMU) economic life The period during which physical assets (such as IT equipment) are expected to be economically viable with normal repairs and maintenance. economic order quantity (see EOQ) economic value added (see EVA) ECP (electronic check presentment) The electronic presentation of check data to processing banks. In the first ECP phase, one bank presents a second bank with electronic check information based on the check's magnetic-ink character recognition (MICR) line, which states the correct customer account and the amount of the payment. Electronic presentment is then followed by the paper check, speeding the clearing process by one day and enabling banks to use credited account balances a day earlier � a significant benefit, especially to large banks. In the second ECP phase, the check is imaged at the first bank of collection; the paper or the image is not passed to the second bank unless the second bank requests it. See MICR and document imaging. ECR (efficient consumer response) A consumer goods initiative aimed at reducing inefficient practices and waste in the supply chain. e-CRM (e-channel customer relationship management) The integration of electronic channels (e-channels) � notably the Web � into an enterprise's overall customer relationship management (CRM) strategy. A subset of CRM, e-CRM comprises the business strategies and technologies that leverage customer-facing, e-channel applications to develop more profitable customer relationships. E-CRM involves using the Web to support CRM with the goal of driving consistency within all channels relative to sales, customer service and marketing initiatives. It can support a seamless customer experience and maximize customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and revenue. ECTF (Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum) An organization based in Fremont, California, that develops implementation guidelines and interoperability standards for the computer-telephony integration (CTI) industry. See CTI. EDA (electronic design automation) The use of a computer to design and simulate performance of electronic circuits on a chip. Similar to automatic test equipment, which tests primarily chips in electronic systems. EDA (Enterprise Data Access) The original brand name for a suite of Information Builders Inc. (IBI) middleware tools, which were repositioned as the iWay Enterprise Integration Suite following IBI's formation of its iWay Software subsidiary in 2001. EDA (event-driven architecture) An architecture that will likely emerge to extend the service-oriented architecture (SOA) model in next-generation applications servers (see SOA). EDA activity is driven by posting and receiving event notifications through a decoupled middleware network. The event source and destination systems do not depend on each other in any direct way. The source of the event is absent and unknown, and the conclusion of the event processing is typically a posting of a new event or simply a close to the process. EDA/SQL (Enterprise Data Access/Structured Query Language) A product developed by Information Builders Inc. (IBI) that provided a common interface between a wide range of Structured Query Language (SQL) programs and databases. The technology is now managed under the iWay brand by IBI subsidiary iWay Software. See SQL. EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) A radio interface technology with enhanced modulation designed to provide Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and time division multiple access (TDMA) networks with the capacity to rival third-generation (3G) cellular networks. It is an integral part of the migration of GSM and TDMA networks to 3G. (Many vendors and industry groups substitute "Global" for "GSM" in the expanded term, to avoid the impression that the technology is applicable only to GSM networks.) EDGE is being developed to support mobile services with maximum data rates of around 384 Kbps. In real-life conditions, throughputs will be considerably lower (e.g., 64 Kbps) but much faster than today's GSM and TDMA networks. EDGE can allow operators without a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) license to stay competitive in wireless data markets. GSM network operators also may deploy it, even if they win a 3G license, to provide low-cost services to automotive and machine-to-machine applications. See 3G, GSM, TDMA and UMTS. edge gateway Perimeter switching technology that provides private-network users with an interface to a variety of public data services. EDI (electronic data interchange) The electronic exchange of trading documents (such as invoices and orders) to facilitate e- commerce. The two most widely used EDI standards are the United Nations' EDI for Administration, Commerce and Transport (EDIFACT) and the Accredited Standards Committee's X12. Originally conducted only through value-added networks, EDI is gradually moving to the Internet. It remains a popular means of business-to-business information exchange because of the maturity of established standards and the wide adoption of EDI- associated technologies. See EDIFACT and X12. EDIFACT (Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transportation) A United Nations initiative to produce a universal standard for a total approach to electronic data interchange (EDI), including syntax, data elements and messages. See EDI. EDM (enterprise data model) A single logical model for enterprise data, which can be mapped to multiple physical data repositories. For each subject area in an enterprise data model, sample elements include data attributes and appropriate groupings, data subtypes, relationships between subject areas, business rules and entity relationship diagrams. EDM (EMC Data Manager) A centralized, high-performance backup and restore system optimized for large enterprise database environments, from storage vendor EMC. EDM (Enterprise Desktop Manager) A desktop and server configuration tool from Novadigm. EDO (extended data out) A form of high-speed dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) that became popular in the 1990s. EDO offered improved performance over traditional memory by shortening the "page mode" cycle. See DRAM. EDP (electronic data processing) Data calculations performed by electronic, as opposed to mechanical, means � i.e., modern computing. See data processing. EDS (Electronic Data Systems) A multibillion-dollar system integration and IT services firm, founded in 1962 and headquartered in Plano, Texas. EEC (European Economic Community) � see EU (European Union) EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) A type of programmable read-only memory (ROM) that can be erased or updated using electrical signals, a process often performed remotely. See ROM and firmware. e-ESP (e-business external service provider) A Web-focused external service provider (ESP). An e-ESP typically delivers e-business expertise focused on strategy or implementations, but rarely on both. EFCI (explicit forward congestion indication) In an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, EFCI is a feedback mechanisms used by the available bit rate (ABR) service category to inform the source of the network resources available to it. EFCI maps to the forward explicit congestion notification (FECN) technique used in frame relay. See ABR, ATM, FECN and frame relay. effective isotropic radiated power (see EIRP) e-finance (electronic finance) Electronically enabled access to financial services. E-finance is not a delivery (i.e., institution-centric) vehicle, but a vehicle of access (i.e., customer-centric). e-form (electronic form) An automated and interactive template for capturing, processing, displaying and creating output from defined sets of business data. EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) A European organization that has devised a performance management framework, consisting of four result areas (people, customer, society and key performance) and five enablers (leadership, people, policy and strategy, partnerships and resources, and processes). The enablers focus on how the organization undertakes key activities. The EFQM methodology has some recognition in Europe, but comparable methodologies, such as Malcolm Baldrige and Six Sigma, are better recognized in the United States. EFT (electronic funds transfer) The electronic exchange of financial transaction data, such as account debits and credits, between financial institutions. EHLLAPI (Emulator High-Level Language Application Program Interface) An IBM mainframe application programming interface. EIA (enterprise integration architecture) An architecture defining the use of middleware in enterprise applications and information systems. The EIA rules include application programming interfaces and protocols addressing interoperability and portability of applications, whether acquired or developed internally. The EIA is a living specification requiring constant management and regular review for enhancement. EIA (Electronic Industries Alliance) A U.S. electronics standards group (formerly called the "Electronic Industries Association"). Its subgroup representing the telecom sector is the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). Common EIA and TIA standards include EIA/TIA-568 cable categories, and the RS-232 and RS-449 serial interface specifications. See EIA/TIA- 568, RS-232 and RS-449. EIAJ (Electronic Industries Association of Japan) A Tokyo-based industry trade group, founded in 1948 to represent Japan's electronics manufacturers. EIA/TIA-568 A series of five grades of unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling defined by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) and its telecom subgroup, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). Categories 3 and 5 are the UTP grades most commonly used in local- area networks. See Category 3 and Category 5. EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics) A computer interface for storage devices, such as internal hard disk drives. EIDE supports larger capacities than standard Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) and allows for more peripherals to be attached, providing some incremental flexibility and expandability. See IDE. EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) A proprietary interior gateway protocol (IGP) from Cisco Systems � an enhanced version of Cisco's Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP). See IGP and IGRP. EIRP (effective isotropic radiated power) A measure of the radiated power of radio frequency transmissions. EIS (executive information system) An application program specifically designed for use by the corporate executive. Presentation of material is often structured after the "board briefing book" concept. The EIS acts as a high-level interface to a database of company information. It automates analysis and reporting, and typically has a user-friendly graphical interface. EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) An enhanced version of the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) system bus used in early IBM-compatible PCs. EISA was developed as an industry alternative to Micro Channel Architecture, the 32-bit bus IBM developed for its PS/2 line of PCs and promoted as the successor to ISA. Micro Channel lost out to EISA as the de facto standard in the market, primarily because, unlike Micro Channel, it offered backward compatibility to ISA. EISA has since been superseded by Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) as the PC market standard. See PCI. EJB (Enterprise JavaBeans) A specification for building server-side, transactional Java-based components. It was developed by Sun Microsystems in collaboration with IBM, Netscape, Oracle and other vendors. See Java. e-learning Network-enabled learning that relies on digital content, experienced through a technology interface. Collaboration is a desirable feature but not a requirement. E-learning can be a subset of distributed learning. See distributed learning. electrically erasable programmable ROM (see EEPROM) electrochemical deposition (see ECD) electromagnetic interference (see EMI) electromagnetic spectrum The entire range of wavelengths or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, extending from gamma rays to radio frequency (RF) waves and including visible light. See RF. electronic batch record (see EBR) electronic bill presentment (see EBP) electronic bill presentment and payment (see EBPP) electronic business (see e-business) Electronic Business XML (see ebXML) electronic cash (see e-cash) electronic catalog (see e-catalog) electronic-channel CRM (see e-CRM) electronic check presentment (see ECP) electronic commerce (see e-commerce) electronic communications network (see ECN) electronic data interchange (see EDI) Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transportation (see EDIFACT) electronic data processing (see EDP) electronic design automation (see EDA) electronic finance (see e-finance) electronic form (see e-form) electronic funds transfer (see EFT) Electronic Industries Alliance (see EIA) Electronic Industries Association of Japan (see EIAJ) electronic mail (see e-mail) electronic market (see e-market) electronic marketplace (see e-marketplace) electronic marketplace manager (e-marketplace manager) electronic medical record (see EMR) electronic merchandising (see e-merchandising) electronic messaging The sending and receiving of messages and, increasingly, data through a network. Like paper messaging, it is accomplished through a number of tasks, including composition, assembly, addressing, posting, sorting, routing and delivery. Electronic Messaging Association (see EMA) Electronic Payments Association (see NACHA) electronic point of sale (see EPOS) electronic purse (see e-purse) electronic signature A traceable e-mail or a biometric identifier applied to a message. The identifier may be based on digitized handwriting or another biometric feature (such as a fingerprint). The electronic signature cannot be removed and applied to other documents to forge a signature. electronics manufacturing service (see EMS) electronic software distribution (see ESD) electronic tag (see e-tag) electronic tandem network (see ETN) electronic whiteboard Technology (also called "whiteboarding") that uses a large, touch-sensitive screen attached to a PC to help convey information during videoconferences and other types of network- enhanced meetings. Words and images drawn on the whiteboard (often using a specially designed, inkless pen) can be shared over a network with remote attendees. Often, the PC's display output can also be viewed on the whiteboard screen, and controlled by touching a pointing device to the menu options and icons. elliptic curve cryptography (see ECC) EMA (Electronic Messaging Association) An organization that develops standards and policies for electronic-messaging systems, such as e-mail and voice mail. EMA is now a forum of the Open Group. e-mail (electronic mail) Any communication service that permits the electronic transmission and storage of text messages and attached or enclosed files. Some e-mail systems are limited to communication between end users on the same network; others have gateways that allow end users to send messages to other designated computer systems or worldwide over the Internet. Once sent, e-mail messages are stored in electronic mailboxes until the recipient retrieves them. Most Internet service providers also provide e-mail services. e-mail response management system (see ERMS) e-mall A Web site that maintains catalogs from multiple suppliers. E-malls often charge a fee for tenancy or membership, and may take title to the goods themselves. e-market A category or segment of business conducted over the Internet. Online book selling, for example, might be described as an e-market (in which the competitors include Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com). This term should not be confused with "e-marketplace," which refers to online buying environments that aggregate products or services from multiple suppliers. See e-marketplace. e-market maker (see EMM) e-marketplace A Web site that provides an online buying environment where customers can select from multiple suppliers' products or services. E-marketplaces aggregate supplier content and often provide decision support tools to enable buyers to make informed decisions. E- marketplaces include sites focused on consumer buyers (for example, auction sites such as eBay) and business-to-business sites focused on specific industry segments (such as PlasticsNet). e-marketplace manager (see EMM) EMC Data Manager (see EDM) e-merchandising The merchandising function optimized for Web-based retailing. E-merchandising goes beyond building and updating an electronic catalog; it also includes Web-optimized product selection, sales forecasting and inventory control. EMI (electromagnetic interference) The energy given off by electronic circuits and picked up by other circuits. Based on the type of device and operating frequency, EMI can be reduced by shielding. emitter-coupled logic (see ECL) EMM (e-market maker) An intermediary (also known as an "e-marketplace manager") that develops a business-to- business (B2B) e-marketplace of buyers and sellers within an industry, geographic region or affinity group (see e-marketplace). EMMs enter supply chains introducing new efficiencies and new ways of selling and purchasing products and services. They provide content, value-added services and often e-commerce capabilities. emoticon A text rendition of a face viewed sideways, created from punctuation marks. Emoticons are often used in e-mails and message board postings to denote an emotion. EMPAC (Enterprise Maintenance Planning and Control) An enterprise asset management (EAM) product from Indus International. See EAM. EMPI (enterprise master person index) A critical prerequisite for sharing information on patients and health plan members within an integrated delivery system (IDS). EMPIs (also known as "enterprise master patient indexes") uniquely identify patients and members, and cross-reference their identification numbers to link information in disparate systems. See IDS. employee relationship management (see ERM) employee self-service (see ESS) EMR (electronic medical record) A system used to compile computerized patient healthcare information. EMRs generally deal with information only in the form of document images or text formatted for output to a printer or video display. They do not ordinarily handle discrete data of the type typically stored in a database management system. EMS (electronics manufacturing service) A company the manufactures electronic components, and provides related services, on a contract basis for a vendor of computer or other electronics products. These firms are also known as contract equipment manufacturers, although the term EMS is now more commonly used to acknowledge the additional services such firms provide in areas such as procurement, inventory management, distribution and logistics. EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service) A messaging standard developed by the 3G Partnership Project (3GPP). EMS � supported by a vendor group led by Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola and Siemens � uses features defined in the Short Message Service (SMS) specification to enhance the user experience when sending messages. With EMS, software added to the mobile phone enables standard SMS parameter fields (such as the "user data header") to be used to send binary-encoded and concatenated messages. Thus, a suitably capable device can display enriched content such as text enhancements (including italics and underlining), sounds, and static or animated images. See 3GPP and SMS. EMS (equipment management system) A subsystem of a warehouse management system (WMS). An EMS controls automated material-handling equipment such as carousels, in-line scales and conveyors. It is designed to provide a standardized interface between a WMS and automated material-handling equipment. See WMS. EMU (economic and monetary union) The European process of standardizing on a single currency (i.e., the euro). See EU (European Union). emulate To imitate one system with another, so that the imitating system accepts the same data, executes the same computer programs and achieves the same results as the imitated one. Emulator High-Level Language Application Program Interface (see EHLLAPI) EMV (Europay-MasterCard-Visa) An emerging general payment standard for smart cards. encapsulation The process of combining data and functions in the object-oriented (OO) programming paradigm. Encapsulation dictates that an object can identify� but not let other objects use � its methods and data. The purpose of encapsulation is to ensure that other objects cannot make changes to the original object without its knowledge. Another benefit is that legacy software can function like any other object in an OO environment. encryption The process of systematically encoding a bit stream before transmission so that an unauthorized party cannot decipher it. end node A network node that only sends and receives information, and cannot route and forward information to another node. end user An individual who uses a computer to perform a business or personal activity. Technical personnel are generally not considered end users when they are programming or operating the computer for technical purposes, though they are when they perform other tasks. engineering change A revision to a parts list, bill of material, engineering drawing or engineering part model authorized by the engineering department. Changes are usually identified by a control number and are made for safety, cost reduction or functionality reasons. Also called an ECO (engineering change order) or ECN (engineering change notice). engineering change notice (see engineering change) engineering change order (see engineering change) engineer-to-order (see ETO) Enhanced Data Rates for GSM (or Global) Evolution (see EDGE) Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (see EIDE) Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (see EIGRP) Enhanced Messaging Service (see EMS) enhanced phone A voice-centric device that is designed to deliver data content via network-based delivery mechanisms, such as Wireless Application Protocol, and that offers only minimal offline capability, such as contact management. enhanced specialized mobile radio (see ESMR) ENS (enterprise nervous system) Gartner's term for the intelligent network that provides unifying connectivity among people, application systems and devices in different locations and business units across a virtual enterprise. The emerging ENS is based on the traditional enterprise network, but it is an evolution of that network, providing value-added functions that elevate the role of the network beyond that of plain communication. Whereas a conventional network simply aims to transfer data between sending application systems and explicitly defined destinations, an ENS offloads work from the application systems because it: Offers enhanced quality-of-service for communication Transforms messages Redirects messages as appropriate, using logical business rules May track and control business processes enterprise Any large, autonomous, private- or public-sector organization that uses information technology. Enterprises include not only corporations, but also large, noncorporate entities such as governments, nonprofit groups and higher-education institutions. The term is often used to distinguish large IT user organizations from IT vendors, or from small and midsize businesses. It is also used to distinguish technology that spans, supports or applies to the overall organization from that which is relevant only to an organizational subunit, such as a department. enterprise application outsourcing (see EAO) enterprise application development (see E-AD) enterprise application integration (see EAI) enterprise application A software product designed to integrate computer systems that run all phases of an enterprise's operations to facilitate cooperation and coordination of work across the enterprise. The intent is to integrate core business processes (such as sales, accounting, finance, human resources, inventory and manufacturing). The ideal enterprise system could control all major business processes in real time via a single software architecture. Enterprise software is expanding its scope to link the enterprise with suppliers, business partners and customers. enterprise application software (see EAS) enterprise asset management (see EAM) enterprise business intelligence suite (see EBIS) enterprise-class A term referring to the ability of an application or system to handle complex processes and services of the type required by a large enterprise. enterprise computer-aided software engineering (see E-CASE) Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum (see ECTF) enterprise console A key component of an event management system, comprising applications' component maps, autodiscovery mechanisms and agents that send information to a manager. See event management system. Enterprise Data Access (see EDA) Enterprise Data Access/Structured Query Language (see EDA/SQL) enterprise data model (see EDM) Enterprise Desktop Manager (see EDM) enterprise integration architecture (see EIA) enterprise information portal (see enterprise portal) Enterprise JavaBeans (see EJB) Enterprise Maintenance Planning and Control (see EMPAC) enterprise master person index (see EMPI) enterprise nervous system (see ENS) enterprise performance management (see EPM) enterprise portal Internet technologies that provide windows into enterprise information, applications and processes. Enterprise portals go by many names, including corporate portals, business portals and enterprise information portals. There are two types: horizontal enterprise portals (HEPs) and vertical enterprise portals (VEPs). See portal, HEP and VEP. enterprise resource planning (see ERP) enterprise resource planning II (see ERP II) enterprise scheduling system (see ESS) enterprise service bus (see ESB) Enterprise Storage Platform (see ESP) Enterprise Storage Server (see ESS) Enterprise Systems Architecture (see ESA) Enterprise Systems Connection (see ESCON) enterprise total cost of ownership (see ETCO) enterprise user administration (see EUA) Enterprise Volume Manager (see EVM) entity relationship The logical relationship of data elements in a data model. entity relationship diagram A diagram used in data modeling to illustrate the logical relationships among various entities represented by data. environmental, safety & health (see ES&H) EOQ (economic order quantity) A simple model used in inventory management to determine the best quantity for a given order placement. EOTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference) The European Telecommunications Standards Institute's location service standard. Location is calculated at a central computer using the time difference between the arrival of signals from the handset and from the location measurement unit. See location service. e-partner selling (see ESE) EPIC (Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing) An effort by Intel and Hewlett-Packard to create an open terminology that the industry would use to represent the latest iteration of wide-word technology. It is the core technology used for IA-64. EPM (enterprise performance management) The process of monitoring performance indicators across the enterprise, with the goal of improving overall business performance. An EPM system integrates and analyzes data from many sources, including, but not limited to, e-commerce systems, front-office and back- office applications, data warehouses and external data sources. Advanced EPM systems can support many performance methodologies such as the balanced scorecard. EPOS (electronic point of sale) A category of systems used by retailers to capture sales and other transactional data at the point of sale, either via manual entry into a network-connected workstation or via automatic capture through bar-code scanners or electronic cash registers. e-procurement A set of applications and business-to-business information management processes that support the purchase of goods and services over the Internet. EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) Memory chips that are programmed after manufacture, and that may be erased and reprogrammed at a later date. e-purse (electronic purse) An application that allows value (such as e-cash) to be loaded into a smart card or handheld device that then can be used to make purchases. A device or card can hold multiple e-purse applications designed for specific uses (for example, an e-purse on a student card or device could be restricted to purchases at a bookstore). equalization A communications term referring to the use of frequencies to compensate for attenuation (signal loss) or time variations (delay) in a transmitted signal. equipment asset management (see EAM) equipment management system (see EMS) erasable programmable read-only memory (see EPROM) ERC (European Radiocommunications Committee) An organization that brings together the radio regulatory administrations of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications' (CEPT's) 44 member countries. The ERC's primary task is to develop radio communications policies and to coordinate frequency, regulatory and technical matters in this field. See CEPT. e-retailing Online retailing; also known as "e-tailing." Erlang In telecommunications, a unit of traffic intensity. One Erlang is the intensity at which one traffic path would be continuously occupied. Related terms include: Erlang B: A traffic-engineering formula used when traffic is random and there is no queuing. It assumes that blocked callers either automatically use another route or blocked calls disappear entirely. Erlang C: A traffic engineering formula used when traffic is random and queuing is provided. It assumes that all callers will wait indefinitely until a line becomes available. ERM (employee relationship management) A business discipline that focuses on optimizing the employee's total employment experience � including both the human and technology aspects of that experience. ERM includes manager and employee interactions, the formal business tasks required manage employee relationships, and the technology used to manage the employee experience. Thus, ERM is most closely aligned with the human capital management (HCM) focus area of workforce management. See HCM. ERMES (European Radio Message System) A European paging standard, initially developed by the Paging Systems Technical Committee of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. Enhancements offered by ERMES over previous paging systems include cross-country roaming and significant capacity improvements. ERMS (e-mail response management system) A customer service and support (CSS) software feature for handling and managing e-mail from customers. It integrates e-mail and Web forms into the incoming call flow to ensure that these inquiries and transactions are handled on a timely basis. See CSS. ERP (enterprise resource planning) Business strategies and enabling software that integrate manufacturing, financial and distribution functions to dynamically balance and optimize enterprise resources. ERP software suites include integrated manufacturing, distribution and financial applications. ERP can enable enterprises to optimize their business processes and analysis capabilities for improved speed and efficiency. ERP II (enterprise resource planning II) An application and deployment strategy that expands from traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality to achieve integration of an enterprise's key internal and external collaborative, operational and financial processes. ERP II starts as an application strategy, setting a vision for the integration of all enterprise-centric, commerce-oriented business processes, without requiring a single-vendor strategy. As a deployment strategy, ERP II enables enterprises to determine the degree of single-vendor-centricity needed to fulfill enterprise process requirements and � through native integration capabilities � to include best-of-breed components from multiple vendors. ERP II includes capabilities specific to the enterprise, as well as the ability to connect the enterprise to key business partners directly or through a private e-marketplace. The process domain of ERP II includes all collaborative, operational and financial processes that have the enterprise at the center. See ERP and e-marketplace. error control An arrangement that detects the presence of errors in transmitted data. In some systems, refinements are added that correct the detected errors, either by operations on the received data or by retransmission from the source. error-correcting code (see ECC) error rate In communications, the number of bits, elements, characters or blocks incorrectly received, expressed as a fraction or ratio of the total number transmitted; in data storage, the ratio of lost bits per total bits written to the storage medium. ERS (evaluated receipt settlement) The process for paying for goods on receipt, rather than upon invoicing (sometimes referred to as "two-way matching"). ES&H (environmental, safety and health) A category of software applications dealing with regulatory compliance � for example, compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or Occupational Health and Safety Administration requirements. ESA (Enterprise Systems Architecture) A 31-bit mainframe architecture introduced by IBM in the 1980s, employed in mainframe hardware such as the ESA/370 and ESA/390, and in operating systems such as Multiple Virtual Storage/ESA (MVS/ESA), Virtual Storage Extended/ESA (VSE/ESA) and Virtual Machine/ESA (VM/ESA). In 2000, IBM introduced a 64-bit successor to ESA called z/Architecture. See MVS, VSE, VM and z/Architecture. ESB (enterprise service bus) A streamlined, distributed integration middleware infrastructure that combines Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Web services support, basic transformation, and intelligent routing. It either includes message-oriented middleware (MOM) or wraps other MOM transport mechanisms. It serves as a lightweight integration broker suite (IBS) � more limited in function than an IBS, but offered at a fraction of the price. See XML, IBS, MOM, transformation and intelligent routing. ESCON (Enterprise Systems Connection) A high-speed fiber-optic serial channel for IBM's ES/9000 processors, introduced in 1990. ESCON was initially based in part on a fiber-optic link operating at a speed of 200 megabits per second (Mbps) regardless of the driver light source, but has been driven much faster. ESD (electronic software distribution) A practice that enables software to be installed by transmitting it over a network. The rise of distributed computing and remote work has increased the importance of ESD, as it provides an effective means of automating the distribution and installation of software in these environments. ESE (extended selling enterprise) Also known as e-partner selling, a group of applications and technologies provided by the enterprise to assist third-party selling-channel partners � such as brokers, agents, distributors and value-added resellers � in achieving selling objectives. It is a component of partner relationship management (PRM), which is itself a component of customer relationship management (CRM). ESE is an enterprisewide business strategy designed to optimize profitability, revenue and partner satisfaction by organizing the enterprise around partner segments, fostering partner-satisfying behaviors and linking processes from customers to partners through suppliers. See PRM and CRM. e-service Applications and tools that empower customers, partners and prospects for self-service via the Web. Interactive customer service Web sites are integrated with front-end customer service, sales and marketing applications, back-end databases, and the contact center to facilitate interactions between users and the enterprise. e-services (see Web services) ESF (extended superframe) A framing standard designed to improve network performance monitoring. ESF uses a T1 format composed of 24 frames of 192 bits each. A 193rd bit is used for link control and error checking. See T1. e-signature (see electronic signature) ESMR (enhanced specialized mobile radio) A wireless communications method that uses a network of transmitters and receivers to transmit voice and data, both within a network and among wireless and wireline users. Operating frequencies range between 300 megahertz (MHz) and three gigahertz, with normal operation in the 900 MHz frequency band. ESMR delivers a service level close to that of cellular service, but often offers enhancements such as "push to talk" and calling-party services. Examples of ESMR networks include Motorola's Integrated Dispatch Enhanced Network (iDEN) and the Nextel system. See iDEN. ESP (Enterprise Storage Platform) An array-based software product from EMC that allows a Symmetrix system to be simultaneously shared between open systems and mainframe hosts. ESP (external service provider) A company that provides services such as consulting, outsourcing, software services or system integration. An ESP is a separate legal entity from the contracting company; it supplements that company's skills and resources. See consulting and system integration. ESS (employee self-service) Once simply defined as employee access to human resources (HR) systems, for the purpose of reviewing or updating benefits or address information that had previously been in an HR- staff-controlled domain. The definition has now expanded to include look-up or edit access to many other areas, such as employee time tracking, direct-deposit account changes for payroll, and skills and training updates. The boundaries of this new "open" access will be stretched even further as companies demand increased productivity and real-time information exchange. ESS (enterprise scheduling system) A complex system used by care delivery organizations (CDOs). An ESS interacts with other healthcare systems such as enterprise master person indices (EMPIs), computer-based patient records (CPRs), clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) and departmental scheduling systems. To achieve a successful ESS implementation, a CDO must consider not only the features that the ESS supports, but also how it interoperates with the CDO's environment. See CDO, EMPI, CPR and CDSS. ESS (Enterprise Storage Server) A disk storage subsystem from IBM. ETACS (extended total access communications system) An analog cellular network that transmits on the 872 megahertz (MHz) to 950 MHz frequency range. Developed in the United Kingdom and used in Europe and Asia, ETACS is an extended version of total access communications system (TACS). See TACS. e-tag (electronic tag) A machine-readable tag with an embedded chip that provides information via radio signals. E-tags, also known as radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, are a form of auto- identification technology. See RFID and auto-identification technology. e-tailing Online retailing; short for "e-retailing." ETCO (enterprise total cost of ownership) An expanded version of Gartner's total cost of ownership (TCO) model that includes additional cost elements in the context of total office-worker-related infrastructure and support costs. Gartner's basic IT TCO chart of accounts includes five direct cost elements (hardware and software, IS management, IS support, development, and communications) and two indirect cost elements (end-user IT costs and downtime). However, a 1977 accounting standard issued by the Institute of Management Accountants offers a broader framework in which to consider IT costs and investments � including direct and indirect occupancy costs, home office setup, direct and indirect non-IT equipment, and direct and indirect non-IT support costs. These broader costs are reflected in an expanded version of the TCO model, which Gartner calls ETCO. By using the ETCO model, CIOs can spot cost reduction opportunities or unforeseen incremental costs resulting from IT infrastructure investments elsewhere in the enterprise. See TCO. Ethernet A baseband local-area network (LAN) technology, originally developed by Xerox in the 1970s and adopted by Intel and Digital Equipment in 1980. Today, Ethernet is the dominant technology used for LANs. It uses a bus topology with carrier sense multiple access with collision detection (CSMA/CD) access control. Although the original Ethernet technology was not strictly identical to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 standard, Ethernet has become the common name used to denote IEEE 802.3 networks, which have a maximum transmission speed of 10 megabits per second (Mbps). Faster versions, operating at speeds up to 100 and 1,000 Mbps, are known as Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, respectively. See LAN, CSMA/CD, 802.3, Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. ETL (extraction, transformation and loading) Tools for extracting data and its metadata from one data store, transforming the record structure and content of this data, and loading the transformed data to another data store. These tools are sometimes referred to as extraction/transformation/transport or ETT technology. ETN (electronic tandem network) A private telecommunications network in which calls are automatically switched over specific trunks. ETO (engineer-to-order) A category of configurable product offerings that consist of standard and custom- engineered components. ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) A not-for-profit enterprise whose mission is to produce the telecommunications standards that will be used throughout Europe. Some of the standards developed by the ETSI may be adopted by the European Commission as the technical base for directives or regulations. The ETSI's main task is to remove any possible variation from a global standard and to focus on a defined European-specific set of requirements. The ETSI also ensures that there is interoperability between standards such as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). See ISDN, GSM and UMTS. ETT (extraction/transformation/transport) � see ETL (extraction, transformation and loading) EU (European Union) A European body, created by a 1993 treaty, with the goal of working toward the economic and political unification of Europe. (Previous incarnations were known as the European Community and the European Economic Community.) Many EU activities have a major impact on information technology � for example, many of its directives govern telecommunications and computing standards, and the EU process of economic and monetary union (EMU) � featuring a single European currency called the euro � has a major impact on financial IT system compliance. Governing bodies within the EU include: The European Commission, charged with upholding the general interests of the EU. Its president, two vice presidents and 17 other members are appointed by EU member states after they have been approved by the European Parliament. The European Council, the EU's main decision-making body. Its member state representatives meet regularly at the ministerial level, as well as in different configurations addressing issues such as foreign affairs, finance, education and telecommunications. The European Parliament, elected every five years by popular vote among EU member states' citizenry. The major political parties operating in the member states are represented. See euro and EMU. EUA (enterprise user administration) A category of security tools (also known as consolidated user administration or consolidated security administration tools) that enable security administrators to more easily manage a large number of permissions on behalf of users. Ideally, adding a new user might be achieved with a single command. EUA tools reduce the workload of the security administrator, and reduce turnaround time between request and implementation � in some cases to less than 24 hours. EULA (End-User License Agreement) The standard license agreement delivered with each copy of a Microsoft software product, describing the software rights that pertain to the user of that particular copy. euro The pan-European currency of European economic and monetary union (EMU), overseen by the European Union (EU). See EMU and EU. European Article Numbering (see EAN) European Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (see EASDAQ) European Community � see EU (European Union) European Computer Manufacturers Association (see ECMA) European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (see CEPT) European Economic Community � see EU (European Union) European Foundation for Quality Management (see EFQM) European Radiocommunications Committee (see ERC) European Radio Message System (see ERMES) European Telecommunications Standards Institute (see ETSI) European Union (see EU) Eurosmart A trade association representing the European smart-card industry, based in Brussels, Belgium. Eutelsat (European Telecommunications Satellite Organization) A Paris-based European satellite network operator. It offers capacity on 23 satellites for television and radio broadcasting, data networks, Internet services and mobile communications. EVA (economic value added) A methodology used to measure corporate economic performance. It views investments (including IT investments) in terms of their impact on shareholder value � that is, the increase (or decrease) in enterprise economic value that results from an investment. event management system A system designed to reduce enterprises' capital equipment and training costs by consolidating the number of network and system management consoles with which operators must interact. An event management system enables events from disparate enterprise network devices, hardware systems, middleware and applications to be monitored from one console. Examples include BMC Software's Patrol, IBM's Tivoli Enterprise Console and Micromuse's Netcool. EVM (Enterprise Volume Manager) A product that offers point-in-time copy and other advanced functions for various Hewlett-Packard (formerly Compaq) storage systems. e-wallet (electronic wallet) Residing either on a device or on a server, this software application stores personal information (such as passwords and shipping addresses), digital certificates and information for a variety of payment instruments (such as credit cards or e-cash) used for e-commerce transactions. The information can be automatically applied to payment and other Web transactions. exchange The assembly of equipment in a communications system that controls the connection of incoming and outgoing lines and includes the necessary signaling and supervisory functions. Different exchanges (also called "switches") can be colocated to perform different functions (for example, to act as a local exchange or a trunk exchange). In a public voice networks, an exchange that serves a local calling area is also known as a central office (CO). Exchanges installed within enterprises are commonly known as private branch exchanges (PBXs). A high-capacity form of PBX, offering advanced functionality, is called a private communications exchange (PCX). See CO, PBX and PCX. executive information system (see EIS) expansion card A circuit board that can be inserted into the computer to increase its capabilities (also called an expansion board). See card. expert system A software system that can learn new procedures by analyzing the outcome of past events, or that contains a knowledge base of rules that can be applied to new data or circumstances not explicitly anticipated by the developer. Applications include network management, data mining, speech recognition, biometrics and software for complex evaluation in such fields as petroleum geology. See artificial intelligence. explicit congestion notification (see ECN) explicit forward congestion indication (see EFCI) Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (see EPIC) Extended Binary-Coded Decimal Interchange Code (see EBCDIC) extended data out (see EDO) Extended Graphics Array (see XGA) Extended Industry Standard Architecture (see EISA) Extended Remote Copy (see XRC) extended superframe (see ESF) Extensible Hypertext Markup Language (see XHTML) Extensible Markup Language (see XML) Extensible Markup Language/Electronic Data Interchange (see XML/EDI) Extensible Stylesheet Language (see XSL) Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations (see XSLT) external service provider (see ESP) extraction, transformation and loading (see ETL) extraction/transformation/transport (ETT) � see ETL extranet A collaborative, Internet-based network that facilitates intercompany relationships by linking an enterprise with its suppliers, customers or other external business partners. Extranets use Internet-derived applications and technology to provide secured extensions of internal business processes to external business partners. See Internet and intranet. extranet VPN (extranet virtual private network) A virtual private network (VPN) that uses a public Internet Protocol (IP) network (like the Internet) and features tunneling technology, security, encryption, authentication, network privileges and management. See IP and VPN. F fabric-attached storage (see FAS) face recognition A biometric technique that uses the geometry of a person's face to authenticate identity. Limited deployments, such as those for check cashing, are in place. facilities management An arrangement in which a service supplier manages internal enterprise facilities such as telecommunications or data-processing services. Unlike outsourcing, it does not involve the transfer of ownership of these facilities to the service provider. Facilities management relationships are particularly common in the government IT service market. See outsourcing. facsimile (see fax) fading A phenomenon, generally of microwave or radio transmission, where atmospheric, electromagnetic or gravitational influences cause a signal to be deflected or diverted away from the target receiver. failsafe Internal circuitry that monitors a system and shuts it down or alerts the operator in the event of a problem. failure A serious system problem that results in the termination or serious degradation of a software or hardware session. The term also refers to the system-related failure of a mission-critical business process, or incorrect output caused by an erroneous calculation. fair market value (see FMV) FAQ (frequently asked questions) A type of reference document that contains answers to common questions. FAQs are often posted on Internet. FAS (fabric-attached storage) An umbrella term used by Gartner to encompass emerging storage area network (SAN) and network-attached storage (NAS) architectures. Gartner believes that FAS will continue to gain share because, unlike direct-attached storage (DAS), its architectures permit many servers and clients to share common storage assets, improve storage utilization efficiency, and expand client access to mission-critical data, while reducing total cost of ownership. See DAS, NAS and SAN. FAST (Federation Against Software Theft) A European vendor organization concerned with preventing piracy and other forms of unauthorized software usage. Fast Dump Restore (see FDR) Fast Dump Restore Safeguard Open Storage (see FDRSOS) Fast Ethernet An extension of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE's) 802.3 standard � IEEE 802.3u � supporting 100-Mbps data rates instead of 10 Mbps, and using 100Base-T or 100Base-F families of cabling standards. See Ethernet, 802.3 and 802.3u. fast-packet switching A generic term for improved packet-switching technologies such as frame relay and cell relay. Fast-packet techniques feature less functionality than traditional X.25 packet- switching, but offer higher packet-switching speeds and lower processing costs. Fast Track A negotiation process developed by Gartner to address situations where an enterprise needs to perform a thorough analysis of competing provider options, but does not have the time to undergo a formal request for proposal (RFP) process. The Fast Track selection and negotiation process takes about half the time of the RFP process. This approach retains competition by selecting two provider candidates at the outset, based on enterprise requirements, industry research and a market scan. See RFP. FAT (file allocation table) An index for mapping logical files to physical locations on a disk storage device. fat client In client/server computing, a client is said to be "fat" (or "thick") when it handles a high amount of the application logic and data management tasks, rather than having these tasks executed remotely on the server. See client/server and thin client. fault detection Online diagnostics that detect faults in real time, prevent contamination into other areas and attempt to retry operations. fault tolerance A system's ability to enable continuity to be maintained in a user session when a system process fails. Once the process fails on the server, another process is launched to resume the user session from where it left off, with little to no loss in productivity. fault-tolerant The adjective form of fault tolerance, used to describe a system that exhibits this quality (see fault tolerance). fax (facsimile) The system or equipment used for the transmission of images, usually over the public telephone network. The image is scanned at the transmitter, reconstructed at the receiving station, and duplicated on some form of paper. FC (see Fibre Channel) FC-AL (Fibre Channel-Arbitrated Loop) A subset of the Fibre Channel standard that was defined to support network storage. FC-AL is an inexpensive technology that supports the configuration of up to 126 devices in a Fibre Channel ring network. Only one pair of devices can talk at one time on the loop, so device access is arbitrated. Each port on the loop sees all messages and ignores those not intended for it. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) The U.S. federal agency responsible for regulating interstate telecommunications, as well as international telecommunications, aspects of cellular communications and broadcasting. The FCC was established by the Communications Act of 1934. FCIF (Full Common Intermediate Format) A video resolution format, providing a picture resolution of 344x288. FCIF is one version of the Common Intermediate Format (CIF) defined in the H.261 worldwide video code standard. See CIF. FCS (first customer shipment) The stage at which a product is released from development, and ready for beta testing. FCS (frame check sequence) A checking code used to provide error control information in data communications. FDC (First Data Corp.) An electronic funds transfer and payment services firm based in Denver, Colorado. Its subsidiaries include Western Union. FDD (flexible disk drive) A low-cost, low-capacity (usually 1.4 megabytes) removable disk storage device. See floppy disk. FDDI (Fiber Distributed Data Interface) An American National Standards Institute specification for fiber-optic local-area networks, supporting speeds of up to 100 megabits per second. FDDI incorporates token processing and supports circuit-switched voice and packetized data. FDM (frequency division multiplexing) The division of a transmission frequency range into narrower bands to create two or more channels, enabling each data source to have its own channel. In FDM, the multichannel transmission must emanate from a single location � unlike frequency division multiple access (FDMA), which enables the source data signals to emanate from multiple transmitters in different locations. See FDMA. FDMA (frequency division multiple access) Communicating devices at different locations sharing a multipoint or broadcast channel by means of a technique that allocates different frequencies to different users. FDR (Fast Dump Restore) A storage management product from Innovation Data Solutions (Little Falls, New Jersey). FDRSOS (Fast Dump Restore Safeguard Open Storage) Innovation Data Solutions' backup/recovery product for EMC Symmetrix storage systems. FDX (full-duplex transmission) � see full duplex FE (field engineer) An engineer who works on-site (i.e., "in the field"). feature code Similar to a product code, this is a number that some technology vendors use to identify product features that may be ordered separately by the customer. FEC (forward error correction) A technique for correcting errors incurred in transmission over a communications channel. With FEC, errors are corrected at the receiving end of the channel, thereby reducing the amount of data that must be retransmitted due to errors. FECN (forward explicit congestion notification) Part of the explicit congestion notification (ECN) technique used in frame relay networks. The FECN portion of the address field of a transmitted frame is the area reserved for data alerting the frame relay assembler/disassembler (FRAD) on the receiving end that there is congestion on the line. A one-bit field that is set to "1" to indicate that the frame has been delivered through a congested network, alerting the FRAD that network resources are insufficient to support transmission at the current rate. See ECN and FRAD. Federal Communications Commission (see FCC) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (see FERC) Federal Information Processing Standard (see FIPS) Federation Against Software Theft (see FAST) FEDI (financial electronic data interchange) A standard format for the transmission of integrated and structured payment and remittance data through banks. High implementation costs and complexity of electronic data interchange (EDI) connectivity have limited its use to large corporations that bill and pay each other regularly. FEDI has not been commonly used by a wide range of banks. See EDI. FEP (front-end processor) A dedicated communications system that intercepts and handles activity for the host. It may perform line control, message handling, code conversion, error control, and such application functions as control and operation of special-purpose terminals. See communication controller. FEPI (Front-End Programming Interface) A programming-interface component of IBM's Customer Information Control System (CICS). See CICS. FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) An independent agency within the U.S. Department of Energy that regulates the transmission and sale of energy utilities, such as oil and electricity. ferroelectric RAM (see FRAM) ferrule The tip of a fiber-optic connector. FET (field-effect transistor) A-type of transistor commonly used in integrated circuitry. FHSS (frequency-hopping spread spectrum) A form of spread-spectrum technology used in radio transmissions, which enables simultaneous transmission of multiple signals over a single radio frequency band. With FHSS, a radio signal "hops" between frequencies within the band. Originally developed by the U.S. military to prevent eavesdropping and radio jamming, FHSS now commonly used in wireless local-area networks (WLANs). Another common WLAN option is direct- sequence spread spectrum (DSSS). See DSSS and WLAN. Fiber Distributed Data Interface (see FDDI) Fiber Link Around the Globe (see FLAG) fiber optics A high-bandwidth transmission technology that uses light to carry digital information. One fiber-optic cable carries hundreds of thousands of voice or data circuits. These cables, or light guides, replace conventional coaxial cables and wire pairs. Fiber transmission facilities occupy far less physical volume for an equivalent transmission capacity. Optical fiber is also immune to electrical interference. fiber to the building (see FTTB) fiber to the curb (see FTTC) fiber to the home (see FTTH) Fibre Channel A high-speed serial communication technology developed by IBM and other vendors, and now being standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) within ANSI Technical Committee X3T11. It is usually used for storage network data transmission over fiber-optic or copper cabling. Fibre Channel is a higher-speed alternative to Small Computer System Interface (see SCSI), a technology with which it is compatible. Fibre Channel-Arbitrated Loop (see FC-AL) Fibre Channel Connectivity (see FICON) FICON (Fibre Channel Connectivity) An IBM channel architecture introduced in 1998. field-effect transistor (see FET) field engineer (see FE) field-programmable gate array (see FPGA) field-replaceable unit (see FRU) field service/dispatch (see FS/D) FIFO (first in, first out) A network queuing method, wherein data packets are dealt with in a simple queue on a first-come, first-served basis. No packets are given preferential treatment; all are queued in the order in which they are received. file A collection of bytes containing data, text or other information, or software that is stored and accessed as a coherent unit. Examples include data tables, spreadsheets, text documents, programs, and electronic sounds and images. file allocation table (see FAT) file server A computer containing files available to all users connected to a local-area network (LAN). In some LANs, a PC is designated as the file server, while in others it is a larger computer with a high storage capacity and specialized software. Some file servers offer additional resources, such as gateways and protocol conversion. File Transfer, Access and Management (see FTAM) File Transfer Protocol (see FTP) filter (see filtering) filtering 1 Restricting the results returned to a user seeking information through a Web search engine or other information retrieval system. It is often referred to more precisely as "content filtering" or "information filtering." Information may be filtered for relevance, using algorithms that analyze factors such as a term's context and its proximity to other terms. Content may also be filtered for appropriateness � for example, excluding material inappropriate for children. 2 A communications term, which refers to allowing only a single band of frequencies to pass, or to isolating and blocking unwanted signal energy (for example, echoes and other signal interference) to improve transmission quality. Also known as "signal filtering." financial engineering A practice whereby a vendor prices its contracted services at a level that falls below its costs in the early years of a multiyear contract, but that offers substantial profits in later years of the contract term. The practice sacrifices near-term profitability for the promise of future rewards. Financial Information Exchange (see FIX) Financial Information Exchange Markup Language (see FIXML) Financial Products Markup Language (see FpML) Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999 (see FMA99) financial-services provider (see FSP) fingerprint recognition A technology by which a user places his or her finger on a small glass plate at which point the system captures a high-resolution optical image of the fingerprint, typically using a charge-coupled-device camera. No ink is involved. The system then converts the image into a template containing a mathematical representation based on features of the image such as the minutiae (i.e., the points at which the ridges branch or end). The technology typically takes three to four samples of a fingerprint to make a template for enrollment into the system. For user verification, the system takes a live scan of the fingerprint, which it then compares to the stored template for the user. If the match is close enough (determined by an application-defined threshold), verification is successful. FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standard) A set of specifications produced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology for the U.S. federal government. FIPS specifications address communications, encryption, interoperability, hardware and other technical areas. firewall An application or an entire computer (e.g., an Internet gateway server) that controls access to a network and monitors the flow of network traffic. A firewall can screen and keep out unwanted network traffic and ward off outside intrusion into a private network. This is particularly important when a local network connects to the Internet. Firewalls have become critical applications as use of the Internet has increased. FireWire Also known as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394, this is a high-speed serial bus similar to Universal Serial Bus (USB), but much faster and more expensive to implement (see USB). Its primary supporters are Apple Computer and consumer electronics firms such as Fuji, Sony, Hitachi and Nintendo. These firms are using FireWire as the input/output bus for next-generation digital products, such as camcorders, VCRs, TVs, digital cameras and game players. firmware A category of memory chips that hold their content without electrical power. They include read-only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM) and electronically erasable PROM (EEPROM) technologies. Firmware becomes "hard software" when holding program code. The contents are generally permanent or semipermanent control coding implemented at a microinstruction level for an application program, instruction set, operating routine or similar user-oriented function. See ROM and EEPROM. FIRST (Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams) A nonprofit volunteer group whose goal is to foster cooperation and coordination in incident prevention across diverse sectors, and prompt rapid reaction to incidents. Through an annual conference and its Web site at www.first.org, the group promotes information sharing among its members and the incident response community at large. first customer shipment (see FCS) First Data Corp. (see FDC) first-generation office systems An early class of office information systems dominated by dedicated word processors, such as Digital Equipment's DECmate and IBM's DisplayWriter. The period began with the introduction of the first word processors in the late 1970s and lasted until the advent of integrated office systems in 1983. first in, first out (see FIFO) FIX (Financial Information Exchange) A messaging standard for the electronic exchange of securities transactions. FIX is a public- domain specification owned and maintained by FIX Protocol, Ltd. FIXML (Financial Information Exchange Markup Language) A structured grammar � derived from Extensible Markup Language (XML) � that is encapsulated within standard messaging defined by the Financial Information Exchange (FIX) protocol. See FIX and XML. flag A data bit or group of bits that can be set to "on" or "off" to signal the status of a system or process. FLAG (Fiber Link Around the Globe) An undersea fiber-optic cable network connecting Europe to the Asia/Pacific region. It became operational in 1997. flame An electronically communicated insult or inflammatory comment that sets off a flood of outraged responses in e-mail messages, message board postings or any similar online forum. Flaming is considered rude and inconsiderate, but it frequently occurs in newsgroups and e-mail. flash memory A nonvolatile storage chip that enables easy electrical erasability and reprogramming, often used to remotely update routers or modems with new versions of software. flat file An end-to-end concatenation of all record values in a database, without any of the values being labeled. flat-file database A database composed of a single, concatenated file, or several such files, without any attendant, application-independent server logic. Flat-file databases can be used by multiple concurrent users if hosted on a shared file server. flat-panel display (see FPD) floating-point operations per second (see FLOPS) floating-point unit (see FPU) floppy disk A reusable, portable storage device that generally holds 1.4 megabytes of data. Floppy disks, sometimes called flexible disks or diskettes, were the primary method of software and data distribution beginning in the 1970s. They were originally eight inches wide and enclosed in a flexible envelope; a 5.25-inch version was later introduced, and finally a 3.5- inch floppy disk encased in rigid plastic became the standard. CD-ROMs have become a popular alternative to floppy disks, especially for larger software and multimedia files, given their higher storage capacity. As network speeds have increased and Internet access has expanded, more software and data are now transmitted directly rather than stored. FLOPS (floating-point operations per second) A metric used to measure system performance. flow control A communications term that refers to the control the flow of data over a communications link. Flow control is one of the network-processing functions defined in the transport layer (Layer 4) of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model (see OSI). flow manufacturing A manufacturing term that describes a model for continuous throughput within selected operations. It requires a reallocation of work steps, direct management of the time required for these work steps, and a redesign of typical material requirements planning floor operations to reduce production costs, work in progress and time to market. Flow manufacturing is synonymous with flexible, lean and synchronous manufacturing and is similar to continuous-flow operations. FM (frequency modulation) A means of modulating a sine wave signal to make it carry information. With FM, the carrier wave's frequency is modified in accordance with the information to be transmitted. See AM. FMA99 (Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999) Signed into U.S. law in November 1999, this legislation � also known as the "Gramm- Leach-Bliley Act," after the senators who sponsored it � allowed many financial institutions to engage in a broader spectrum of activities, but also placed additional restrictions on many of their practices, notably those related to privacy. The act established an "affirmative and continuing obligation" for FSPs to respect their customers' privacy, and to protect the confidentiality of their information � an aspect of the legislation that had a major impact on FSPs' customer information management practices and strategies. FMS (financial management system) A collection of integrated applications and technologies designed to provide a financial solution specific to organizational requirements. FMV (fair market value) A measure of equipment value often used in leasing arrangements. FMV is meant to reflect the price a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller under no compulsion to sell or buy. foreign exchange (see FX) formal standard A specification approved by a vendor-independent standards body, such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST). The term is used to distinguish such standards from informal or "de facto" ones, which are not accredited by standards bodies but achieve a commensurate status through market forces or vendor influence. formatting The preparation of a storage medium with guidance information, synchronization information, and a structure for keeping or collecting information for a directory; this collection of material placed on the disk before user data is written is called a "format," and frequently also includes room for error correction check sums and rewriting of bad or updated sectors. formatting code Rudimentary text markup that applications convert to presentation characteristics (such as boldface, italics, font or point size). form factor A standard size and shape used for hardware products, devices or components. For example, most 3.5-inch floppy disk drives have the same dimension so that they can fit interchangeably into computer cabinets. FORTRAN (Formula Translator) A programming language developed primarily for numeric computations and chiefly used in mathematics, science and engineering. It was introduced in the 1950s as the first high-level language (i.e., closer to natural language than to machine language). Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (see FIRST) forward channel The communications path carrying voice or data from the call initiator to the called party. forward error correction (see FEC) forward explicit congestion notification (see FECN) FP (function point) Function points measure the size of an application system based on the functional view of the system. The size is determined by counting the number of inputs, outputs, queries, internal files and external files in the system and adjusting that total for the functional complexity of the system. Function point analysis, originally developed at IBM, has as an advantage its focus on measuring software produced in terms of functionality delivered to the end user, rather than in terms of development deliverables, which have no direct bearing on the end user. FPD (flat-panel display) A core component for notebooks, FPDs are finding increasingly broad applications in desktop and other systems. Several FPD technologies are available, including liquid crystal display (LCD), gas plasma, electroluminescent, field emission display and digital micromirror devices. The most mature FPD technology is LCD, which includes active-matrix and passive-matrix varieties. See LCD. FPGA (field-programmable gate array) A type of programmable logic device (PLD) � an integrated circuit that can be customized after assembly. Specifically, an FPGA is a programmable type of gate array, which is an integrated circuit that contains a configuration of uncommitted elements in a prefabricated base wafer. See PLD. FpML (Financial Products Markup Language) A programming language � based on Extensible Markup Language (XML) � introduced by J.P. Morgan and PricewaterhouseCoopers in June 1999. See XML. FPS (frames per second) A video transmission metric. FPU (floating-point unit) A processor specially designed to manipulate floating-point values rather than integer values. FR (see frame relay) fractional T1 Telecommunications service providing permanent leased lines operating at a bit rate between 64 kilobits per second and 1.544 megabits per second. See T1. FRAD (frame relay assembler/disassembler) A communications device that converts an asynchronous, outgoing data stream into the format required by a frame relay network, and performs the same function in reverse for an incoming data stream. Similar to the packet assembler/disassemblers (PADs) used in a packet-switched networks, FRADs enable asynchronous devices such as PCs to communicate over frame relay networks. See frame relay and PAD. FRAM (ferroelectric random-access memory) A type of random-access memory (RAM) that consists of tiny ferrite rings, which can be magnetized by electric pulses to indicate a binary "1" bit. See RAM. frame In data transmission, a sequence of contiguous bits that is bracketed by beginning and ending flag sequences, and that includes addressing and control information. frame check sequence (see FCS) frame relay A network technology that transmits data packets at high speeds across a digital network encapsulated in a transmission unit called a frame. It requires a dedicated connection during the transmission period. It is used on wide area networks and also in private network environments with leased lines over T1 lines. Frame relay is faster than traditional networks, because it was designed for today's reliable circuits and performs less rigorous error detection. When circuits are less reliable, a great deal of network traffic is dedicated solely to correcting errors. frame relay assembler/disassembler (see FRAD) Frame Relay to ATM Service Interworking (see FRASI) frames per second (see FPS) framing Separating a data string into "frames" in preparation for transmission. See frame. FRASI (Frame Relay to ATM Service Interworking) An MCI service that enables frame relay traffic to be mapped to asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). This enables customers to have frame relay access services in some locations and ATM in others, while still permitting intercommunication between them. Free Software Foundation A foundation established in 1983 by Richard Stallman, the founder and driving force behind the "GNU's Not Unix" (GNU) operating-system project. See GNU. frequency An expression of how frequently a periodic wave form or signal repeats itself at a given amplitude. It can be expressed in hertz (Hz), kilohertz (kHz), megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). See Hz, kHz, MHz and GHz. frequency coordination International procedures to prevent interference between new and incumbent radio communications services. frequency division multiple access (see FDMA) frequency division multiplexing (see FDM) frequency-hopping spread spectrum (see FHSS) frequency modulation (see FM) frequency shift keying (see FSK) frequency-to-voltage converter (see FVC) frequently asked questions (see FAQ) front-end processor (see FEP) Front-End Programming Interface (see FEPI) front office A general term for the category of applications that support customer service, sales, marketing and similar enterprise functions. front-office suite A set of integrated applications, employing a common architecture and referencing a common database, that facilitate customer service, sales and marketing functions. FrontPage A Web-authoring tool from Microsoft. FRU (field-replaceable unit) A computer part or other technological component that can be readily replaced in the field if it fails or otherwise proves defective. FS/D (field service/dispatch) A customer service and support (CSS) function. FS/D refers to the process of managing field service resources, and dispatching these resources to address customer problems. See CSS. FSK (frequency shift keying) A method of modulation that uses two different frequencies to distinguish between a mark (digital 1) and a space (digital 0) when transmitting on an analog line. FSK is used in modems operating at 1,200 bits per second or slower. FSP (financial-services provider) A company that belongs to the broad industry category that includes as banking, brokerage and investment firms. FT (see fault tolerance) FTAM (File Transfer, Access and Management) The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) protocol for file transfer (the communication of an entire file between systems), access (remote access to one or more records in a file) and management (including the ability to create, delete and rename files). See OSI. FTE (full-time equivalent) A staffing metric. An FTE is a unit of labor resources equivalent to one full-time employee, even if some or all of the staff comprising these resources work part-time. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) A Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) standard used to log onto a network, list directories and copy files. FTP authenticates users and allows them to transfer files, list directories, delete and rename files on a remote host, and perform wild-card transfers. See TCP/IP. FTTB (fiber to the building) Fiber-optic access supplied to an individual building for telephony, data communication, Internet or other network services. FTTB access typically terminates in a building basement, from which access for multiple end users is implemented through an in-building network. FTTC (fiber to the curb) Fiber-optic distribution of phone, Internet or media services (such as cable television) to a point outside the customer's premises. FTTH (fiber to the home) Fiber-optic access to users' homes for phone, Internet or media services, wherein each home has a direct fiber connection. Full Common Intermediate Format (see FCIF) full duplex Refers to a communications system or equipment capable of transmitting simultaneously in both directions. See half duplex. full-text index An index containing every word (with the possible exception of stop words) in a collection of documents, for use by a full-text search engine. See "search engine," "search index" and "stop word." full-time equivalent (see FTE) functional test A test carried out under normal working conditions to verify that a circuit or other electronic component functions correctly. function point (see FP) fuzzy logic A reasoning paradigm that deals with approximate or imprecise information. Fuzzy logic enables variables to be described (often linguistically) and acted on in terms of their degree of membership in predetermined sets. Control systems in consumer electronics equipment products and other embedded control systems are among the most common applications. FVC (frequency-to-voltage converter) A circuit that converts frequency variations to amplitude variations. FX (foreign exchange) 1 Account settlements or transfers of credit or currency across national borders, a process that typically relies heavily on computer technology. 2 A telecommunications connection between a customer's location and a remote exchange. This service provides the equivalent of local service from the distant exchange. G G2B (government-to-business) Connecting or flowing between government and private-sector enterprises, typically through online or network-enabled channels. G2C (government-to-constituent) Connecting or flowing between governments and their constituents, typically through Internet or other network-enabled channels. G2G (government-to-government) Intergovernmental, typically with reference to Internet or other network-enabled interactions, communications or information sharing. G2 (Generation 2) IBM's second generation of 9672 mainframe models. G3 (Generation 3) IBM's third generation of 9672 mainframe models. G4 (Generation 4) IBM's fourth generation of 9672 mainframe models. G5 (Generation 5) IBM's fifth generation of 9672 mainframe models. G6 (Generation 6) IBM's sixth generation of 9672 mainframe models, introduced in May 1999. G.7xx series A series of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards for voice and data communications (see ITU). The series includes: G.703: Specifications for plesiochronous digital hierarchy (see PDH). G.709: Specifications for synchronous digital hierarchy (see SDH). G.711: Specifications for digital speech encoding based on a pulse code modulation (see PCM) digitizing algorithm using logarithmic encoding. G.721: Specifications for digital speech encoding based on an adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM) technique. See ADPCM. G.723: Specifications for the voice component of the H.323 videoconferencing suite (see H.x series). G.728: Specifications for digital speech encoding using low bit rates based on a sector generalization scheme (which yields lower sound quality than G.711). GA (general availability) The point at which a new product is available on the open market. GaAs (gallium arsenide) A chemical used in semiconductor manufacturing. gain Denotes an increase in signal power in transmission from one point to another, usually expressed in decibels. gain sharing Describes a contract that defines the vendor's contribution to the customer in terms of specific benefits to the customer's business. Such a contract also defines the payment the customer will make according to the vendor's performance in delivering these benefits. Gain-sharing contracts require the development of a delivery paradigm that links a customer's business metrics to a vendor's IT solution. Key elements of this paradigm include: Business metric definition and selection Client metric benchmarking Development of key performance indicators Investment options evaluation Gain-sharing contract development Financial engineering Delivery of services Re-evaluation and adjustment of metrics gallium arsenide (see GaAs) gateway 1 A computer that sits between different networks or applications. The gateway converts information, data or other communications from one protocol or format to another. A router may perform some of the functions of a gateway. An Internet gateway can transfer communications between an enterprise network and the Internet. Because enterprises often use protocols on their local-area networks that differ from those of the Internet, a gateway will often act as a protocol converter, enabling users to send and receive communications over the Internet. 2 A product or feature that uses proprietary techniques to link heterogeneous systems. gateway server A server designed to transform data streams to better match device capabilities. For example, Wireless Application Protocol gateway servers convert Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) to Wireless Markup Language for wireless devices, and a number of products can reformat HTML for devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants. Today, HTML-based gateway servers predominate. While HTML can be made aware of a unique device requesting content, more often "shadow" Web server applications are created to draw off and reformat the native content. Gb (gigabit) Approximately one billion bits of data (1,073,741,824, to be exact). GB (gigabyte) Approximately 1 billion bytes of data (actually 1,073,741,824 bytes). Gbps (gigabits per second) A measure of data transmission speed (see Gb). GCOS (General Comprehensive Operating System) A Groupe Bull mainframe operating system. GCR (group code recording) A tape drive format used in storage systems. GDI (Graphics Device Interface) A Microsoft print control interface. Under GDI, the page image is communicated to the printer in the native Windows format. The formatting is done on the computer, so the printer needs less onboard processing power and memory than with page description languages. GDPS (Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex) An IBM mainframe feature for continuous availability and disaster recovery across multiple, geographically dispersed sites. GEMMS (Global Enterprise Manufacturing Management System) A process manufacturing product once offered by Datalogix (which was acquired by Oracle in 1997). GEMS (Global Enterprise Management of Storage) A family of storage management products from Legato Systems. general availability (see GA) General Inter-ORB Protocol (see GIOP) general packet radio service (see GPRS) General Security Services Application Programming Interface (see GSS-API) Generation 2 (see G2) Generation 3 (see G3) Generation 4 (see G4) Generation 5 (see G5) Generation 6 (see G6) Generation N (see GN) genetic algorithm An optimization technique that applies the principles of natural selection and genetics. A genetic algorithm generates option variations through random "mutation." Successful variations survive iterations of the algorithm. The technique is used to optimize plans, neural nets and other algorithms. geocoding Identifying narrow locations using postal codes or other identifiers for marketing, delivery or planning purposes. Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (see GDPS) geographic information system (see GIS) GFLOPS (gigaFLOPS) A measure of computing performance, equal to 1 billion floating-point operations per second (FLOPS). For example, 50 GFLOPS equals 50 billion FLOPS. GHz (gigahertz) A frequency unit equal to one billion cycles per second. GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) An integrated Web component of Hypertext Markup Language into which graphics files can be converted so that programs can recognize them. gigabit (see Gb) Gigabit Ethernet The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers standard (802.3z) for transmission of standard Ethernet traffic at one gigabit per second. See Ethernet, 802.3 and 802.3z. Gigabit Switch Router (see GSR) gigabyte (see GB) gigaFLOPS (see GFLOPS) gigahertz (see GHz) gigaPOP A point of presence (POP) capable of supporting multiple gigabit-per-second lines at once. A gigaPOP has lower-speed Internet Protocol (IP) routing capabilities at the fringes of the backbone networks, and an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching core that can carry IP, X.25, frame relay and ATM traffic � eliminating the need for separate and costly networks to support different types of traffic. GIOP (General Inter-ORB Protocol) A protocol that defines a small set of messages and data formats. Part of the Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), GIOP enables a client-side object request broker (ORB) to forward object method invocations to another, server-side ORB and receive back replies and error messages. See CORBA and ORB. GIS (geographic information system) Computer-based technology composed of hardware, software and data used to capture, edit, display and analyze spatial information (that is, information tagged by location). GIS technology is used in many spatial-data applications, including marketing functions such as demographic analysis, and government functions such as zoning and census mapping. GL (general ledger) A permanent record of accounting transactions summarized according to an enterprise's accounting and organizational structure. A GL system is designed to summarize entries from subledger systems and produce financial statements and reports. GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act) � see FMA99 G.Lite An International Telecommunication Union (ITU) specification (ITU G.992.2) for a reduced- speed, splitterless version of asymmetric digital subscriber line (see ADSL). Global Enterprise Management of Storage (see GEMS) Global Enterprise Manufacturing Management System (see GEMMS) GlobalOne A company that provides global voice and data communications services. Originally launched as a joint venture by Deutsche Telecom, France Telecom and Sprint in 1996, it was wholly taken over by France Telecom in 2000. Global Navigational Satellite System (see GLONASS) Global Network Services (see GNS) Global Positioning System (see GPS) Global Resource Serialization (see GRS) global sourcing A service delivery model in which work is performed by a virtual team, which may consist of personnel that are on-site, domestic, nearshore or offshore. See nearshore and offshore. Global System for Mobile Communications (see GSM) GLONASS (Global Navigational Satellite System) A satellite-based geographic-location system run by the Russian government. See GPS. GMLC (Graduated Monthly License Charge) The traditional S/390 software pricing structure offered by IBM. GN (Generation N) A catch-all term encompassing IBM's various generations of 9672 mainframe models. See G2, G3, G4, G5 and G6. GNS (Global Network Services) An AT&T unit that provides various managed-networking, IP and network- outsourcing services. GNU (GNU's Not Unix) A project launched in 1984 to develop a free, complete Unix-like operating system. Variants of the GNU operating system (which use the kernel Linux) are now widely in use. Although these systems are often referred to as "Linux systems," they are more accurately termed "GNU/Linux systems." GNU ZIP GNU's compression utility for Unix-like operating systems, available as freeware via the Internet. GOLC (Growth Opportunity License Charge) An IBM software pricing program. Gold A specification for Internet-based financial transactions, developed by IBM and the now- defunct Integrion consortium. Gold was later merged with Open Financial Exchange (OFX) to form the Interactive Financial Exchange (IFX) specification. See OFX and IFX. gopher A text-based distributed document delivery and retrieval system once used over the Internet. It predates, and has been superseded by, hypertext documents on the Web. GOSIP (Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile) A standard issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. GOSIP specifies the details of an interoperable Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) configuration for networking products procured by the U.S. government. See OSI. Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile (see GOSIP) government-to-business (see G2B) government-to-constituent (see G2C) government-to-government (see G2G) GPO (group purchasing organization) A healthcare industry term. GPOs provide their members with collective-buying and negotiation services for medical-supply purchases. GPRS (general packet radio service) GPRS is a packet-oriented overlay to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks supporting connection- and connectionless-oriented services and diverse quality- of-service mechanisms. The theoretical maximum speed is 171.2 kilobits per second (Kbps), but real-life user throughput is expected to be 56 Kbps or less. See GSM. GPRS Roaming Exchange (see GRX) GPS (Global Positioning System) A system that uses radio signals from satellites to determine the precise location of any compatible receiver unit. Developed by the U.S. Department of Defense, GPS uses a network of 24 satellites that provide 24-hour positioning information, regardless of the weather. GPS works on the principle of triangulation: By knowing its distance from three or more satellites, the receiver can calculate its position by solving a set of equations. While satellite-based location technology is often referred to generically as "GPS," the U.S.-run GPS network is not the only system that provides such location services. The Russian government runs a satellite-based location system called GLONASS (for "Global Navigational Satellite System"), and plans are in the works for a European global- positioning satellite system called Galileo. See location service. GPWW (group practice without walls) An umbrella organization for a group of independent physician practices that performs certain business operations, such as technology procurement. grade of service A measure of the quality of service provided by a telephone system. It is calculated based on the probability that a call will encounter a busy signal during the busiest hour of the day. Graduated Monthly License Charge (see GMLC) Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (see FMA99) granularity A software, hardware or network system's ability to be modified by altering its components � for example, through changes to the modules in a software package, or to the number of processors in a hardware configuration. graphical shell A simple graphical user interface to a character-oriented command language, such as DOS. graphical user interface (see GUI) Graphics Device Interface (see GDI) Graphics Interchange Format (see GIF) gray scale A range of gray tones used to create a monochrome image. ground start A telephony term describing a signaling method whereby one station detects that a circuit is grounded at the other end. ground station (see earth station) Groupe Speciale Mobile (see GSM) group purchasing organization (see GPO) groupware Software that supports interpersonal processes and the objects with which people commonly work. The term was originally coined to describe a class of applications designed to provide electronic support for groups of individuals working together toward a common goal. In that sense, it been applied to applications ranging from unstructured e-mail to rigorously structured workflow systems. Groupware is more useful as a concept when it is broken down into three major stages: communication, coordination and cooperation. In this light, groupware applications can be viewed in terms of the degree and complexity of structure in the group interactions they enable, and the rigor with which those activities are monitored. GRS (Global Resource Serialization) An IBM system function designed to manage shared resources in a manner that improve system integrity. GRX (GPRS Roaming Exchange) A standard defined by the GSM Association for general packet radio service (GPRS) roaming. The standard enables mobile Internet services to be accessed through an Internet Protocol network managed and operated by a third party. See GPRS. GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) The dominant digital cellular technology for mobile telephone networks in Europe. GSM (formerly called "Groupe Speciale Mobile") utilizes the 905-915 MHz and 950960 MHz reserved spectrum to provide roaming capability across 18 countries in Europe. GSM 1900, the North American version of GSM, allows the standard to be used in the 1,900 MHz frequency band, which the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada have allocated for personal communication services (PCS). GSM is also the name of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute technical committee responsible for the developing the standard. See PCS. GSM 1900 The North American version of Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). GSM 1900 � a modification of the European specification, which operates at 900 megahertz (MHz) � enables GSM to be used in the 1,900-MHz frequency band, which the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and Industry Canada have allocated for personal communications services (PCS). See GSM and PCS. GSM Association An industry group representing wireless network operators that use Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology, as well as GSM technology manufacturers and suppliers. Founded in 1987, the association has played a pivotal role in the development of the GSM platform and the global wireless industry. See GSM. GSR (Gigabit Switch Router) A family of router products from Cisco Systems. GSS-API (General Security Services Application Programming Interface) An information security standard described in Internet Engineering Task Force Request for Comment 1508. GSS-API defines formats for access control, user identification and other information security functions. GUI (graphical user interface) A graphics-based interface that uses icons, menus and a mouse clicks to manage user interaction with a system. Originally developed by Xerox, the GUI was popularized by the Apple Macintosh in the 1980s. At the time, Microsoft's operating system, MS-DOS, required the user to type specific commands, but the company added a GUI overlay called "Windows," which eventually became the dominant user interface for personal computers. A comprehensive GUI environment includes four components: a graphics library, a user interface toolkit, a user interface style guide and consistent applications. The graphics library provides a high-level graphics programming interface. The user interface toolkit, built on top of the graphics library, provides application programs with mechanisms for creating and managing the dialogue elements of the windows, icons, menus, pointers and scroll bars in the interface. The user interface style guide specifies how applications should employ the dialogue elements to present a consistent, easy-to-use environment (i.e., "look and feel") to the user. Application conformance with a single user interface style is a key determinant of ease of learning and use, and thus, of application effectiveness and user productivity. H H.261, H.263, etc. � see H.x series H2GF (HiperLAN2 Global Forum) A consortium created to promote the European Telecommunications Standards Institute's (ETSI's) High-Performance Radio LAN Type 2 (HIPERLAN/2) standard. (Unlike the ETSI, H2GF styles the standard's name as "HiperLAN2.") See HIPERLAN/2. HA (see high availability) HA-API (Human Authentication Application Programming Interface) A biometric interface specification originally developed at the request of the U.S. Department of Defense. In 1999, the HA-API working group merged with the BioAPI Consortium, and HA-API was merged with I/O Software's Biometric Application Programming Interface (BAPI) into the consortium's BioAPI specification. See BAPI and BioAPI. HACMP (High Availability Clustered Multiprocessing) An IBM RS/6000 product designed to provide a high-availability configuration by enabling automated failover from one RS/6000 to another. half duplex A circuit designed to handle two-way transmission by transmitting alternately in each direction, but not in both directions simultaneously. See full duplex. hand geometry The shape and features of a person's hand, as used in biometric technology to authenticate identity. Handheld Device Markup Language (see HDML) handling unit A unit of goods, as viewed from the perspective of how goods are handled for distribution and logistics purposes. Examples include all the goods contained in carton or bundled on a pallet, or all the goods transferred in a single shipping container, rail car or truck trailer. handset A piece of handheld, end-user telephony equipment that contains a transmitter, receiver and keypad for dialing phone numbers. Cell phones, for example, are often referred to as "wireless handsets." handshake The exchange of predetermined control signals when a connection is established between modems or other communicating devices. handwriting recognition Technology that performs pattern matching to convert handwritten letters into computer-recognizable text characters. The two subfields are static recognition of handwritten documents such as forms, and dynamic recognition of real-time handwriting for devices such as personal digital assistants. HARC (Hitachi Asynchronous Remote Copy) A remote copy function for Hitachi Data Systems storage products. HARC allows movement of large amounts of data over any distance with full data integrity and minimal impact on performance. It duplicates data files directly from a primary subsystem to a secondary one without using valuable server processor cycles. hard disk The main data storage area of a computing device. The hard disk is typically where the computer's operating system and other software are permanently stored. Hard disks have a larger storage capacity and faster data retrieval capabilities than floppy disks. hard drive (see HDD) hardware Machinery and equipment associated with computing devices. A computer is composed of both hardware and software. The software provides the instructions, and the hardware performs the processing. hardware description language (see HDL) hardware RAID A redundant array of independent disks (RAID) storage solution that uses a processor separate from the application processor, and that provides nonvolatile memory for the data and instructions it receives from the host system. The term "hardware RAID" generally implies a dedicated disk array controller board � with its own microprocessor, memory and microcode � that implements the RAID functions and computations. However, the concept can be extended to storage servers that perform RAID operations using standard computer hardware and operating-system software. See RAID. hardware token A small device used to authenticate user access to an information system. Hardware tokens are distinguished from smart cards in that they do not require any type of reader or sensor. They are synchronized with an authentication server at the time they are issued, and they remain synchronized with the server for the life of the token. The token generates and displays a one-time password, which the user types into the device he or she uses to access the system, along with his or her personal identification number. The principal advantage of hardware tokens is their portability. They enable authentication from any device without imposing any special software or hardware requirements on the device. The principal disadvantage is the requirement that users carry the tokens with them, although credit- card-size tokens and key-fob form factors reduce the nuisance factor of this burden. hard-wired Having a permanent electronic configuration or connection. The term generally refers to electronic circuitry that performs fixed logical operations by virtue of unalterable circuit layout, rather than under computer or stored-program control. However, it can also be used to describe a communications link that permanently connects two nodes, stations or devices. hashing An algorithm that generates a unique "checksum" based on the content of transaction data, so that it can be verified by recipients using the same algorithm in reverse to ensure the content was not modified. HBA (host bus adapter) An adapter used to connects a host computer to a storage network. HBT (heterojunction bipolar transistor) A high-speed transistor design used in some semiconductors. HCFA (Health Care Financing Administration) A U.S. federal agency created in 1977 to coordinate the nation's Medicare and Medicaid programs. In 2001, HCFA was renamed the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. HCFA-1500 A uniform billing scheme widely used by healthcare payers for purposes of reimbursement and historical documentation. The name refers to the billing form for which the scheme was devised by U.S. Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), now known as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. HCM (human capital management) A set of human-resource practices that focus on acquisition, management and optimization of the enterprise workforce. HCO (healthcare organization) A general term covering a variety of enterprises that use healthcare information systems. HCOs include care delivery organizations (CDOs) such as hospitals and physician practices, as well as healthcare payer organizations such as health plans. See CDO. HDA (head disk assembly) A sealed storage assembly containing disks, a magnetic head and access arms. By reducing contamination, a sealed HDA enables the head to fly closer to the disk surface, increasing the areal density that can be obtained. HDD (hard disk drive) A computer component (also called a "hard drive" or "rigid disk drive") that contains a hard disk, along with the magnetic head and drive mechanism used to store and read data from it. Unlike a floppy disk, the disk in an HDD is not removable. See floppy disk and hard disk. HDL (hardware description language) A programming language used by electronics engineers to design hardware components or devices, such as processors, cell phones or computers. HDLC (High-Level Data Link Control) A bit-oriented data link protocol developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). One of the most commonly used protocols in the data link layer (Layer 2) of the ISO's Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference platform, HDLC adds data link control information to a transmitted frame of data. Variations of HDLC are used in X.25 and frame relay networks. See OSI, frame relay and X.25. HDML (Handheld Device Markup Language) A device- and network-independent application language developed by Unwired Planet for Web programming on a handheld device with limited memory and display, such as a cellular phone or an organizer. HDS (Hitachi Data Systems) A vendor of enterprise and modular storage systems and software. HDS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo-based electronics firm Hitachi, Ltd. HDSL (high-bit-rate digital subscriber line) One of several digital subscriber line (DSL) technologies. HDSL (also known as "high-speed digital subscriber line") provides network or Internet access over voice lines at 1.5 megabits per second. See DSL. HDTV (high-definition television) A high-resolution, wide-screen video format. HDTV images contain roughly twice the number of vertical and horizontal lines compared to conventional television images. head disk assembly (see HDA) head end The originating point in a one-to-many network system (such as a TV cable network), or a central information-gathering point of an Internet service provider. header The initial portion of a network packet or e-mail message. The header contains any information and control codes that are not part of the message itself (such as routine or priority status, message type, destination, sender and time of origination). head-mounted display (see HMD) Health Care Financing Administration (see HCFA) Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (see HIMSS) healthcare information system (see HIS) healthcare organization (see HCO) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (see HIPAA) Health Level Seven (see HL7) health maintenance organization (see HMO) Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (see HEDIS) HEDIS (Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set) A set of standardized performance measures designed to provide purchasers and consumers with the information they need to reliably compare healthcare organizations' performance. HEDIS 99 contains measures that cover disease prevention and acute or chronic care across a full range of healthcare settings, such as physicians' offices, clinics and hospitals. helical scan A recording method used to increase data capacity and transfer rates in tape storage. The tape is wrapped around a transport drum at an angle, creating diagonal tracks that increase track density compared to conventional tape-recording methods. help desk The first point of contact for all technical and end-user support issues. Most help desks offer at least two tiers of support. Tier 1 is where routine or simple problems are solved, and where more-complex ones are handed off to a higher tier. Tier 2 help desk analysts have more in-depth technical knowledge or specialized expertise. help system A consistent, system-supplied mechanism for system and application programs to offer context-sensitive help to end users. HEP (horizontal enterprise portal) A portal that serves a broad population of users across an enterprise � unlike a vertical enterprise portal (VEP), which serves only a specific segment of this population. See portal and VEP. hertz (see Hz) heterogeneous Applied to IT, this term describes a system, network, architecture or application portfolio that contains a variety of disparate components (such as hardware, operating systems, middleware, applications or network protocols), typically from multiple vendors. heterojunction bipolar transistor (see HBT) Hewlett-Packard (see HP) hexadecimal A number system based on 16 digits. Hexadecimal notation � with the numbers 0 through 9 representing the first 10 digits, and the letters A through F representing the final six � is typically used in storage or memory addressing to identify each of 16 possible bit patterns. HF (see high frequency) HFC (hybrid fiber coaxial) A network architecture that consists of fiber in the backbone network and coaxial cable in the access network. HFC can be used to provide high-speed network service to the home for applications such as video. hierarchical database A database that is organized in a tree structure in which each record has one owner. Navigation to individual records takes place through predetermined access paths. hierarchical storage management (see HSM) high availability A high probability that a system will be operational at any given time, and will recover quickly in the event of a failure. In general, a high-availability system has a relatively low vulnerability to unscheduled outages, such as power failures, code defects or hardware failures. High Availability Cluster Multiprocessing (see HACMP) high-bit-rate digital subscriber line (see HDSL) high-definition television (see HDTV) high frequency The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum typically used in short-wave radio applications. It includes frequencies spanning the three- to 30-megahertz range. High-Level Data Link Control (see HDLC) high-level language (see HLL) High-Level Language Application Program Interface (see HLLAPI) high-performance computing (see HPC) High-Performance Links (see HiPerLinks) High-Performance Parallel Interface (see HIPPI) High-Performance Radio LAN Type 1 (see HIPERLAN/1) High-Performance Radio LAN Type 2 (see HIPERLAN/2) High Performance Transaction System (see HPTS) high-speed circuit switched data (see HSCSD) high-speed digital subscriber line (see HDSL) High-Speed Serial Interface (see HSSI) high-speed subscriber data line (see HSDL) HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) An industry association that offers a variety of publications, educational programs and services related to healthcare information systems. Its members contribute to the development of such technologies as telemedicine, computer-based patient records, community health information networks and portable/wireless healthcare computing. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) An act passed by the U.S. congress in August 1996. HIPAA's directives call for the use of electronic data interchange (EDI) in healthcare transactions, and for protecting the privacy of patient healthcare information. Under the HIPAA directives, healthcare organizations (HCOs) face fines of up to $250,000 and 10 years imprisonment for wrongfully disclosing patient information. They also risk having claims rejected if they do not conform to the EDI requirements. The HIPAA directives � for EDI in particular � have major IT implications for HCOs, many of which have devoted considerable time and resources to system compliance efforts. HIPERLAN/1 (High-Performance Radio LAN Type 1) A wireless-LAN standard from the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. HIPERLAN/1 is designed to provide high-speed communications (20 Mbps) between portable devices broadcasting in the 5-gigahertz radio band. It is intended to allow flexible data networks to be created without the need for a wired infrastructure. It can also be used as an extension of a wired LAN. HIPERLAN/2 (High-Performance Radio LAN Type 2) A 5-gigahertz wireless-LAN standard, developed by European Telecommunications Standards Institute as follow-up to the HIPERLAN/1 standard it introduced in the 1990s. HIPERLAN/2, which provides access at speeds up to 54 Mbps at physical layer, competes directly with IEEE's 802.11a standard, which also operates at 5 gigahertz. HiperLAN2 Global Forum (see H2GF) HiPerLinks (High-Performance Links) A high-speed coupling-link technology introduced by IBM in 1997 for its S/390 mainframes. HIPPI (High-Performance Parallel Interface) An American National Standards Institute standard for high-speed channels used in processing-intensive systems, such as supercomputers. HIS (healthcare information system) A system or application used to manage hospital or other healthcare-related operations (such as financial, registration, scheduling and back-office functions); also called a "hospital information system." hit An individual visit to a Web site or Web page, expressed as a measure of its popularity (i.e., Web traffic volume). For example, a site that had 48,000 visitors during a 24-hour period might be said to have averaged 2,000 "hits" per hour during that period. Hitachi Asynchronous Remote Copy (see HARC) Hitachi Data Systems (see HDS) Hitachi Extended Remote Copy (see HXRC) Hitachi Remote Copy (see HRC) HL7 (Health Level Seven) A set of application-level standards for community health information network (CHIN) initiatives, widely used in hospitals. See CHIN. HLL (high-level language) A procedural programming language that offers a higher level of abstraction than assembly language. Examples of HLLs include COBOL, FORTRAN and C. The term is interchangeable with "third-generation language" (see 3GL). HLLAPI (High-Level Language Application Programming Interface) An IBM "screen scraping" standard that enables mainframe applications to be accessed using a PC. HMD (head-mounted display) A display mounted close to the eye on a headset or goggles, typically using optical techniques to create the illusion of a larger screen further away from the eye. Many HCDs use a small, usually low-resolution liquid crystal display (LCD), and are used for applications such as industrial inspection and maintenance. The 3-D HCDs used in immersive virtual- reality systems are typically based on dual LCDs with a distinct image for each eye (offset to provide depth perception), updated at 30 frames per second. HMI (human-machine interface) The control interface used by the human operator of a mechanical or electronic system or device (such as cell phone or factory system). HMO (health maintenance organization) An organization that provides prepaid subscribers with a range of healthcare services from a limited group of medical professionals and facilities. HOLAP (hybrid online analytical processing) A means of combining data from relational online analytical processing (ROLAP) and multidimensional database (MDDB) sources through the same application. See MDDB and ROLAP. holding time 1 The amount of time callers spend on hold (for example, when placing a call to a help desk or call center). Also called "hold time." 2 The length of time a communications channel is in use for each transmission. It includes message time and operating time. Also called "connect time." home page A Web page that serves as a starting point for access to other pages. For example, a Web site's home page is the one designed to serve as the top-level page or entry point for site visitors. A user's home page is the one specified in his or her browser to be loaded whenever the browser is launched. HomeRF A 2.4-gigahertz wireless LAN technology based on a frequency-hopping modulation scheme. HomeRF is designed to transport voice, video and data at an attractive price for consumer purchases. homogeneous Applied to IT, this term describes a system, architecture, application portfolio or network that is made up of highly similar or complementary components (such as hardware, operating systems, middleware, applications or network protocols) � often from a single vendor. hop count The number of stops a network packet makes from source to destination. hospital information system (see HIS) host The primary or controlling system in a multiple-computer network operation. Typically, the term specifically denotes a network-connected computer that hosts services, facilities or applications used by the other computers or terminals on the same network. For example, a Web host is a computer on which a Web site's pages are stored. host bus adapter (see HBA) hosting Storing data on a server for later access. Typically, the hosting server provides services and tools that expedite access by individuals or other servers. The popularity of the Web has given rise to an industry of hosting services that store Web site pages and provide related services (see Web hosting). host interface The link between a network or dedicated communications link and a host computer. host processor A mainframe attached to a network for network users' access. hot standby Alternate equipment ready to take over an operation quickly if the equipment on which the operation is being performed fails. hot swap Replacement of a component or module in a computer or network device while it is still running, rather than shutting it down first. hot-swappable Able to be exchanged via hot swaps. See hot swap. HP (Hewlett-Packard) A company founded in 1939 in Palo Alto, California, by Stanford University classmates William Hewlett and David Packard. It originally made audio oscillators and grew to become a multibillion-dollar computer vendor. HP acquired Compaq Computer in 2002. HPC (high-performance computing) Computing applications that require � or computers that provide � much higher performance (in processing power, memory, etc.) than that provided by most computers in mainstream commercial use. Computers with HPC capability are often called "supercomputers." HPC is typically applied to problems or applications that involve complex or high-speed computations and vast amounts of data � for example, aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, atmospheric research, cryptographic analysis and experimental physics. See supercomputer. HPNA (Home Phoneline Networking Alliance) An alliance to advance technologies for high-speed local-area networking over conventional phone wires. It was founded in 1998 by 3Com, Advanced Micro Devices, AT&T Wireless Services, Compaq Computer, Conexant Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, Lucent Technologies and Tut Systems. HPTS (High Performance Transaction System) A check-processing system from Check Solutions (Memphis, Tennessee). HP-UX Hewlett-Packard's Unix implementation, based on the System V operating system with real-time extensions added. See System V. HR (human resources) The enterprise function or organization responsible for staffing and personnel issues, such as hiring, employment policies and benefits. HRC (Hitachi Remote Copy) A controller-based remote-copy capability used in Hitachi Data Systems storage products. HR disintermediation A situation where managers bypass the human resources (HR) organization to define and implement their own technologies and practices to support human capital management (HCM). When no clear enterprise HCM strategy is in place, managers often formulate their own departmental plans and adopt the technologies they feel they need to support individual and group responsibilities for enterprise performance. HRMS (human resource management system) Business applications for the management of human resource (HR) transactions, best practices and enterprise reporting. Functions typically include core HR tracking, payroll and benefits. The scope is often extended to include recruiting, competency management, training, time management, performance management and self-service offerings. HRMS (Human Resource Management System) A PeopleSoft product. HSCSD (high-speed circuit switched data) A Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) bearer service, already deployed in some networks (notably in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong). It provides circuit- switched connections at speeds of up to 56 Kbps. This is achieved by channel-bonding time slots to obtain the requested speed. Typically, users will be allowed between two and four time slots in a real-life network. See GSM. HSDL (high-speed subscriber data line) A variety of digital subscriber line (DSL) technology that enables data to be transmitted at high speeds (up to two megabits per second) over local phone lines. HDSL provides full- duplex transmission over ordinary copper twisted pairs in unshielded cable. See DSL and full duplex. HSM (hierarchical storage management) A storage management technology that can be used to identify inactive data and move it to near-line storage, automate the retrieval process, and migrate the data back to the primary storage medium and provide access for the user. HSSI (High-Speed Serial Interface) Standard for a serial interface used to connect to T3 lines (see T3). HSSI operates over a shielded cable at speeds of up to 52 megabits per second (Mbps) and distances of up to 50 feet. Functionally, it serves the same purpose as lower-speed serial interfaces such as V.35 and RS-232, in that it provides the interface for wide-area-network communications (see V.35 and RS-232). HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) A document-formatting language derived from the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML), predominately used to create Web pages. The user's browser interprets HTML commands and formats the page layout, fonts and graphics on the screen. One of the more powerful features of HTML is its ability to create hyperlinks that enable the user to navigate between documents and files with a single click. HTTP is also sometimes used for messaging attachments as a way of supporting rich text formatting across product boundaries. HTTP (Hypertext Transport Protocol) The Internet standard for accessing and exchanging documents on the Web. It is a client/server protocol used to connect to Web servers. HTTPS (Secure Hypertext Transport Protocol) � see S-HTTP hub A central device, usually in a star topology local-area network, to which each station's wiring is attached; also called a wiring concentrator. See intelligent hub. human-machine interface (see HMI) human resources (see HR) HVP (healthcare vertical portal) An Internet-based vendor that provides a foundation for creating e-business and e-health functions in conjunction with a care delivery organization by providing one or more of the following: Organized access to focused aggregate healthcare content Connectivity solutions for linking business partners and healthcare stakeholders E-commerce functions for managing business transactions Linkages to improve supply chain management operations by using the Internet as the communication and transaction medium HW (see hardware) HXRC (Hitachi Extended Remote Copy) A remote-copy function for Hitachi Data Systems storage products. HXRC uses an asynchronous copy approach to deliver high data integrity with minimal disruption and performance impact to the primary system. It is compatible with industry-standard Extended Remote Copy (XRC). See XRC. H.x series A series of computing standards from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). It includes: H.261: A standard for video compression (also known as px64). H.261 is a worldwide standard and therefore must accommodate both the North American National Television System Committee (NTSC) and European Phase Alternate Line (PAL) protocols. See PAL and NTSC. H.263: The video component of the H.323 videoconferencing suite. H.263+: A standard for compression of video at 128 Kbps. H.320: An international "umbrella" standard for audioconferencing and videoconferencing. It comprises many related standards, including H.261. H.323: An umbrella standard for audioconferencing and videoconferencing. It is a videoconferencing suite that has G.723 voice, T.120 collaborative and H.263 video components in a single session. H.324: An international standard for videoconferencing over the public switched telephone network. hybrid card A smart card that supports both contact-based (e.g., magnetic stripe) and contactless reader technologies. See smart card and contactless card. hybrid fiber coaxial (see HFC) Hype Cycle A Gartner model designed to help clients make intelligent decisions about when to implement emerging technologies. The Gartner Hype Cycle provides not only a scorecard to separate hype from reality, but also a model that can be used to decide when it makes sense for an enterprise to move forward with a new technology. The five phases in the Hype Cycle are: Technology trigger Peak of inflated expectations Trough of disillusionment Slope of enlightenment Plateau of productivity hyperlink An area on a Web page that, when clicked on with a mouse, will transport the user to another Web page. Also called "links" or "hot links," hyperlinks are analogous to hypertext. Hyperlinks are commonly used on the Web to provide navigation, reference and depth where published text cannot. A hyperlink can be created from text or from a graphic. hypertext Text that uses links to provide navigation among Web pages or documents. When the text is "clicked on," it can enable a user to navigate within or between Web pages. See hyperlink. Hypertext Markup Language (see HTML) Hypertext Transport Protocol (see HTTP) Hz (hertz) A unit of frequency equal to one cycle per second. IA (Intel Architecture) The acronym used in the names of Intel processor architectures, such as IA-32 and IA-64. IA (see intelligent agent) IA-32 Intel proprietary complex instruction set computer (CISC) architecture. See CISC. IA-64 An Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC)-based architecture from Intel, code- named Merced. See EPIC. IAB (Internet Architecture Board) A group charted by Internet Society to oversee the architecture of the Internet and its protocols. The IAB also adjudicates appeals when complaints have been filed with the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG), whose area directors manage the working groups of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). See IESG and IETF. IAD (integrated access device) A network device that collects multiple types of traffic (such as voice, data or video) at an enterprise site for transmission over a service provider's network. IAE (integrated application environment) An environment with a strong integrated development environment (IDE), application server, middleware and the "glue" (or framework) to integrate all application development facilities. See IDE. i-appli Service applications launched in January 2001 by NTT DoCoMo, for use with its popular i- mode wireless service. Use of the applications, which include video games and online financial services, requires Java-based handsets. See i-mode. IB (see integration broker) IBM (International Business Machines) A multibillion-dollar IT hardware, system and services vendor headquartered in Armonk, New York. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (the IBM name was adopted in 1924), the company originally made business machines such as time recorders, tabulators and punch cards. It began manufacturing electronic-computing systems in the 1950s, and thereafter became the world's largest computer company. IBM License Manager (see ILM) IBS (integration broker suite) A broad integration middleware product (also known as an "integration suite") that combines the core functionality of an integration broker with additional features to deliver comprehensive integration capabilities. The broker itself � an engine that provides transformation and intelligent routing � is just one component within a suite of related middleware tools and features, which include adapters, communication middleware, business process management and message warehousing. See integration broker. IC (integrated circuit) An assembly of electronic circuits contained on a single piece of semiconductor material. ICA (Independent Computing Architecture) A Citrix Systems protocol (formerly called "Intelligent Console Architecture"), used for thin-client access to Windows, Unix or Java applications. See thin client. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) A nonprofit corporation responsible for registering Internet domain names (including Web addresses ending in ".com," ".edu" and the like), and related functions such as Internet Protocol address space allocation. Prior to the formation of ICANN, these functions were contracted by the U.S. Government from the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority and other organizations. ICB (Integrated Cluster Bus) An IBM high-speed coupling link used to connect Parallel Sysplex nodes to coupling facilities (CFs). See Parallel Sysplex and CF. ICD (International Classification of Diseases) A controlled medical vocabulary (CMV) published by the World Health Organization. ICD is a hierarchical system that uses three-digit codes to describe procedures, health status, categories of disease, disablements and reasons for contact with healthcare providers. As some medical professionals did not feel that ICD, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) described clinical information adequately, the National Center for Health Statistics published a set of clinical modifiers (two additional digits), known as ICD-9 Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) to provide an extra level of detail. A tenth version of ICD does not have the modifiers and is less widely used than ICD-9. See CMV. ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision) � see ICD ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification) � see ICD ICDA (Integrated Cached Disk Array) A family of storage products for the IBM AS/400 from EMC. ICDS (Intelligent Content Distribution Service) An AT&T service designed for to support content distribution under the application service provider (ASP) model. It enables distribution and replication of content in AT&T's network by archiving, routing and caching to improve performance (by moving content closer to users) and to support Web-based media applications (such as multicasting, event broadcasting and distance learning). ICE (Information and Context Exchange) An Extensible Markup Language (XML) standard from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) that provides a common protocol, vocabulary and management model for information providers and recipients to use when sharing and reusing information. ICE components include: Subscription management (including start and stop dates) Time and frequency of delivery Delivery method (push or pull) Data delivery, detailing what items must be sent to fulfill a subscription Event logs diagnosing problems Miscellaneous functions, including sending messages destined for system administrators and troubleshooting See XML and W3C. ICF (internal coupling facility) A Parallel Sysplex coupling facility (CF) that uses spare processors within a server (that is, processors that are not being used for general processing). See Parallel Sysplex and CF. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) A route management protocol that handles error and control messages in Internet Protocol (IP) networks. See IP. ICMS (incentive compensation management system) A system that provide the sales manager with decision support tools to model various compensation scenarios, measure the impact of those plans on sales performance and effectively communicate incentive compensation objectives effectively to the selling organization. icon A symbol or picture of an object or idea, used in graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to represent the different functions or applications available to the user. A mouse is typically used to select the desired operation by clicking on one of the icons on the screen. See GUI. ICQ An online instant-messaging program introduced in 1996 by Israeli firm Mirabilis, which was acquired by America Online (AOL) in 1998. ICQ, which surpassed 100 million registered users in 2001, is similar to AOL's popular Buddy List and Instant Messenger programs. Individuals use it to chat, send e-mail, perform file transfers and play computer games. The name ICQ (pronounced "I seek you") is derived from the amateur-radio term "CQ," which means "seeking conversation." ICR (intelligent character recognition) A technology that employs either software alone or software and hardware to automatically recognize and translate raster images into structured data. ICSA (International Computer Security Association) An organization (formerly called the National Computer Security Association) that certifies firewall and other IT security products based on their adherence to a set of basic functional criteria. ICT (information and communication technology) A categorical term sometimes used (particularly in Europe) to refer the combined fields of computing and communications. More commonly, "information technology" (IT) is used in this sense, since the latter term, by definition, includes both types of technology. See IT. IDARS (integrated document archive and retrieval system) A consolidated system for storage, access, management and viewing of electronic documents. Leading uses of IDARS include customer support, electronic bill presentment and long-term archiving of historical data. IDC (Internet data center) A data center (typically operated by a third party) containing Internet-related facilities for the use of enterprises, Internet service providers, application service providers (ASPs), e- commerce companies and other firms. IDSs typically provide server outsourcing, hosting and colocation services, Internet connectivity, virtual private networks (VPNs), and other network and transport services. See ASP and VPN. IDD (international direct dial) The placement of international calls by dialing them directly, rather than using operator assistance. IDE (integrated development environment) Environments for writing application logic and designing application interfaces. They differ from integrated application environments (IAEs) in their lack of solutions such as application servers (with a runtime framework or middleware component) and development frameworks (for example, with integrated testing, project and process management, software configuration management, and component design and assembly). See IAE. IDE (integrated drive electronics) A standard computer interface for storage devices, such as internal hard disk drives (also called ATA, or Advanced Technology Attachment). A later version, enhanced IDE (EIDE), supports more capacity and peripherals. See EIDE. iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) A technology that allows users to access phone calls, two-way radio transmissions, paging and data transmissions from one wireless device. Developed by Motorola, iDEN is based on time division multiple access (TDMA). Services based on the technology are available in North America (offered by Nextel), South America and parts of Asia. See TDMA. IDEF (Integrated Definition Methodology) A representation standard used in data and process modeling. Identrus A global trust enterprise formed in 1998 by eight leading banks to provide certification authority services for business-to-business e-commerce. Originally called the Bank Global Trust Enterprise, the initiative was renamed Identrus in 1999. See certification authority. IDIQ (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) Contracts that enable government customers to buy information technology (IT) services from pre-selected vendors at pre-negotiated rates. These contracts, developed and administered by individual government organizations to meet their own IT service requirements, are usually available to all federal agencies for a small administrative fee. The contracts typically cover a broad scope of IT services, and are awarded to several "prime" contractors. Each prime contractor team includes a group of subcontractors that enable it to provide the full suite of required services. IDL (interface definition language) A standard language for defining objects' abstract descriptions in terms of their external interfaces (that is, methods and parameters). The IDL compiler will create relevant runtime static and dynamic interface binding information. IDM (integrated document management) A class of middleware services that integrates library services, document production and document interchange technologies with business process applications. The term "integrated" describes the transformation of document management from an end-user application to a network-based service integrated with a full complement of end-user personal-productivity and custom-developed applications. IDMS (Integrated Database Management System) A database management system introduced by Cullinet in 1973, based on technology acquired from B.F. Goodrich. Computer Associates acquired Cullinet and has maintained the product line (also called "CA-IDMS") since 1989. IDOM (integrated document and output management) Gartner's term for an integrated collection of technologies, architectures and services aimed at applying the value of information in documents to business practices. IDOM takes a digital approach to reducing the burden and cost of paper-based documents. IDOM suite A Gartner concept that describes the convergence of digital document-processing technologies into integrated product portfolios. An integrated document and output management (IDOM) suite is an aggregation of "point" technologies, but it is also a product architectural foundation built on a core set of backbone services providing the basics of cross-repository query, common administration, unified system management and integrated application development environments. See IDOM. IDS (integrated delivery system) A coordinated system for healthcare delivery that includes hospitals, clinics and physician practices. IDS (intrusion detection system) A software product or hardware device that monitors the events occurring in a computer system or network and analyzes them for signs of intrusion. By applying the latest security and attack expertise to separate a relatively few suspicious events from a vast amount of benign activity, an IDS enables more-effective network security administration and facilitates timely response. IDSL (ISDN digital subscriber line) A type of digital subscriber line (DSL) service for carrying integrated services digital network (ISDN) data traffic. IDSL provides dedicated service for digital data communications at speeds of up to 144 kilobits per second. See DSL and ISDN. IE (see information engineering) IE (see Internet Explorer) IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) A standards-setting body, often jointly responsible with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) standards. See ISO and OSI. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) An organization of engineers, scientists and students involved in electrical, electronics and related fields. IEEE also functions as a publishing house and standards body. IEFM (integrated e-form management) A category of systems designed for creating and administering e-form applications using installed database, messaging, document management and workflow infrastructures. See e-form. IESG (Internet Engineering Steering Group) An organization appointed by the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) to manage the operation of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The IETF's working groups are managed by IESG members called area directors. See IAB and IETF. IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) A subgroup of the Internet Society responsible for recommending protocols and procedures used over the Internet. It is composed of representatives from vendor, government and academic communities, and is divided into six subcommittees (with further divisions into working groups). The chairperson sits on the Internet Architecture Board (IAB). IETF working group meetings are open to the public. See IAB. IFPUG (International Function Point Users Group) A body that maintains standards for function points, a measure of application size (see function point). Membership in the organization is required to obtain a version of the Counting Practices Manual, which serves as the guidebook for function point counters. IFPUG offers a certification (Certified Function Point Specialist) to ensure that those who are counting are doing so within guidelines. IFX (Interactive Financial Exchange) A financial services specification published by the Banking Industry Technology Secretariat (BITS). See BITS. IGBT (insulated-gate bipolar transistor) A category of bipolar transistor technology (see bipolar). IGES (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification) A standard for the exchange of computer-aided design (CAD) geometry. It provides a vendor-neutral method of representing parts, geometric renderings and product dimensions, and is used as an intermediate system for transfer between specific CAD products. IGES has been largely superseded by Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (STEP). See CAD and STEP. IGP (interior gateway protocol) A type of network protocol used by interior routers to move information within an autonomous system or group of networks under the control and authority of a single entity. IGPs transfer packets from one network to an adjacent one. Examples include Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) and Routing Information Protocol (RIP). See IGRP, OSPF and RIP. IGRP (Interior Gateway Routing Protocol) Cisco Systems' proprietary routing algorithm. IGRP is an exterior gateway protocol (IGP) used to exchange data packets between routers at the network layer (Layer 3) of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) network stack. See IGP and OSI. IHV (independent hardware vendor) A hardware producer that is not owned or controlled by a dominant IT vendor (such as IBM). IIOP (Internet Inter-ORB Protocol) Part of the Object Management Group's Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA), IIOP is the protocol used for communication between CORBA object request brokers (ORBs) over Internet Protocol networks. It is designed to enable systems using CORBA middleware from any vendor to communicate with objects from any other vendor's CORBA product. See CORBA and ORB. IIS (Internet Information Server) Microsoft's Hypertext Transport Protocol (HTTP) server, originally packaged with the Windows NT operating system. See HTTP. IKE (Internet Key Exchange) An authentication protocol used to establish secure connections over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. IKE is part of the IP Security (IPsec) standard. See IPsec. IL (Intermediate Language) � see MSIL (Microsoft Intermediate Language) ILEC (incumbent local-exchange carrier) A local-exchange carrier (LEC) established prior to entry of competitive LECs (CLECs) in the wake of telecommunications deregulation. See LEC and CLEC. ILM (IBM License Manager) Planned technology announced by IBM as part of the zSeries product launch in October 2000. The ILM monitor, which was to be a free part of the operating system, would have allowed IBM and other participating vendors to supply usage information to determine license compliance and provide a vehicle for software asset management. In 2002, IBM announced that it would not deliver ILM for its zSeries mainframes, and that it had disbanded the development team. IM (see information management) IM (see instant messaging) IM (see interactive marketing) IMA (inverse multiplexing over ATM) A network service arrangement that enables a high-bandwidth asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) data stream to be divided up and carried over multiple, lower-bandwidth network links. A standardized approach to IMA (also known as "inverse multiplexing for ATM") has been defined in a specification from the ATM Forum. See ATM and inverse multiplexing. IMAC (installations, moves, adds and changes) � see MAC (moves, adds and changes) Image and Scanner Interface Specification (see ISIS) ImagePlus An IBM document-imaging product, introduced in 1988, that provided generic application software for using document images in common user environments. It was eventually subsumed into IBM's Content Manager product. imaging The electronic capture and digitization of images for such uses as medical diagnosis or document archival. See MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and document imaging. IMAP (integrated multiservice access platform) A scalable and flexible network access technology that can host different types of functionality, regardless of the network source. An IMAP provides access to voice, data and multimedia services through a single, integrated platform that incorporates functions such as switching, routing and multiplexing. It can be located either at the core of the network close to the central office, or at the subscriber demarcation point. IMAP solutions are becoming popular in North America, Europe and some Asia/Pacific countries. The target markets for the deployment of advanced IMAP solutions are in high-subscriber-density areas, and in the new installations of incumbent and alternative network operators. IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) A protocol used to access e-mail or bulletin board messages from a (possibly shared) mail server. IMAP allows a client e-mail program to access remote message stores as if they were local. E-mail stored on an IMAP server can be manipulated from a workstation at the office, a desktop computer at home or a notebook computer while traveling, without requiring the transfer of messages or files back and forth between these computers. Details of the IMAP specification can be found at www.imap.org. i-mode NTT DoCoMo's mobile system that allows users to view specially formatted Web sites, receive e-mail, and access financial, travel and news information via their mobile phones. A key feature of i-mode is that it offers constant connection to the Internet. impedance A measure of the electrical property of resistance, expressed in ohms. IMS (Information Management System) An IBM mainframe system environment for managing complex database and transaction- processing requirements. The IMS environment is made available with two IBM licensed programs: a database management system called IMS Database Manager (IMS DB), and a transaction-processing monitor called IMS Transaction Manager (IMS TM). IMS applications run in what are called message-processing regions, each in its own address space. They communicate as needed with the IMS control region, which can be located in a separate address space. See IMS DB and IMS TM. IMS DB (IMS Database Manager) An mainframe database management system (DBMS) that works within IBM's Information Management System (IMS) environment. It supports a hierarchical data model, with optional extensions for some network data model features. IMS DB may be used with the IMS Transaction Monitor (TM) or Customer Information Control System (CICS) transaction- processing monitors to provide online access to the database, or it may be used without a monitor for batch processing. See CICS, DBMS and IMS TM. IMS TM (IMS Transaction Manager) A licensed program that works within IBM's Information Management System (IMS) environment. IMS TM is used to create online transaction processing (OLTP) applications. See IMS and OLTP. IMT-2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications 2000) The International Telecommunication Union's (ITU's) name for a family of third generation (3G) cellular standards. IMT-2000 is aimed at providing a standard framework for worldwide wireless access that links the diverse system of terrestrial-and satellite-based networks. See 3G and ITU. IN (intelligent network) A service-independent, switched overlay network to the public switched telephone network (PSTN), enabling advanced services such as toll-free dialing, virtual private networks (VPNs), call routing and credit/calling card services. A standard architecture for INs is being defined in efforts of various international bodies such as the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, the International Telecommunication Union and the American National Standards Institute. See PSTN and VPN. incentive compensation management system (see ICMS) incumbent local-exchange carrier (see ILEC) indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (see IDIQ) Independent Computing Architecture (see ICA) independent hardware vendor (see IHV) independent software vendor (see ISV) Indexed Sequential Access Method (see ISAM) industrial computer A personal or process control computer that is designed to withstand the rigors of the factory floor. Some industrial computers are configured so that maintenance and cold start- up are relatively simple. These devices are used for applications such as data collection, monitoring and programming. Industry Standard Architecture (see ISA) infomediary A slang term (short for "information intermediary") for an entity that consolidates information from other parties and offers it to customers � typically via the Web, and often in a customized or targeted form. information architecture An architecture that defines the content, attributes, sources and destinations of information, its flow through the enterprise, and rules for persistence, security and ownership. Information and Content Exchange (see ICE) information engineering A methodology for developing an integrated information system based on the sharing of common data, with emphasis on decision support needs as well as transaction-processing requirements. It assumes logical data representations are relatively stable compared with the frequently changing processes that use the data. Therefore, the logical data model, which reflects an organization's rules and policies, should be the basis for system development. information filtering (see filtering) information assets All forms of information possessed by an enterprise that are relevant to its business function. Information assets (also known as "knowledge assets") include: Captured and tacit knowledge of employees, customers or business partners Data and information stored in structured databases, as well as in less-structured formats such as e-mail, workflow and spreadsheets Information stored in electronic and paper documents Information obtained from external sources, such as purchased or public content from the Internet or other sources information management A method of using technology to collect, process and condense information with the goal of efficient management. Many large enterprises have a central information management function to facilitate this coordination. The technologies required include a set of modeling tools and a production-worthy repository in which to store and manage the information. Information Management System (see IMS) information resource center (see IRC) information retrieval (see IR) information superhighway A 1990s concept for a high-speed computing and communications network that would deliver ubiquitous voice, telephony, data, video and other communications. The Internet itself was originally cited only as a model for the information superhighway, though the popularity of the Web made it the default successor to the concept. See Web and Supranet. information systems (see IS) information technology (see IT) Information Technology Infrastructure Library (see ITIL) Information Technology Security Evaluation and Certification (see ITSEC) infrared The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum above radio frequencies but below visible light, with wavelengths between 10 nanometers and 780 nanometers. Because of the low cost of infrared transmission technology, it is now embedded in a number of devices (for example, in handheld devices, such as cellular phones) to provide short-range wireless data communications capabilities. Infrared Data Association (see IrDA) inheritance A quality that defines a relationship among classes in object-oriented (OO) paradigm. In OO systems, classes at the lower levels of the hierarchy inherit attributes and methods from the parent classes above them. See OO. Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (see IGES) Inmarsat (International Maritime Satellite Organization) A global mobile satellite communications operator with headquarters in London. Originally formed as an intergovernmental organization, Inmarsat became a limited company in 1999. Its communications services are now used for mobile-phone, fax and data communications applications, in addition to maritime and aeronautical uses. in-memory database A database design that obviates the complexities of multilevel stores posed by traditional relational database management systems (RDBMSs). This design begins with the assumption that all data is resident in memory. In an in-memory database, pointers point directly to the data and do not need to be translated to disk addresses and blocks. This technology bolsters database performance for embedded applications, and for tactical requirements where performance gains can be traded off against traditional RDBMS strengths. input/output (see I/O) insertion loss The reduction in the power of a transmitted signal after a device is inserted into a communications circuit or a call is connected. insourcing The process of separating the IS organization from the enterprise, usually as a business unit measured by its own profit and loss. The insourced IS organization provides the enterprise with IT services on a business-rules basis (for example, using semiformal contracts, service- level agreements and definitions of tariffs for services). IT insourcing has been used by many large enterprises that also have the scope to sell IT services to the market. instant messaging A communication service in which short messages appear in pop-up screens as soon as they are received, thereby commanding the recipient's immediate attention. Examples include ICQ and AOL Instant Messenger. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (see IEEE) insulated-gate bipolar transistor (see IGBT) integrated access device (see IAD) integrated application environment (see IAE) Integrated Cached Disk Array (see ICDA) integrated circuit (see IC) Integrated Cluster Bus (see ICB) Integrated Database Management System (see IDMS) Integrated Definition Methodology (see IDEF) integrated delivery system (see IDS) integrated development environment (see IDE) Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (see iDEN) integrated document and output management (see IDOM) integrated document archive and retrieval system (see IDARS) integrated document management (see IDM) Integrated Drive Electronics (see IDE) integrated e-form management (see IEFM) integrated multiservice access platform (see IMAP) Integrated On-Demand Network (see ION) integrated plant system (see IPS) Integrated Services Digital Network (see ISDN) integrated SODA environment (see ISE) integration broker An intermediary technology (also called an interface engine or a message broker) that facilitates interactions between applications. Integration brokers minimally provide message transformation and routing services. They mostly communicate program to program; they integrate previously independent applications at the application-logic level of the software design. integration broker suite (see IBS) integration server A hybrid of selected integration broker features (such as flow control, data transformation and middleware gateways), lightweight application-serving capability and development tools. Integration servers can be viable alternatives to full-fledged application servers for Web process integration, and in simpler composite-application/Web services approaches. They come in two varieties: Presentation integration servers focus on supporting multichannel, integrated user interfaces. Programmatic integration servers aim at enabling encapsulation of back-end systems into component-oriented interfaces. integration service marketplace One of three types of emerging e-marketplaces identified by Gartner (along with commodity and business service marketplaces). An integration service marketplace provides a hosted translation, transformation, routing and business process workflow solution to enable enterprise interaction with multiple e-marketplaces and allow marketplace-to-marketplace interaction (see business service marketplace and commodity marketplace). integration suite � see IBS (integration broker suite) integrative policy group (see IPG) Integrion The consortium (now defunct) that created the Gold standard. See Gold. integrity An operating system's ability to ensure that only authorized users can enter a privileged state (such as supervisor mode). Integrity is a prerequisite for security in an operating system. The term is not synonymous with security, but security requires it. In database technology, it is a broad term denoting the correct state of the database. Intel Architecture (see IA) intellectual assets Intangible assets including employees' knowledge; data and information about processes, experts, products, customers and competitors; brand names and image; and intellectual property, such as patented, trademarked or copyrighted materials, as well as regulatory licenses; also known as "knowledge assets" or "information assets." intellectual capital (see knowledge capital) intellectual property A category of intangible assets. Intellectual property traditionally includes assets protected through regulatory methods such as patents, copyrights and regulatory licenses; however, this protection is being expanded to include software and business processes when these can be demonstrated to be original, novel and inobvious. Customer intelligence or business intelligence may be considered "intellectual property" by its owner, depending on its value to enterprise competitiveness and its integration into business processes. intelligent agent Agent software that assists people and acts on their behalf; allows users to delegate work that they could have done themselves to an application; and usually uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to find, filter, and customize information to the user's needs. Other names for intelligent agents include "autonomous agents," "intelligent assistants," "bots" and "virtual assistants." See agent and AI. intelligent character recognition (see ICR) Intelligent Console Architecture (see ICA) Intelligent Content Distribution Service (see ICDS) intelligent hub An evolution of the wiring concentrator, an intelligent hub can also act as a platform for chassis-mounted bridges, routers, terminal servers, gateways and print servers, and can be fully managed. Intelligent Input/Output (see I2O) intelligent matching The process of identifying a set of likely matches in a typical registration system rather than attempting to determine an exact match. Typical registration systems in integrated delivery systems (IDSs) use a name or social security number to obtain an exact match. By using phonetic names and other variables, intelligent matching allows for variability in spelling and, thus, an increased number of matches. See IDS. intelligent network (see IN) Intelligent Printer Data Stream (see IPDS) intelligent routing Integration middleware's "traffic police"; it determines how a message should be routed through the integration infrastructure based on factors such as message properties and content. Integration middleware often includes some form of intelligent routing to direct events through the integration infrastructure and, at times, to direct what transformations will occur. intelligent terminal A data terminal that can perform some processing functions, but lacks the sophisticated capabilities of a PC. interactive Involving, enabling or encouraging user interactions � for example, with a multimedia kiosk, consumer electronics appliance (such as a television) or Web site. In communications, the term describes time-dependent data communications, typically where a user enters data and then awaits a response message from the destination before continuing. Interactive Financial Exchange (see IFX) interactive marketing The use of marketing techniques or technologies that involve the interactive (usually Web- enabled) participation of customers. interactive selling system (see ISS) Interactive System Productivity Facility (see ISPF) interactive television (see interactive TV) interactive TV Technology that provides two-way access to entertainment, communication, information and transaction services through cable, telephone or wireless networks using a low-cost addition to a television set. See Web TV. interactive voice response (see IVR) intercom An internal communications system that enables calling within the same building, but not outside the system. interexchange carrier (see IXC) interface 1 A point or means of interaction with a system, whether by a human user or another system; see user interface. 2 In communications, the boundary between two pieces of equipment across which all the signals that pass are carefully defined. The definition includes the connector signal levels, impedance, timing, sequence of operation and the meaning of signals. interface definition language (see IDL) interior gateway protocol (see IGP) Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (see IGRP) inter-LATA A U.S. term that refers to communications between local access and transport areas (LATAs). See LATA. Intermediate Language (see MSIL) Intermediate-System-to-Intermediate-System (IS-IS) A routing method among intermediate systems that requires the end systems, rather than the intermediate systems, to be responsible for providing error correction. It reduces complexity and overhead of routing protocols. internal coupling facility (see ICF) internal rate of return (see IRR) International Business Machines (see IBM) International Computer Security Association (see ICSA) international direct dial (see IDD) International Electrotechnical Commission (see IEC) International Function Point Users Group (see IFPUG) International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium � see (ISC)2 International Maritime Satellite Organization (see Inmarsat) International Mobile Telecommunications 2000 (see IMT-2000) International Organization for Standardization (see ISO) International Telecommunication Union (see ITU) international trade system (see ITS) Internet A loose confederation of independent yet interconnected networks that share information using a standard set of protocols. The founding principles of the Internet can be traced back to the early 1960s, when the U.S. Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency began to conduct research into packet-switching technology. Since then, it has grown to become a global "network of networks" connecting millions of users worldwide. These networks are connected through "gateways," which enable the transfer of data using a common address system and a common communications protocol called Internet Protocol (IP). This, together with the Internet's ubiquity, makes it an excellent tool for distributing and sharing information. The Internet is best known for (and also sometimes mistaken as being synonymous with) the World Wide Web (known as "the Web" for short), but the Web is just one of many applications on the Internet. In addition to Web access, Internet services include e-mail, file transfer (using File Transfer Protocol) and newsgroups. Many organizations contribute to the ongoing development and standards efforts of the Internet, including Internet Society, The Internet Engineering Task Force, the Internet Architecture Board and the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (which assigns IP addresses). Internet 2 An initiative by the research and academic community to build a 2.4-gigabit-persecond network. It outlines a plan for network service providers to converge their data networks and then, much later, their voice and data networks. It has specific plans for creating a closed user group of research and academic institutions that is connected via a high- speed network offering varying classes of services as well as guaranteed quality of service. Internet Architecture Board (see IAB) Internet address (see IP address) Internet Control Message Protocol (see ICMP) Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (see ICANN) Internet data center (see IDC) Internet Engineering Steering Group (see IESG) Internet Engineering Task Force (see IETF) Internet Explorer Microsoft's Web browser, which has supplanted Netscape as the market share leader. Internet Information Server (see IIS) Internet Inter-ORB Protocol (see IIOP) Internet Key Exchange (see IKE) Internet kiosk A stand-alone terminal designed for accessing information via the Internet. Internet Message Access Protocol (see IMAP) Internet Protocol (see IP) Internet Protocol virtual private network (see IP VPN) Internet Relay Chat (see IRC) Internet Research Task Force (see IRTF) Internet Security Systems (see ISS) Internet Server Application Programming Interface (see ISAPI) Internet service provider (see ISP) Internet Society (see ISOC) Internet telephony Use of Internet protocols for transmitting two-way audio signals in real time, as an alternative to traditional telephone carriers. Internetwork Operating System (see IOS) Internetwork Packet Exchange (see IPX) Internet Protocol address (see IP address) interoperability The ability of one device or system to work with another. interpreter A computer program that translates and executes each source language statement before translating and executing the next one; also known as an incremental coupler. intra-LATA A U.S. term that refers to communications within a single local access and transport area (LATA). See LATA. intranet A network internal to an enterprise that uses Internet technology and protocols. It is not necessarily connected to the Internet and is commonly secured from it using firewalls. Intranets are often used by companies for informational purposes, such as distributing internal announcements or displaying job postings, internal directories and organizational charts. intrusion detection system (see IDS) inverse multiplexing The combination of several lower-speed circuits into one circuit for greater bandwidth. Inverse multiplexing also pulls together and synchronizes multiple channels at the receiving end of data, voice or video transmission. inverse multiplexing over ATM (see IMA) I/O (input/output) The activity of sending information to or from terminals, disk drives, direct-access storage devices, printers and other peripheral devices. Physical I/O performance lags behind that of memory and logical technologies. I/O channel Part of the input/output (I/O) system of a computer. Under the control of I/O commands, the channel transfers blocks of data between main storage and peripherals. I2O (Intelligent Input/Output) An initiative, launched in 1996 by the I2O Special Interest Group (SIG), to change server input/output (I/O) from a tightly related driver-device structure to a more abstract, layered, message-oriented structure. The I2O SIG ceased operations in October 2000. See I/O. ION (Integrated On-Demand Network) The enterprise-oriented part of Sprint's overall strategy to migrate from various transmission, access and switching systems to a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) enhanced-transmission platform, and to an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) core-switching fabric. It is intended to ultimately deliver all local and long-distance voice and data network services. See SONET, DWDM and ATM. IOS (Internetwork Operating System) The proprietary software run by Cisco routers and access servers. It supports both local- area and wide-area network protocols. It originated from code developed at Stanford University in the mid-1980s. IP (Internet Protocol) The basic underlying protocol of the Internet, originally developed during a 15-year period under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Defense (see Internet). Used in conjunction with Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), it provides a common address system and communications protocol to track the addresses of network nodes, route outgoing messages and recognize incoming ones. Today, its use has spread beyond the Internet to become a de facto standard used in enterprise networking. See Internet, TCP and TCP/IP. IP address (Internet Protocol address) A unique number assigned by an Internet authority that identifies a computer on the Internet, or on any other network that uses Internet Protocol (IP). It consists of four groups of numbers between 0 and 255, separated by periods (dots). For example, 195.112.56.75 is an IP address. See Internet and IP. IPDS (Intelligent Printer Data Stream) An IBM format for sending files to a printer. It provides an interface to all-pointsaddressable printers that make possible the presentation of pages containing a mix of different types of data, such as high-quality text, raster image, vector graphics and bar codes. In addition, IPDS provides commands for the management of printing resources such as fonts and overlays; for the control of device functions such as paper sourcing and stacking; for the handling of exception functions; and for an acknowledgment protocol at the data stream level. IPF (Itanium Processor Family) The family of 64-bit, Itanium-branded processors from Intel, including Itanium and Itanium 2. (See Itanium.) IPG (integrative policy group) The group responsible for the formulation and maintenance of all policies and procedures regarding an enterprise's intranet. Cross-functional representation on this team is critical and should include the IS department, business units and corporate communications. While the IS department should play a major role, facilitation of the team should be provided by someone from a key business unit, if possible. IP multicast The transmission of Internet Protocol (IP) packets to a group of receivers identified by a single IP destination address. Membership in this group is dynamic; interested hosts may join or leave at any time. This structure allows a server to transmit a single set of data, and the underlying network takes care of replicating it to all interested receivers that have joined that group, thereby enhancing bandwidth and server efficiency. See IP. IP Next Generation (see IPng) IPng (IP Next Generation) A working group of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) created in the 1990s to codify solutions to a number of problems inherent in Internet Protocol (IP) version 4, including limitations in the numbers of IP addresses. The group's work led to the development of IP version 6 (IPv6). See IETF, IP and IPv6. IPS (integrated plant system) An integrated, computerized manufacturing system that provides open control, production management, production information management and analysis, model-based control and optimization, and plant resource planning and reconciliation functions. IPSs combine open control system (OCS) and manufacturing execution system (MES) functionality in the broader context of enterprise and supply chain management (SCM) applications. See MES, OCS and SCM. IPsec (IP Security) A working group of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) charged with developing a security standard for Internet Protocol (IP). IPsec is also the name of the standard itself. It defines protocols for authentication, privacy and data integrity based on encryption and X.509 digital certificates. IP telephony Voice traffic or data traffic that has traditionally been treated like voice traffic � it is transmitted over an Internet Protocol (IP) network. Three distinct types of IP telephony traffic exist: real-time voice, non-real-time voice and fax. IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) A set of specifications from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), accepted as an IETF draft standard in 1998. IPv6 offers increased network-addressing capacity compared with earlier versions of Internet Protocol, and supports mechanisms for quality of service. In the 1990s, many expected that the Internet would rapidly migrate to this new technology. However, given the lack of a bona fide crisis in IP address space depletion or any critical applications that would require use of IPv6, the remainder of its benefits have been insufficient to drive this technology into the mainstream. It has largely "dropped off the radar screen" of U.S. enterprises, although it has become a strategic priority in Europe and Asia, where IP address space allocation is a more pressing issue. IP VPN (Internet Protocol virtual private network) An Internet Protocol (IP) network that delivers private, enterprise-focused data communications services using a public-network infrastructure. See IP and VPN. IPX (Internetwork Packet Exchange) A widely used routing protocol, based on Xerox's XNS, developed by Novell and implemented in Novell's NetWare. An IPX implementation allows concurrent dual access to both an application server and a native NetWare file server without imposing memory overhead on client workstations. IR (information retrieval) Structured or unstructured data searching to retrieve information specific to a computer user's needs. IR tools index documents based on textual content. Web search engines are an example of IR technology. See search engine. IR (see infrared) IRC (information resource center) A service organization whose primary mission has been to respond to requests for specific information and to organize and maintain content collections. More recently, its role has expanded to the delivery of online information resources. IRC (Internet Relay Chat) A real-time conferencing service, organized in channels, on the Internet. IrDA (Infrared Data Association) An international organization that produces a standard for infrared data transmission at speeds of up to four megabits per second; also the name of the standard itself. See infrared. iris recognition A biometric technique that uses the iris of a person's eye to authenticate identity. Iris recognition is a relatively new biometric technique that has been used in trials in automated teller machines. IRR (internal rate of return) A type of financial analysis used to measure the expected return on a project investment. IRR is the discount rate that, when applied to the project's future cash flow, yields a net present value (NPV) of zero. This rate is compared to the cost of the capital involved to determine the project's viability. See NPV. IRTF (Internet Research Task Force) A committee of network experts concerned with long-term research into the Internet and its protocols. It is further divided into research groups. The chairperson sits on the Internet Architecture Board (IAB). See IAB. IS (information systems) The use of and investment in information technology (IT) by the principal or centralized organization formally charged with the responsibility for IT in an enterprise. Often the IS organization is led by a chief information officer (CIO), IS vice president or similar executive. IS is also often the formal name of the department within an enterprise that is responsible for IT. Other common names for the IS organization are: MIS (for "management information systems") Data processing Information processing ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) Bus architecture originally developed by IBM for personal computers. ISA has been largely superseded by the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) interface. See PCI. ISAM (Indexed Sequential Access Method) A disk access method that stores data sequentially, maintaining an index of key fields to all the records in the file. ISAPI (Internet Server Application Programming Interface) A proprietary Web server application programming interface (API) from Microsoft. It is designed to provide direct, function-level access to Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS). See API and IIS. (ISC)2 (International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium) The nonprofit organization that administers the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification program. See CISSP. iSCSI (Internet SCSI) A proposed network transport standard � supported by a group of vendors that include Cisco Systems, Adaptec and IBM � designed to enables storage area networks (SANs) to be built using Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) protocols. It works by encapsulating SCSI data in Internet Protocol (IP) packets for transport over IP-based networks. iSCSI (sometimes referred to as "SCSI over IP") is a draft standard of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), and its development is managed by the IETF's IP Storage working group. See IP, SAN and SCSI. ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) A technical standard and design philosophy for digital networks. ISDN provides high-speed, high-bandwidth channels to subscribers via the public switched telephone network, achieving end-to-end digital functions with standard equipment interface devices. ISDN networks enable a variety of mixed digital transmission services to be accommodated at a single interface. ISDN digital subscriber line (see IDSL) ISDN User Part (see ISUP) ISE (integrated SODA environment) A suite of integrated development tools and technologies used for building service- oriented and composite applications. These applications will usually implement a service- oriented architecture (SOA) and are created using service-oriented development of applications (SODA) techniques. ISEs are producer platforms for creating Web services � much as application servers are provider platforms for hosting Web services, and portal servers are consumer platforms for using these services. See SOA and SODA. ISIS (Image and Scanner Interface Specification) A common interface standard that allows consistent scanner control dialogue. Created by Pixel Translations (now part of ActionPoint), ISIS has become a popular standard for document-imaging scanners. It was designed to provide a common interface that integrators could use to support and enable image scanning, compression and display for any imaging scanner with no code change. IS Lite A Gartner-defined concept describing a next-generation IS organization � one that is slimmed down to "lighter," more flexible organization with a smaller internal staff and more- focused competencies. This transformation is enabled through the outsourcing of many functions (such as infrastructure services) and the migration of others (such as system development) to business unit IT groups. The IS Lite model splits apart the IS organization as a bundle of activities and recasts it in terms of three macroprocesses: Driving innovation in business use of IT and aligning business/IT strategy Fostering and supporting business change Supplying and supporting the infrastructure ISO (International Organization for Standardization) A voluntary, nontreaty organization established in 1949, as a technical agency of the United Nations, to promote international standardization in a broad range of industries. ISO's Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model establishes guidelines for network architectures. See OSI. ISO 17799 A comprehensive set of guidelines offering a code of practice for security management. Originally defined by the British Standards Institute as British Standard 7799 (BS 7799), the standard was renamed ISO 19977 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) when the latter body adopted it as an international standard. The objectives of ISO 17799, which is geography-neutral in scope, are to provide a basis for organizational security standards and to enable the establishment of mutual trust among networked sites. Many information security service providers, in Europe and the rest of the world, are offering services associated with ISO 17799. See BS 7799 and ISO. ISO 9000 An international standard for quality control, also known as BS5750 and EN29001 (the three standards are identical, but are numbered and published differently by different standards bodies). The worldwide standard is published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and is the one generally referenced. ISO 9000 is a generic standard that any enterprise or individual department can use. It is not specific to the IT industry. The standard is subdivided into three parts � ISO 9001, ISO 9002 and ISO 9003. Enterprises may use some or all of the parts, depending on the nature of their business. Any enterprise can claim that it complies with ISO 9000. To make the claim credible, an external assessor from an accreditation body must evaluate the enterprise's quality system. ISO 9000 certification does not guarantee quality; it guarantees consistency of approach. ISOC (Internet Society) A body dedicated to the development of Internet standards via its subgroup, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). See IETF. isochronous A communications term used to describe transmission where the signal recurs at known, equally spaced time intervals relative to a single time reference. It is a form of periodic transmission. ISP (Internet service provider) A company that provides Internet access to its customers. The majority of ISPs are too small to purchase access directly from the network access point (NAP), and instead buy pieces of bandwidth that are available from larger ISPs. ISPs are different from online services, although these services sometimes also provide access to the Internet. Online services provide access to exclusive content, databases and online discussion forums that are not available outside the service. ISPF (Interactive System Productivity Facility) An IBM-licensed program used for writing application programs. It serves as a full-screen editor and dialogue manager and provides a means of generating standard screen panels and interactive dialogues between the application programmer and the terminal user. ISS (interactive selling system) The integration of a marketing encyclopedia system, sales configuration system, proposal generation system and order management system under a common user interface. It is used to streamline and enhance the selling process. With an ISS, the salesperson can sit in front of the customer and pull up data to prove value, configure an order, create a proposal, and then turn the proposal into an order and book the order. ISS (Internet Security Systems) An security software vendor headquartered in Atlanta. ISUP (ISDN User Part) A Integrated services Digital Network (ISDN) protocol that defines call setup and control functions. See ISDN. ISV (independent software vendor) A software producer that is not owned or controlled by a major IT vendor. An ISV is a company whose primary function is to distribute software. Major hardware, operating- system and database vendors that also sell software (such as IBM, Microsoft and Oracle) are not ISVs, nor are companies in nontechnology industries (such as financial services) that may also sell software products. IT (information technology) The common term for the entire spectrum of technologies for information processing, including software, hardware, communications technologies and related services. In general, IT does not include embedded technologies that do not generate data for enterprise use. ITAA (Information Technology Association of America) Itanium A new processor generation introduced by Intel in 2001, based on IA-64 architecture. Designed for high-end, enterprise-class servers and workstations, it offers increased performance over previous Intel processor generations through expansion from 32-to 64-bit technology, and the introduction of Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing (EPIC) design. See EPIC and IA-64. Itanium Processor Family (see IPF) IT asset management A systematic approach to managing IT assets throughout their life cycle, from procurement through retirement and disposal. See asset management. IT consulting An area of consulting that includes systems architecture design/development and IS organizational planning, as well as technical consulting � including technology assessment, and hardware and software tuning. IT governance The mechanism for assigning decision rights � and for creating an accountability framework that drives desirable behaviors � related to IT. ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) An initiative developed by the Central Computing and Telecommunications Agency consultancy for the government of the United Kingdom. It offers a set of best practices in 24 service delivery and IT service support areas, including help desk, problem management, change management, software distribution and cost control. IT infrastructure The underlying technological components that constitute an organization's system architecture. The seven components of IT infrastructure are hardware, operating system, network, database, development environment, user interface and application. ITO (IT outsourcing) The contractual vehicle through which enterprises use external sources to provide life cycle service and support operations for their IT infrastructure. Outsourcing can be partial (i.e., modular or selective) or total, and can involve not only operations but also the acquisition of customer assets and personnel. IT outsourcing is divided into five primary market segments: data center operations, network operations, client/server operations, application management and desktop management. IT outsourcing (see ITO) ITS (international trade system) An execution system designed to automate the import/export business process. The basic functional components are trade documentation generation and transmission, and regulatory compliance validation. ITSEC (Information Technology Security Evaluation and Certification) A European security evaluation performed by an independent body on a variety of commercial and military applications. ITSEC's evaluation assesses the effectiveness and the "correctness" of security mechanisms for both hardware and software. Effectiveness, a measure of the strength of the mechanisms, is defined at three levels: basic, medium and high. Correctness is assessed at seven levels of confidence that the security functions have been correctly implemented, ranging from E0 to E6. The higher the level, the more detailed and rigorous the analysis. A similar security evaluation � known formally as Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC) and informally as the Orange Book � has been defined by the U.S. federal government. See TCSEC. ITU (International Telecommunication Union) An international organization, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, within which governments and the private sector coordinate global telecommunications networks and services. IT utility services IT infrastructure resources available as on-demand services, with pricing based on service units of usage or capacity. IT infrastructures are externalized and standardized, enabling IS organizations to focus on applications and business processes. They can also help enterprises reduce operational costs and capital investment requirements, speed implementation and deployment, and exchange fixed costs for flexible costs. ITV (see interactive TV) IUnknown The base interface in Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) interface hierarchy. All COM interfaces are derived from IUnknown, which provides the mechanism for specifying an object's life span and navigating multiple interfaces. IVR (interactive voice response) A function whereby callers push buttons in response to voice prompts in order to listen to recorded information, or have their calls automatically routed to an appropriate party. IVR enables callers to have more flexibility to access information or leave messages. Use of this option can "offload" call volume from call center agents, or improve load balancing by having agents handle recorded messages during slow periods. A growing number of IVR developers are now using speech recognition in their applications. IXC (interexchange carrier) A long-distance telephone company in the United States that provides service between local access and transport areas (LATAs). See LATA. J J2EE (Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition) A Sun Microsystems platform specification and branding initiative that provides a unifying umbrella for enterprise-oriented Java technologies. J2EE focuses on server-side, multitier services. J2EE includes the Java Server Pages, Java Servlets and Enterprise JavaBeans programming models, a number of protocols and application programming interfaces, a reference implementation, a test suite, and an application model. J2ME (Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition) An edition of Sun's Java platform that focuses on small-form-factor devices, such as personal digital assistants, pagers and cell phones. J2SE (Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition) The basic Java platform, directed at desktop users. JAD (joint application development) An application development process aimed at achieving high levels of functional quality through the participation of prospective end users. It is especially effective in developing user interface requirements. JAR (Java Archive) A platform-neutral Java file format for downloading multiple applets from the Internet in a single transaction. Although originally intended for applets, JAR files may also include applications and components. JAR files incorporate file compression and allow authors to digitally sign individual entries. See Java. Java The term "Java" can be applied to Sun Microsystems' Java platform or to its Java programming language. The Java platform include the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which provides a uniform Java byte code emulator for Java's cross-platform runtime environment; the Java programming language, which provides a robust, object-oriented language for constructing Java components and applications; and the standard Java class library packages, which provide sets of reusable services that promote consistency among components and applications. The Java programming language is based on C and extends and complements the basic capabilities of Hypertext Markup Language. Java permits the creation of applications and application modules (called "applets") that run in the JVM on the browser. Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (see J2EE) Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (see J2ME) Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (see J2SE) Java API for XML Messaging (see JAXM) Java API for XML Processing (see JAXP) Java applet A small piece of Java code that implements a specific function. Applets may run on a server or be downloaded and run on the client's machine. Java Archive (see JAR) JavaBeans Similar to Microsoft's ActiveX, this Sun Microsystems' technology enables external applications access each other's services. Java Card A set of Java application programming interfaces for smart cards. Java Community Process (see JCP) Java Database Connectivity (see JDBC) Java Development Kit (see JDK) Java Interface for OLAP (see JOLAP) Java Messaging Service (see JMS) Java Naming and Directory Interface (see JNDI) Java Native Interface (see JNI) JavaScript A scripting language targeted specifically to the Internet. It is the first scripting language to fully conform to ECMAScript, the Web's only standard scripting language. Despite its name, JavaScript is not a derivative of Java; its origin is Netscape's Livescript language. JavaScript is, in fact, closer to C/C++ in syntax than it is to Java. Java Server Pages (see JSP) Java servlet A Java program that operates in conjunction with a Web server, and can output Hypertext Markup Language to a browser or even communicate with Java applets. Servlets offer an alternative to using Common Gateway Interface and server application programming interfaces to communicate with Web server processes. Java Specification Request (see JSR) Java Specification Request 168 (see JSR 168) Java Telephony Application Programming Interface (see JTAPI) Java Virtual Machine (see JVM) JAXM (Java API for XML Messaging) An application programming interface (API) from Sun Microsystems. JAXM is used to build Java-based e-commerce applications that can generate and exchange Extensible Markup Language (XML) messages. JAXP (Java API for XML Processing) A Sun Microsystems application programming interface (API) that enables Extensible Markup Language (XML) documents to be read, manipulated and generated in Java-based applications. JBIG (Joint Bitonal Image Group) An standard for black-and-white and gray-scale image compression. JCAHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) An U.S. independent, not-for-profit organization devoted to healthcare standards setting and accreditation. JCL (Job Control Language) A language used to communicate with IBM's Multiple Virtual Storage (MVS) operating system. JCL is used to tell the system who a user is, what programs are being invoked and what resources will be needed. See MVS. JCP (Java Community Process) A program created by Sun Microsystems to provide an open forum for Java developers, licensees and other members. JCP's charter is to develop Java technology specifications, reference implementations and technology compatibility kits. JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) A standard that provides connectivity between Sun Microsystems' Java platform and a range of database management systems. JDBC provides a call-level application programming interface for database access based on Structured Query Language. JDK (Java Development Kit) A Sun Microsystems product that provides the underlying technologies for implementing the Java programming language. JES (Job Entry Subsystem) The component of IBM's Multiple Virtual Storage (MVS) operating system that reads in jobs, interprets their Job Control Language (JCL) and schedules their execution. See JCL and MVS. Jini A distributed-computing product introduced by Sun Microsystems in 1998. The system enables any devices that use Sun's Java programming language to communicate and work with one another. JIT (just in time) The concept of reducing inventories by working closely with suppliers to coordinate delivery of materials just before their use in the manufacturing process. JITT (just-in-time training) A training methodology in which users are trained in a technology just when they begin using it. jitter A slight movement of a transmission signal in time or phase, which can introduce errors and loss of synchronization for high-speed, synchronous communications. See phase jitter. JMS (Java Messaging Service) Part of Sun Microsystems' Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE), JMS is an application programming interface that connects Java programs to messaging middleware, such as IBM's MQSeries and Tibco Software's Rendezvous. See J2EE. JNDI (Java Naming and Directory Interface) A specification from Sun Microsystems that allows Java applications to store and retrieve named Java objects. It also provides methods for performing standard directory operations such as searching for objects using their attributes. JNI (Java Native Interface) An application programming interface developed by Sun Microsystems that defines a standardized way of naming and calling native functions created in a non-Java language. With JNI, the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) can locate and invoke native methods, or those native methods can perform Java-specific functions such as creating Java objects or calling Java methods. See JVM. Job Control Language (see JCL) Job Entry Subsystem (see JES) joint application development (see JAD) Joint Bitonal Image Group (see JBIG) Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (see JCAHO) Joint Photographic Experts Group (see JPEG) JOLAP (Java Interface for OLAP) A Java application programming interface for the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE) environment. JOLAP supports the creation and maintenance of online analytical processing (OLAP) data and metadata, independent of vendor. See OLAP. JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) A standard for still-image compression. JScript (see JavaScript) JSP (Java Server Pages) A mechanism that allows Java source code to be embedded into Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) files. This source code is executed on the Web server (by servlets), and the resulting HTML is output to a Web browser. JSP allows many types of developers to interact with both HTML and Java in designing the interface to Java applications. JSR (Java Specification Request) The formal document submitted to propose the development of a new specification � or a major revision to an established specification � under the Java Community Process (JCP). See JCP. JSR 168 (Java Specification Request 168) A specification from the Java Community Process (JCP) organization designed to enable interoperability between portals and "portlets." It defines a set of application programming interfaces for portal computing, addressing areas such as aggregation, personalization, presentation and security. See JCP and portlet. JTAPI (Java Telephony Application Programming Interface) An application programming interface for developing Java-based telephony applications. jukebox An automatic media handler for an optical disk drive, also called a library. An optical jukebox is designed to move optical platters in and out of optical drives. The intent is to provide a large amount of easily accessed storage in a "near-line" fashion. Jukeboxes use robotics. Similar in concept to music jukeboxes, the robot arm locates the appropriate disk and, if it is not already mounted in a drive, clears the drive and loads the selected disk. just in time (see JIT) just-in-time training (see JITT) JVM (Java Virtual Machine) The virtual machine (VM) that runs in the Java environment. See VM and Java. K Ka-band A portion of the electromagnetic spectrum allotted for satellite transmission, with frequencies in the 20 to 30 gigahertz range. Kb (kilobit) Approximately one thousand bits of data (1,024, to be precise). KB (kilobyte) Approximately one thousand bytes of data (1,024, to be precise). Each byte contains eight bits. KBE (knowledge-based engineering) A system that encapsulates design knowledge that can be recalled, reused and extended to create product designs. Kbps (kilobits per second) A measure of data transmission speed � 1,024 bits of information per second. Kerberos An authentication system used for dial-up, remote or Internet connections. An Internet Engineering Task Force standard, Kerberos works by having a central server grant a "ticket" honored by all networked nodes running Kerberos. Kermit A packet-oriented public-domain file transfer protocol designed at Columbia University. kernel The heart of an operating system. The kernel is the part of the operating system that interconnects with the hardware. key The mechanism used to encrypt or decrypt messages in public-key infrastructure (PKI) security. See public-key cryptography and PKI. key performance indicator (see KPI) key telephone system (see KTS) keyword A word specified in a query placed to an information retrieval system, such as a Web search engine. keyword search Searching for documents based on one or more words or phrases specified by a computer user. In many search engines, a string of keywords entered without quotation marks is treated as a Boolean "and" search (see Boolean), while enclosing the string in quotation marks restricts the search to the complete phrase. See search engine. kHz (kilohertz) A unit equal to 1,000 hertz (i.e., 1,000 cycles per second). kilobit (see Kb) kilobits per second (see Kbps) kilobyte (see KB) kilohertz (see kHz) kilovolt-ampere (see KVA) kilowatt (see kW) kiosk A self-service terminal typically used for one of three functions: to support noncash transactions (such as ordering tickets or making reservations), to dispense noncash items (such as documents, tickets or coupons), or to provide access to information (such as rate quotations, product information or interactive sessions with product specialists). Kiosks typically do not dispense cash. KM (knowledge management) A business process that formalizes the management and use of an enterprise's intellectual assets. KM promotes a collaborative and integrative approach to the creation, capture, organization, access and use of information assets, including the tacit, uncaptured knowledge of people. K-map (knowledge map) A representation of concepts and their relationships (e.g., hierarchy, taxonomy and network). A K-map is a navigational aid that enables a user to hone in rapidly on the desired concept, and then follow links to relevant knowledge sources (information or people). KM infrastructure The people, processes and automated systems required to support knowledge management (KM). See KM. KM strategy A strategy addressing how the enterprise will use knowledge to compete, and how knowledge management (KM) will support the enterprise's business strategies. A KM strategy may be knowledge-focused if the enterprise's market value is predominantly composed of intellectual capital, or knowledge-enabled if the enterprise has other valuable assets in addition to intellectual capital. See KM. knowledge architect the individual who oversees implementation of the enterprise's knowledge architecture, who leads the "knowledge architecture team" in identifying, organizing and providing access to scattered, heterogeneous information in digital and paper form, and who leads the knowledge audit to determine and continually re-evaluate the specific knowledge needs of users and their business processes. The knowledge architect defines knowledge processes and identifies the technology requirements for creating, capturing, organizing, accessing and using knowledge assets. knowledge assets (see information assets) knowledge audit A formal determination and evaluation of how and where knowledge is used in business processes. The knowledge audit identifies implicit user needs, as well as explicit information stores. With the audit, enterprises can identify and evaluate all information resources and workflows, and determine enterprise user access requirements. Access requirements will vary widely, from wide access (e.g., policies and procedures) to extremely limited access (e.g., payroll processing). The knowledge audit is a rigorous process using questionnaires, interviews and resource descriptions. knowledge base The knowledge, which may include assertion, rules, objects and constraints, used by a knowledge-based or expert system. Its organization is based on knowledge representations. The developer or user of the system may be unaware of the underlying knowledge representations, seeing only the domain knowledge representations. knowledge-based engineering (see KBE) knowledge capital Intangible assets of an enterprise that are required to achieve business goals, including employee's knowledge; data and information about processes, products, customers and competitors; and intellectual property such as patents or regulatory licenses. Also known as intellectual capital. knowledge capture The process of making tacit knowledge explicit � that is turning knowledge that is resident in the mind of the individual into an explicit representation available to the enterprise. knowledge community A group of people within an enterprise who engage in knowledge-sharing activities in support of a common work interest (such as shared responsibility for a business process, a product or service, or a project). The knowledge community may include people from multiple disciplines within the enterprise, as well as extended-enterprise participants (such as service providers, supply chain partners or customers). knowledge management (see KM) knowledge management infrastructure (see KM infrastructure) knowledge map (see K-map) knowledge representation Structures used to store knowledge in a manner that relates items of knowledge to one another, and that permits an inference engine to manipulate the knowledge and its relationships. knowledge sharing A general term used to describe activities, processes or technologies that enable people to share knowledge across the boundaries of geography and time. knowledge workplace A work environment that focuses on knowledge as the primary source of competitive advantage. The knowledge workplace represents the intersection of three key trends: the leverage of intellectual capital, the virtualization of the workplace and the shift from hierarchical to organic models of management KPI (key performance indicator) A high-level measure of system output, traffic or other usage, simplified for gathering and review on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis. Typical examples are bandwidth availability, transactions per second and calls per user. KPIs are often combined with cost measures (such as cost per transaction or cost per user) to build key system operating metrics. KTS (key telephone system) A telephone system that enables a user to directly access outgoing and incoming central office (CO) facilities by simply pushing a button or "key" on a telephone � unlike a private branch exchange (PBX) telephone system, in which this access can to be achieved by dialing an access code. A key telephone set is characterized by having multiple line buttons, a "hold" button and at least one button dedicated for making internal, station-to- station (intercom) calls. Hold and intercom buttons are typically used to place a call on hold so that the call can be "announced" over the intercom line before being distributed to the person for whom the call is intended. See CO and PBX. Ku-band A portion of the electromagnetic spectrum used increasingly for satellite communications, with frequencies in the 12- to 14-gigahertz range. KVA (kilovolt-ampere) A unit of electrical power, equal to 1,000 volt-amperes. kW (kilowatt) A unit of electrical power, equal to 1,000 watts. L2F (Layer 2 Forwarding) A tunneling protocol developed by Cisco Systems. L2F encapsulates Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) packets within Internet Protocol (IP) packets. This provides the significant benefit of being able to use private IP addresses across a virtual private network (VPN) by hiding them (via encapsulation) from the public network. This concept is important because many enterprises make use of private addressing schemes that conflict with public Internet addressing. See tunneling, PPP and VPN. L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) A protocol that combines the features of Microsoft's Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) and Cisco Systems' Layer 2 Forwarding (L2F) to support multiprotocol or private-address Internet Protocol (IP) traffic across a public IP network. L2TP is a mature Internet Engineering Task Force standard that has been widely implemented. (See L2F and PPTP.) laboratory information management system (see LIMS) LAN (local-area network) A geographically limited communication network that connects users within a defined area. A LAN is generally contained within a building or small group of buildings and is managed and owned by a single enterprise. The shorter distances within a building or campus enable faster communications at a lower cost than wide-area networks (WANs). Although an increasing number of LANs use Internet standards and protocols, they are normally protected from the public Internet by firewalls. LANs are generally used to perform the following functions: Send output to printers attached to the network Transfer data or software to or from other systems attached to the network Send e-mail to other users on the network Access wider-area networks, includi