# Altobridge Abbreviations

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

•A

•A interface

This is the interface within the GSM network architecture between the BSS (Base Station Subsystem) and an MSC (Mobile Switching Center). The interface supports standard 64Kbps channels for signaling and traffic.

•A3

Authentication algorithm that produces SRES using RAND and Ki. This variable is used by the network to authenticate a MS (Mobile Station) requesting network resources.

•A5

Stream cipher algorithm residing on an MS that produces ciphertext out of plaintext using Kc.

•A8

Ciphering key generating algorithm that produces Kc using RAND and Ki. This is used with A5/X to cipher the data stream between the MS (Mobile Station) and the GSM network.

•AAL

ATM Adaptation Layer. A protocol that translates data into a format that can be interpreted by the ATM Cell.

•AAS

Audio Announcement Server (also known as Voice Announcement System).

•AB

Access Burst. Also referred to as a Random Access Burst in GSM. It has a 68.25bit guard period, to ensure that the burst does not collide with other data in the TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) frame structure when a GSM mobile is attempting to access the network.

•Abis (Abis interface)

The interface within the GSM architecture, between the BTS (Base Transceiver Station) and BSC (Base Station Controller). This interface is usually configured using a 16Kbps slot structure.

•AC

Alternating Current. In electricity, AC occurs when charge carriers in conductor or semiconductor periodically reverse their direction in movement.

•ACCH

Associated Control Channel. The GSM signaling channels associated with a user's traffic channel or dedicated signaling channel. Two ACCH are defined for GSM Circuit Switched operation. These are SACCH (Slow Associated Control Channel) and FACCH (Fast Associated Control Channel). In GPRS packet operation, a ACCH is allocated in conjunction with a PDTCH (Packet Data Traffic Channel) and is termed a PACCH (Packet Associated Control Channel).

•ACM

Accumulated Call Meter. The accumulated charge for both the current call and all preceding calls as computed by the MS, expressed in terms of Home Units.

•ACN

Application Context Name

•A/D

Analog to Digital converter. An A/D is a device for converting analogue signals into digital signals.

•ADMIN, Admin

ADMINistration.

•ADN

Abbreviated Dialing Number. ADN is another term for “speed dial number” that can be programmed into the mobile.

•ADPCM

Adaptive Differential Pulse Coded Modulation. A form of PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) that produces a digital signal with a lower bit rate than standard PCM. ADPCM produces a lower bit rate by recording only the difference between samples and adjusting the coding scale dynamically to accommodate large and small differences.

•AGC

Automatic Gain Control. Receiver function that generates constant power output under varying power input.

•AGCH

Access Grant CHannel. A GSM common control used to assign MS to a SDCCH or a TCH.

•AIF

Interface carrying the signal between the BSC and MSC.

•Air interface

The radio link between the BTS and the MS.

•AIS

Alarm Indication Signal. The AIS is a signal transmitted in lieu of the normal signal to maintain transmission continuity and to indicate to the receiving equipment that there is a transmission interruption located either at the equipment originating the AIS signal or upstream of that equipment.

•AM

Access Manager. The AM controls who can log on to the EMS. It allows administrators to send messages to users, to see what users are logged on, and to log them off.

•ANI

Automatic Number Identification. ANI is a service feature in which the directory number or equipment number of a calling station is automatically obtained.

•ANSI

American National Standards Institute. This is a US organization chartered to accredit standards developed by a wide variety of industry groups while avoiding improper influence from any one company or organization. ANSI does not develop standards, but reviews and implements those developed by other organizations.

•ANT

Antenna. An ANT is a specialized transducer that converts RF (radio frequency) fields into AC (alternating current) or vice-versa.

•APN

Access Point Name. APN is a reference to the GGSN to be used.

•ARIB

Association of Radio, Industry and Business. ARIB is a Japanese standards organization.

•ARFCN

Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number. An integer that defines the absolute RF channel number.

•ARQ

Automatic ReQuest for retransmission. ARQ is a communications feature in which the receiver asks the transmitter to resend a block or frame, generally because of errors detected by the receiver.

•ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Exchange. ASCII is a code for representing English characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 127.

•ASE

Application Service Element. This function allows applications to communicate with one another in a SS7 system. Examples of an ASE include TCAP (Transaction Capabilities Application Part) and MAP (Mobile Application Part).

•ASIC

Application Specific Integrated Circuit. These are circuit designs used by manufacturers to consolidate many chips into a single package, reducing board size and power consumption.

•ASN

Abstract Syntax Notation. ASN is a representation of data which is independent of machine-oriented structures and encodings and also of the physical representation of the data.

•ATM

Asynchronous Transfer Mode. A multiplexed information transfer and switching method in which the data is organized into fixed length 53-octet cells and transmitted according to each application's instantaneous need.

•ATT (flag)

Attach.

•AUC

Authentication Center. A GSM network entity that provides the functionality for verifying the identity of an MS when requested by the system. It is often a part of the HLR.

•Austel

Australian Telecommunications.

•AUT (H)

Authentication. AUT is the process of identifying / validating a subscriber. AUT in GSM is performed by the A3 algorithm.

•AUTO

AUTOmatic mode.

•AWG

American Wire Gauge. AWG is a U.S. standard set of non-ferrous wire conductor sizes. The “gauge” means the diameter.

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•B

•b

Bit. The smallest unit of information a computer can hold. The value of a bit is 1 or 0.

•B

Byte (8 bits). The smallest addressable unit of storage; the amount of memory space used to store one character, which is usually 8 bits.

•B8ZS

Bipolar with 8-Zero Substitution. A line code used for T1 which converts any string of 8 zeros of a DS-1 signal into a code which at the far end is converted back to eight zeros.

•BA

BCCH Allocation. The radio frequency channels allocated in a cell for BCCH transmission.

•BAIC

Barring of All Incoming Calls supplementary service. A cellular supplementary service, that when invoked sets flags in the network databases to stop a subscriber receiving incoming calls.

•BAOC

Barring of All Outgoing Calls supplementary service. A cellular supplementary service, that when invoked sets flags in the network databases to stop a subscriber making outgoing calls.

•BAOIC

Barring of All Outgoing and Incoming Calls supplementary service. A cellular supplementary service, that when invoked sets flags in the network databases to stop a subscriber receiving incoming calls and making outgoing calls.

•BBH

Base Band Hopping. It means that the call will be switched between the different transmitters in a cell; the transmitters stay on the same frequency. This limits the number of frequencies to hop on to the number of transmitters in a cell.

•BBU

Battery Backup Unit.

•BCC

BTS Color Code. This code is transmitted in the SB (Synchronization Burst) and is used in the MS (Mobile Station) to discriminate between cells using the same frequencies during the cell selection and camping on process. The BCC is also used to identify the TSC (Training Sequence Code) to be used when reading the BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel).

•BCCH

Broadcast Control CHannel. This downlink channel contains specific parameters needed by a mobile in order that it can identify the network and gain access to it. Typical information includes the LAC (Location Area Code) and RAC (Routing Area Code), the MNC (Mobile Network Code) and BA (BCCH Allocation) list.

•BCD

Binary Coded Decimal. BCD uses four bits to represent each decimal digit.

•BCF

Base station Control Function. The GSM term for the digital control circuitry that controls the BTS. In Altobridge cell sites, this is typically an ICP card located in the BTS.

•BCIE

Bearer Capability Information Element. The BCIE is an ISDN information element used to describe the bearer services such as data rate and speech quality required by an individual user.

•BDIO

Board Input/Output.

•BER

Bit Error Ratio or Bit Error Rate. A measure of signal quality in the GSM system.

•BFI

Bad Frame Indication. The BFI is a message used to indicate that a frame has been corrupted, or received in error.

•BHCA

Busy Hour Call Attempt. BHCA is the number of call attempts during the busiest hour of the day.

•BI

Barring of Incoming call supplementary services.

•BIC-Roam service

Barring of Incoming Calls when Roaming outside the home PLMN country supplementary service.

•bit/s

Bits per Second. bit/s is equal to the number of bits transmitted or received each second.

•BLER

BLock Error Rate. BLER is the rate of occurrence of blocks with errors, calculated as the ratio of erroneous blocks received over total blocks.

•Bm

Full-rate traffic channel.

•BN

Bit Number. Number that identifies the position of a particular bit period within a timeslot.

•BNC

Bayonet Node Connector. BNC is a connector for coaxial cables that locks when one connector is inserted in another and rotated 90 degrees.

•BO

Barring of Outgoing call supplementary service. A cellular supplementary service, that when invoked sets flags in the network databases to stop a subscriber making all calls.

•BOIC

Barring of Outgoing International Calls supplementary service. A cellular supplementary service, that when invoked sets flags in the network databases to stop a subscriber making International calls.

•BOIC-exHC

Barring of Outgoing International Calls except those directed to the Home PLMN Country supplementary service. A cellular supplementary service, that when invoked sets flags in the network databases to stop a subscriber making International calls apart from those to their HPLMN (Home Public Land Mobile Network).

•BPF

Bandpass Filter. A BPF is a device that allows signals between two specific frequencies to pass, but that discriminates against signals at other frequencies.

•bps

Bits per Second. bps is equal to the number of bits transmitted or received each second.

•BPV

Bipolar Violation. BPV occurs when the next successive in transmission is of the same polarity as the previous pulse.

•BRAN

Broadband Radio Access Network. BRAN is a radio access network providing users with access at high bit rates.

•BS

Basic Service (group).

•BS

Bearer Service. A type of telecommunication service that provides the capability for the transmission of signals between user-network interfaces. The PLMN connection type used to support a bearer service may be identical to that used to support other types of telecommunication service.

•BS Plus

Altobridge chassis containing BTS and BSC functionality.

•BSC

Base Station Controller. A network component in the GSM PLMN that has the digital function of controlling all PBTSs. The PBSC can be located within a single PBTS cabinet (forming a BSS) but is more often located remotely and controls several PBTSs.

•BSG

Basic Group Service.

•BSIC

Base Transceiver Station Identity Code. The BSIC is broadcast on the SCH (Synchronization Channel) in order to identify the NCC (Network Color Code) and the BCC (Base Station Color Code).

•BSIC-NCELL

BSIC of an adjacent cell. BSIC (Base Station Identity Code) is a color code used in GSM to ensure that the source of a frequency transmission can be identified, in areas where multiple cells transmitting on the same frequency can be received.

•BSS

Base Station Subsystem. The subsystem of base station equipment that is viewed by the MSC through a single interface. The BSS is defined by the GSM 08 series of recommendations as being the entity responsible for communicating with Mobile Stations in a certain area. The radio equipment of a BSS may cover one or more cells. A BSS may consist of one or more base stations. If an internal interface is implemented according to the GSM 08.5x series of recommendations, then the BSS consists of one BSC and several BTSs.

•BSSAP

Base Station System Application Part. BSSAP is the protocol employed across the A interface.

•BSSGP

Base Station System GPRS Protocol. BSSGP is supported across the Gb interface. It conveys QoS information but does not carry out any form of error correction. Its primary function is to provide radio-related information for use by Radio Link Control (RLC) and Medium Access Control (MAC) on air interface.

•BSSMAP

Base Station Subsystem Management Application Part. BSSMAP is used to convey general BSS (Base Station System) control information between the MSC (Mobile Switching Center) and the BSS. An example is the allocation of traffic channels between the MSC and the BSS.

•BSSOMAP

Base Station Subsystem Operation and Maintenance Application Part. BSSOMAP is used to convey general BSS O&M (Operation and Maintenance) information between the MSC (Mobile Switching Center) and the BSS).

•BSX

See BSS.

•BTA

Basic Trading Area.

•BTS

Base Transceiver Station. A network component in the GSM PLMN that serves one cell and is controlled by a BSC. The BTS contains one or more Transceivers (TRXs).

•BTSM

BTS Management. BTSM is the Base Station Controller to the Base Transceiver Station (BSC - BTS) interface protocol (the A-bis interface).

•Burst

A period of modulated carrier less than one timeslot. The physical content of a timeslot.

•BVC

BSSGP Virtual Connection. The BVC identifies an end to end virtual communication path between remote NS (Network Service) user entities.

•BVCI

BSSGP Virtural Connection Identifier. The BVCI is sent to the network services layer for routing signaling and data information to the correct peer functional entities. Each BVCI between two peers must be unique.

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•C

•C7

CCITT Signaling System No. 7 (SS7). This protocol suite is used to initiate call related and non call related circuits on ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) based networks.

•CA

Cell Allocation. The radio frequency channels allocated to a particular cell.

•CAI

Charge Advice Information. A charging tariff that is sent from the MSC (Mobile SWitching Center) and held on the mobile; this is used to calculate billing information on the mobile and present it to the user as charging advice.

•CALEA

Communication Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. CALEA is a voluntary accreditation for law enforcement agencies based on a body of standards internationally accepted by the law enforcement community.

•CAMEL

Customized Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic. CAMEL is a 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) initiative to extend traditional IN (Intelligent Network) services found in fixed networks into mobile networks.

•CAP

CAMEL Application Part. CAP is a real time protocol used to specify that the user can roam into a foreign PLMN and control the way that its is also.

•CAT

Central Address Table.

•CB

Circuit Breaker. A CB is a device that under abnormal conditions, such as a short circuit, stops the flow of current in an electrical circuit.

•CBC

Cell Broadcast Center. The CBC is the functional entity within the mobile network that is responsible for the generation of cell broadcast information.

•CBCH

Cell Broadcast CHannel. The CBCH supports part of the SMS (Short Message Service) group known as point to multipoint.

•CC

Country Code. A one, two or three digit number used to specify the destination country for international calls.

•CCBS

Completion of Calls to Busy Subscriber supplementary service. CCBS is a supplementary service that will notify the caller when a called telephone becomes free and automates reconnection.

•CCC

Clear Channel Capability or Call Content Channel.

•CCCH

Common Control CHannels. A class of GSM control channels used to control paging and grant access. Includes AGCH, PCH and RACH.

•CCCH-GROUP

Group of Mobile Stations in idle mode.

•CCF

Call Control Function. CCF is a telephony industry term used to describe the setting up, monitoring, control and tearing down of calls.

•CCF

Conditional Call Forwarding. A supplementary service in which calls are forwarded based on the current situation. For example if the user is not reachable or busy.

•CCH

Control CHannel. Control channels are channels that carry system management messages.

•CCITT

Comitte Consultatif International Telegraphique et Telephonique. (Now also known as ITU Telecommunications Standardization sector.)

•CCPE

Control Channel Protocol Entity.

•CCS

Hundred call-seconds. The unit in which the volume of telephone traffic is measured. A single call lasting one hundred seconds is one CCS. 36 CCS per hour = 1 call-hour = 1 erlang = 1 traffic unit. See Also erlang.

•Cct

Circuit. Cct is the complete path between two terminals over which one-way or two-way communications may be provided.

•CCU

Circuit Control Unit.

•CCU

Channel Codec Unit. CCU is the functional element in BSS that handles low level GPRS control in radio.

•CD

Compact Disk Read Only Memory. Also known as CD-ROM.

•CDA

Circuit Duplex Asynchronous.

•CDC

Call Data Channel.

•CDMA

Code Division Multiple Access. CDMA is a method for describing physical radio channels. Data intended for a specific channel is modulated with that channels code.

•CDR

Call Detail Records. A CDR contains details such as the called and calling parties, originating switch, terminating switch, call length and time of day.

•CD-ROM

Compact Disk Read Only Memory. Also known as CD.

•CD-R

Compact Disk Recordable. Refers to either the CD media or CD drive which allows you to record data.

•CD-RW

Compact Disk Rewritable. Refers to either the CD media or CD drive which allows you to record data and then rewrite data at a later time. See CD-R.

•CDS

Circuit Duplex Synchronous.

•CED

Called station identifier.

•Cell

By GSM definition, a cell is an RF coverage area. At an omni-site, cell is synonymous with site; at a sectored site, cell is synonymous with sector. This differs from analogue systems where cell is taken to mean the same thing as site.

•CEPT

Conference des administrations European des Postes et Telecommunications. CEPT is the organization, that has been superseded by ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute).

•CF

Call Forward. CF is a service in which the call intended for an intended recipient is forwarded onto a designated number.

•CFB

Call Forwarding on mobile subscriber Busy. CFB is a supplementary service in which the incoming call is forwarded to a third party when the intended recipient is busy.

•CFC

Conditional Call Forward.

•CFNRC

Call Forwarding on mobile subscriber Not Reachable. CFNRC is a supplementary service in which the incoming call is forwarded to a third party when the intended recipient is not reachable.

•CFNRY

Call Forwarding on No Reply supplementary service. CFNRY is a supplementary service in which the incoming call is forwarded to a third party when there is no reply from the intended party.

•CFU, CFUC

Call Forwarding UnConditional. CFU and CFUC are supplementary services in which a call is forwarded irrespective of the situation.

•CFW

Call Forward.

•CGI

Common Gateway Interface.

•CGF

Charging Gateway Function.

•CH

Channel. A CH is a separate path through which signals can flow.

•Channel

A means of one-way transmission. A defined sequence of periods (for example, timeslots) in a TDMA system; a defined frequency band in an FDMA system; a defined sequence of periods and frequency bands in a frequency hopped system.

•CHV

Card Holder Verification information.

•CIC

Circuit Identity Code. The CIC is used to identify the trunk circuit to be connected. This variable is also used to associate the ISUP (ISDN User Part) messaging with a particular circuit. The CIC is an 8bit field within the SIF (Service Information Field) of the ISUP message. The coding of the CIC differs slightly between European and North American standards.

•C/I

Carrier to Interference ratio. C/I is a comparison of C (carrier signal) to the I (interference) in dB.

•CI

Cell Identity. A block of code which identifies a cell within a location area.

•CIR

Carrier to Interference Ratio. This is a comparison of C (carrier signal) to the I (Interference) expressed as a ratio C/I.

•CKSN

Ciphering Key Sequence Number. The CKSN is used in key management in a GSM system. Since the Kc (cipher key) is dynamically generated through the authentication process some mechanism to ensure key consistency is required. The CKSN is employed to do this.

•Class B

Class B mobiles can be attached to both GPRS and GSM services, using one service at a time. Class B mobiles enable receiving and making a voice call or SMS during GPRS connection. During a voice call or SMS, GPRS service is suspended and resumes automatically after call or SMS session has ended.

•Class C

Class C mobile is attached to either GPRS or GSM voice service. You need to switch manually between services.

•CLI

Calling Line Identity. CLI is an ISDN function to provide information to the user regarding the calling party address.

•CLI

Command Line Interface. CLI is a user interface in which you type commands instead of choosing them from a menu or selecting an icon.

•CLIP

Calling Line Identification Presentation. CLIP is a supplementary service enabling the called party to receive the line identity of the calling party.

•CLIR

Calling Line Identification Restriction. CLIR is a supplementary service enabling the calling party to restrict the identity of the line on which they are calling.

•CLK

Clock. The CLK is used to define the timing in the network.

•CLM

Connection-less Manager.

•CLR

CLeaR.

•CM

Configuration Management. A PEMS application.

•CMA

Cable Management Assembly. Top-mounted assembly that routes cables in and out of the Altobridge Wireless chassis.

•CMD

Command.

•CMM

Channel Mode Modify. CMM is a message sent to modify the characteristics of the current channel.

•CMIP

Common Management Information Protocol. CMIP is a protocol used by an application process to exchange information and commands for the purpose of managing remote computer and communications resources.

•CMTom

Configuration Management TCSI Corporation Object Manager.

•CNF

Conference Center.

•COLP

Connected Line Identification Presentation. The COLP Supplementary Service provides the calling party with the possibility to receive the line identity of the connected party.

•COLR

Connected Line Identification Restriction. The COLR supplementary service is used in conjunction with the COLP service. The COLR supplementary service blocks called party address information from being presented to the calling user.

•Combo

See NIB.

•CP

Call Processing. CP is the sequence of operations performed by a switching system from the acceptance of an incoming call through the final disposition of the call.

•CPC

Call Processing Center.

•CPM

Communications Processor Module.

•CPU

Central Processing Unit. The CPU is the part of a computer which controls all other parts. The CPU fetches instructions from memory and decodes them.

•C/R

Command/Response field bit.

•CR

Call Reference. A CR is used to identify calls.

•CR

Carriage Return (RETURN).

•CRC

Cyclic Redundancy Check (3 bit). CRC is a linear error code that is generated using a polynomial function on the data to be sent, the remainder from the process being the CRC. This is sent along with data so that a parity check of the received data can be conducted.

•CS

Controlled Slip.

•CSC

Call Switching Center. The CSC which is part of the UltraWAVE MSC, provides high-capacity E1 transport and switching capability for the MSC.

•CSD

Circuit Switched Data. CSD requires the establishment of a circuit-switched connection before data can be transferred to its destination.

•CSER

Change State Event Report.

•CSN

Combined System Node. See PCSN.

•CSPDN

Circuit Switched Public Data Network. CSPDN is a general wide area network used to provide circuit switched data services for commercial users.

•CSTA

Call STAtistics.

•CSU

Central Switching Unit. See MSC.

•CSU

Channel Service Unit.

•CTAU

Continuous Timing Advance Update.

•CTIA

Cellular Telephone Industry Association. The CTIA is an association, located in Washington, D.C., that represents the interests of the wireless telecommunications industry.

•CV

Code Violations.

•CW

Call Waiting. CW is a supplementary service indicating to a user currently in call that another call is waiting.

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•D

•D/A

Digital to Analog (converter). A D/A is a device for converting digital signals into analogue signals.

•dB

Decibel. A unit of power ratio measurement (10-1).

•DB

DataBase. A DB is a collection of information that is organized so that it can be easily accessed, managed, and updated.

•DB

Dummy Burst (see Dummy burst).

•DC

Direct Current. In DC, the electric charges flow always in the same direction, which distinguishes it from AC (alternating current).

•DCCH

Dedicated Control Channels. A class of GSM control channels used to set up calls and report measurements. Includes SDCCH, FACCH, and SACCH.

•DCE

Data Circuit terminating Equipment. DCE is a terminal device that interfaces between the DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) and a transmission circuit.

•DCF

Data Communications Function.

•DCS 1800

Digital Communication System. A cellular phone network using digital techniques similar to those used in GSM 900, but operating on frequencies of 1710 - 1785 MHz and 1805 - 1880 MHz.

•DD

Definition documents for project realization.

•DET

Detach.

•DHCP

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. DHCP is a TCP/IP protocol that enables a personal computer or workstation to get temporary or permanent IP addresses from a pool on a centrally-administered server. DHCP is also used in the GSN to assign temporary IP addresses to GPRS enabled mobiles upon activation of a PDP context.

•DIP

Dual Inline Package.

•DISC

DISConnect.

•DL

Data Link (layer). The data link layer is level two of the seven-level OSI model. It responds to service requests from the network layer and issues service requests to the physical layer.The data link layer is the layer of the model which ensures that data is transferred correctly between adjacent network nodes in a wide area network. The data link layer provides the functional and procedural means to transfer data between network entities and to detect and possibly correct errors that may occur in the Physical layer.

•DLCI

Data Link Connection Identifier. The DLCI identifies an individual users information stream as well as identifying the connections between terminal equipment and the user equipment.

•Dm

Control Channel (ISDN terminology applied to mobile service).

•DNS

Domain Name Server. A DNS maintains a database for resolving host names and IP addresses. Network devices query the DNS server by specifying a remote computers host name and receive in return, the hosts IP addresses.

•Downlink

Physical link from the BTS towards the MS (BTS transmits, MS receives).

•DPC

Destination Point Code. A part of the label in a signaling message that uniquely identifies, in a signaling network, the (signaling) destination point of the message.

•DRAM

Dynamic Random Access Memory. DRAM is dynamic, unlike static RAM, it needs to have its storage cells refreshed or given a new electronic charge every few milliseconds.

•DRX, DRx

Discontinuous Reception. A means of saving battery power (for example in hand-portable units) by periodically and automatically switching the MS receiver on and off.

•DS0

Digital Signal level 0.

•DS1

Digital Signal level 1.

•DS3

Digital Signal level 3.

•DSP

Digital Signal Processor. A DSP is a specialized computer chip designed to perform speedy and complex operations on digitized waveforms.

•DSUB

D-SUBminiature Connector.

•DSX

Digital Signal Cross-connect frame.

•DTAP

Direct Transfer Application Part. DTAP is an application protocol that is employed to pass signaling information between the MS (Mobile Station) and the MSC (Mobile Switching Center).

•DTE

Data Terminal Equipment. DTE is the terminal device and may be a voice or data terminal. The DTE interfaces through a DCE (Data Communications Equipment).

•DTMF

Dual Tone Multi-Frequency. DTMF is a system used by touch tone telephones where one high and one low frequency, or tone, is assigned to each touch tone button on the phone.

•DTX, DTx

Discontinuous Transmission. A means of saving battery power (for example, in hand-portable units) and reducing interference by automatically switching the transmitter off when no speech or data are to be sent.

•Dummy burst

A period of carrier less than one timeslot, whose modulation is a defined sequence that carries no useful information. A dummy burst fills a timeslot with an RF signal when no information is to be delivered to a channel.

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•E

•E

See Erlang.

•E1

2 Mbit/s communication system. As used in this user document set, the term applies to the European 4-wire 2.048 Mbit/s digital line or link which can carry 30 A-law PCM channels or 120 16 kbit/s GSM channels.

•EA

External Alarms.

•EAE

Extended Application Entity.

•Eb/No

Energy per Bit/Noise floor. Eb/No is a measure of the ratio of the energy in a signal to additive noise and interference.

•EBSG

Elementary Basic Service Group.

•EC

Echo Canceller. EC is a device that reduces or eliminates echoes in voice transmission systems.

•ECM

Error Correction Mode (facsimile). ECM detects errors during fax transmission and resends the page(s) of the document that had an error.

•ECT

Explicit Call Transfer supplementary service. ECT is a supplementary service which enables a user to connect two other parties with which he is engaged in a telephone call while leaving the connection himself.

•Ec/No

Ratio of energy per modulating bit to the noise spectral density.

•EEL

Electric Echo Loss.

•EEPROM

Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. EEPROM is user-modifiable ROM (read-only memory) that can be erased and reprogrammed repeatedly through the application of higher than normal electrical voltage.

•EFR

Enhanced Full Rate. Voice coding system designed to improve voice quality on mobiles. To take advantage of this technology, EFR has to be used by handset and supplied by network.

•EIR

Equipment Identity Register. The EIR is a database which may be used to check whether an MS (Mobile Station) is stolen or not.

•EIRP

Effective Isotropic Radiated Power. EIRP is the unit of measurement of the strength of a radiated field. Typically that from a radio antenna.

•EMC

Electromagnetic Compatibility. EMC is the ability of a device to operate without electromagnetically interfering with the operation of nearby equipment and without suffering disturbances from the electromagnetic fields in its designated environment.

•EMI

Electromagnetic Interference. EMI is any electromagnetic disturbance that limits the effective performance of electronics/electrical equipment.

•EMS

Element Management System. EMS controls of the PLMN nodes operating via a graphical user interface.

•EPROM

Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. EPROMs are nonvolatile memory chips that are programmed after they are manufactured, and, if necessary, can be erased by some means and reprogrammed.

•Erlang

International (dimensionless) unit of traffic intensity defined as the ratio of time a facility is occupied to the time it is available for occupancy. One Erlang is equal to 36 CCS. In the US this is also known as a traffic unit (TU).

•ERP

Effective Radiated Power. ERP is the product of the power supplied to the antenna and its gain relative to a half wave diplole in a given direction.

•ETR

ETSI Technical Report.

•ETS

European Telecommunication Standard.

•ETSI

European Telecommunications Standards Institute. ETSI is the standards body established to coordinate the development of telecommunications systems within Europe. These systems relate to fixed, wireless and cellular systems.

•ETX

End of Transmission. ETX is ASCII character 4, indicating a transmission is over.

•ES

Error Second.

•ESF

Extended Super Frame. ETS is a T1 framing format that utilizes the 193rd bit as a framing bit, but whose Superframe is made up of 24 frames instead of 12 as in D4 format.

•EVRC

Enhanced Variable Rate Codec. EVRC is a codec which is widely used in CDMA networks. It is a Relaxation Code Excited Linear prediction (RCELP) based codec for variable rates of operation in CDMA base systems.

•EXZ

Excessive Zeros. EXZ for a B8ZS coded signal occurs when more than seven contiguous zeroes are detected.

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•F

•FA

Full Allocation.

•FA

Fax Adaptor.

•FACCH

Fast Associated Control Channel. The FACCH appears in place of the traffic channel when lengthy signaling is required between a GSM mobile and the network while the mobile is in a call. The channel is indicated by use of the stealing flags in the normal burst. Typical signaling where this may be employed is during cell handover.

•FACCH/F

Full rate Fast Associated Control Channel. The FACCH is associated with a full rate traffic channel.

•FACCH/H

Half rate Fast Associated Control Channel. The FACCH is associated with a half rate traffic channel.

•FB

Frequency correction Burst.

•FCB

(Frequency Correction Burst) Period of RF carrier less than one timeslot whose modulation bit stream correction allows frequency to be performed easily within an MS.

•FCC

Federal Communications Commission. The FCC is a U.S. government agency that supervises, licenses, and controls electronic and electromagnetic transmission standards.

•FCCH

Frequency Correction Channel. A GSM broadcast control channel which carries information for frequency correction of the mobile (MS).

•FCS

Frame Check Sequence. FCS is a HDLC scheme used for error detection where 16 bits are added to both LAPD and MTP 2.

•FDMA

Frequency Division Multiple Access. FDMA is a technique in which multiple users of a radio system are separated in the frequency domain.

•FDN

Fixed Dialing Number. FDN allows calls only to predefined numbers.

•FE

Frame bit Error.

•FEC

Forward Error Correction. FEC techniques pass additional information along with the user data to the receiver. Any corruption of the user data can be repaired by the use of the additional data.

•FER

Frame Erasure Ratio. FER is the fraction of lost erroneous frames.

•FH

Frequency Hopping. FH is the repeated switching of frequencies during radio transmission according to a specified algorithm, to minimize unauthorized interception or jamming of telecommunications.

•FIFO

First-In First-Out. FIFO is a term used to describe routing buffers where no QoS (Quality of Service) is applied to packets entering the router. Packets are treated in the order that they are received by the router.

•FIR

Finite Impulse Response (filter type). A FIR is a filter whose response to a single point, or impulse, has finite extent. A FIR can be implemented using convolution.

•FL

Fault. A FL is anything that fails, that is wanting, or that impairs excellence.

•FM

Fault Management (at EMS).

•FM

Frequency Modulation. FM is a technique in which the frequency of the carrier is shifted by an amount proportional to the amplitude of the modulated signal.

•FN

Frame Number. Identifies the position of a particular TDMA frame within a hyperframe.

•FR

Full Rate. Refers to the current capacity of a data channel on the GSM air interface, that is, eight simultaneous calls per carrier (See Also HR - Half Rate).

•FR

Frame Relay. FR services are based on Broadband ISDN. The system supports very basic frames consisting of a logical channel address known as a DLCI (Data Link Connection Identifier). Frame handlers switch the logical channels based on switching tables populated through signaling or network management functions. Frames are variable in length with the maximum payload of 4,096 octets.

•FRAD

Frame Relay Access Device. A FRAD (also sometimes referred to as a frame relay assembler/disassembler) is a piece of networking equipment that assembles and disassembles data frames.

•FPGA

Field Programmable Gate Array. A FPGA is a an IC (integrated circuit) that can be programmed in the field after manufacture.

•FS

Frequency Synchronization.

•FSE

Field Service Engineer.

•FSL

Free Space Loss. The decrease in the strength of a radio signal as it travels between a transmitter and receiver. The FSL is a function of the frequency of the radio signal and the distance the radio signal has traveled from the point source.

•FT1

Fractional T1. FT1 is a portion of the 1.544 Mb/s (T1-aggregate) bit stream; the available fractions being determined by the type of multiplexer to achieve the T1 aggregate bit stream.

•ft.

Foot.

•Ftn

Forwarded-to number. Ftn is the number to which a call has been forwarded.

•FTP

File Transfer Protocol. A client server application protocol using well known ports 20 and 21. it uses the services of TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) to provide reliability in the transfer of data files between network nodes.

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•G

•Gateway MSC

An MSC that provides an entry point into the GSM PLMN from another network or service. A gateway MSC is also an interrogating node for incoming PLMN calls.

•GB

GigaByte (109). A GB is a measure of computer data storage capacity and is equal to one thousand million bytes.

•Gb Interface

The interface between the SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) and BSS (Base Station System).

•GHz

GigaHertz (109). Hertz is the number of cycles per second in an event (such as an electromagnetic wave); one Hz is equal to one cycle per second. GHz is equal to one thousand million hertz (1,000,000,000 Hz).

•GGSN

Gateway GPRS Support Node. The GGSN is a wireless gateway that allows mobile phone users to access the PDN (public data network) or specified private IP networks.

•GMM

GPRS Mobility Management. GMM is the protocol stack between the MS (Mobile Station) and the SGSN (Service GPRS Support Node) that handles GPRS attach/detach, PDP context activation/deactivation, etc.

•GMSC

Gateway Mobile Switching Center (see Gateway MSC).

•GMSK

Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying. The modulation technique used in GSM.

•GND

GrouND. In electrical engineering, something that is connected to the earth or at the voltage defined as zero.

•GoS

Grade of Service. GoS defines the quality of a telephone service in terms of a user receiving a network busy signal.

•GPA

GSM PLMN Area.

•GPRS

General Packet Radio Service. GPRS is a packet-based wireless communication service that promises data rates from 56 up to 114Kbps and continuous connection to the Internet for mobile phone and computer users. GPRS is based on GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) and complements existing standards.

•GPS

Global Positioning System. GPS comprises of multiple satellites all of which orbit the earth twice a day. Users with a GPS receiver use timing information from the satellites in order to triangulate their position on the earth surface.

•GRX

GPRS Roaming Exchange (GRX). Acts as a backbone between the individual PLMN/GPRS networks.

•GSA

GSM Service Area. The area in which an MS can be reached by a fixed subscriber, without the subscriber's knowledge of the location of the MS. A GSA may include the areas served by several GSM PLMNs.

•GSA

GSM System Area. The group of GSM PLMN areas accessible by GSM mobile stations.

•GSC

GPRS Subscriber Control.

•GSD

GPRS Subscriber Data.

•GSM

Group Special Mobile (the committee). The group of people in France that started the specification work for GSM.

•GSM

Global System for Mobile Communications (the system). Also, a term generically used to refer to GSM network (900 MHz), DCS network (1800 MHz), and PCS network (1900 MHz) systems.

•GSM 900

A cellular phone network using digital techniques conforming to the GSM standard, operating on frequencies of 890 - 915 MHz and 935 - 960 MHz. Also known as GSM.

•GSN

GPRS Support Node (see GPRS). GSN is a term which is used to include both GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node) and SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node).

•GT

Global Title. The GT is an address used for routing in an SS7 network.

•GTL

GPRS Transport Layer.

•GTP

GPRS Tunnelling Protocol. GPRS Tunneling Protocol responsible for mobile initiated/network initiated PDP context activation/deactivation and tunneling of user data between SGSN and GGSN.

•GTT

Global Title Translation. The function of the GTT tables is to map titles to point codes and belongs to SCCP of SS7.

•Guard Period

Period at the beginning and end of timeslot during which MS transmission is attenuated.

•GUI

Graphical User Interface. GUI was the term coined when windows based operating systems were integrated with mouse operations. The concept of buttons, scroll bars and point and click operations have enhanced the interface.

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•H

•Handover

The action of switching a call in progress from one radio channel to another radio channel. Handover allows established calls to continue by switching them to another radio resource, as when an MS moves from one BTS area to another. Handovers may take place between the following GSM entities: timeslot, RF carrier, cell, BTS, BSS and MSC.

•HDLC

High-level Data Link Control. HDLC is a Layer 2 protocol for point to point and multipoint delivery of data. The frame consists of flags to delimit the frame, along with addressing information and control information which is used when the protocol is employed in the acknowledged mode. Also included in the frame is a payload area and a CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Code).

•HLR

Home Location Register. The VLR where the current location and all subscriber parameters of an MS are permanently stored.

•HLRID

Home Location Register IDentifier.

•HO

HandOver. The action of switching a call in progress from one radio channel to another radio channel. Handover allows established calls to continue by switching them to another radio resource, for example, when MSs move from one base station area to another.

•HOLD

Call hold supplementary service. HOLD is a supplementary service which allows you to hold a current conversation, receive an incoming call or make a new call.

•HPLMN

Home Public Land Mobile Network. The HPLMN identifies the PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) in which the subscribers profile is held. Users roaming to other networks will receive subscription information from the HPLMN.

•HR

Half Rate. Refers to a type of data channel that will double the current GSM air interface capacity to 16 simultaneous calls per carrier (See Also FR - Full Rate).

•HS

HandSet.

•HSCSD

High Speed Circuit Switched Data. HSCSD enhances the data rates of the GSM network by combining timeslots over the radio interface. Data rates of 14.4Kbps, using one timeslot, 28.8Kbps using two time slots, or 57.6Kbps using four time slots can be achieved.

•HSN

Hopping Sequence Number. HSN is the parameter that determines the type of hopping pattern to be used in frequency hopping.

•HTML

Hyper Text Markup Language. HLML is an authoring language in which tags are used to format data and pictures on the HTML page. In addition, commands to download applications, generate hyperlinks and provide dynamic user interaction may also be included.

•HTTP

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol. HTTP is the standard protocol for the carriage of data around the internet.

•HW

Hardware.

•Hyperframe

2048 superframes. The longest recurrent time period of the frame structure.

•Hz

Hertz, cycles per second.

•HZ

Home Zone. Altobridge's HZ application uses GSM cellular technology to provide Wireless Local Loop services, and enable mobility within a neighborhood.

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•I

•iPALIM

IP Private A-link Intelligent Multiplexer

•iRLS

Intelligent RTP Local Switching

•I

Information (frames).

•IAM

Initial Address Message. The IAM is used to seize a circuit and transfer addressing and call handling/routing information in SS7 signaling networks.

•IAP

Internet Access Point.

•IC

Integrated Circuit. An IC is an electronic circuit that consists of many individual circuit elements, such as transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors and other active and passive semiconductor devices, formed on a single chip of semiconducting material and mounted on a piece of substrate material.

•ICB

Incoming Calls Barred.

•ICMP

Internet Control Message Protocol. The ICMP is a Layer 2 protocol that reports errors and provides other information relevant to IP packet processing.

•ICP

Call Processor card.

•IDD

International Direct Dial. IDD is an international number which can be dialled directly by the user. As such, it will include the international prefix for the country.

•IDIAP

Call identifying internet access point.

•ID, id

Identification/Identity. A generic term used to identify such things as a user, network, channel, area, etc.

•IE

Information Element. An IE is a group of information which may be included within a signaling message or data flow which is sent across an interface.

•IEC

International Electrotechnical Commission. The IEC is an organization in Geneva that sets international standards for the electrical and electronic fields.

•IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. The IEEE is a professional organization whose activities include the development of communications and network standards.

•IF

Intermediate Frequency.

•IM

InterModulation. IM is the production, in a nonlinear element of a system, of frequencies corresponding to the sum and difference frequencies of the fundamentals and harmonics thereof that are transmitted through the element.

•IMDX

Intelligent MAP-D Multiplexer

•IMEI

International Mobile station Equipment Identity. Electronic serial number that uniquely identifies the MS as a piece or assembly of equipment. The IMEI is sent by the MS along with request for service.

•IMSI

International Mobile Subscriber Identity. Published mobile number (prior to ISDN) (See Also MSISDN) that uniquely identifies the subscription. It can serve as a key to derive subscriber information such as directory number(s) from the HLR.

•IMP

Management protocol enabling communication between the GSM network elements, Breeze2000 MSC and the EMS.

•IMT

International Mobile Telephony.

•IN

Intelligent Network. An IN is a network in which the intelligence is centralized and separated from the switching function. IN systems provide enhanced services.

•INAP

Intelligent Network Application Part. IN is the protocol offering real time communication between IN (Intelligent Network) elements.

•in. lbs.

Inch pounds (torque).

•INP

Network Processor.

•INS

IN Service.

•Interworking

The general term used to describe the inter-operation of networks, services, supplementary services and so on. See Also IWF.

•I/0

Input/Output. I/O describes any operation, program, or device that transfers data to or from a computer.

•IP

Internet Protocol. The IP provides a connectionless service between networks. The protocol provides features for addressing, type-of-service specification, fragmentation and reassembly, and security.

•IRP

Altobridge radio processor located on the two slot TRXs which enable GPRS functionality over the air (Um) interface.

•ISDN

Integrated Services Digital Network. An integrated services network that provides digital connections between user-network interfaces.

•ISI

Inter Symbol Interference. ISI is the interference between adjacent pulses of a transmitted code.

•ISO

International Standards Organization. The ISO is responsible for a wide range of standards, including those relevant to networking. The ISO developed the OSI (Open System Interconnection) reference model which is a popular networking reference tool.

•ISP

Internet Service Provider. An ISP is a company that provides Internet access to other companies and individuals.

•ISR

Altobridge single slot radio (TRX) card which enables greater functionality, such as GPRS and frequency hopping on the UltraWAVE platforms.

•ISUP

ISDN User Part. ISUP is part of the SS7 (Signaling System No.7) protocol layer and used in the setting up, management, and release of trunks that carry voice and data between calling and called parties.

•ITU

International Telecommunications Union. The ITU was established by the United Nations in order to determine a set of international telecommunications standards and to allocate radio frequencies for specific uses.

•IWF

Interworking Function. A network functional entity which provides network interworking, service interworking, supplementary service interworking or signaling interworking. It may be a part of one or more logical or physical entities in a GSM PLMN.

•IWP

First generation processor card for Altobridge GSM network elements.

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•J

•JRE

Java Runtime Environment. The JRE is part of the JDK (Java Development Kit), a set of programming tools for developing Java applications. The JRE provides the minimum requirements for executing a Java application.

•JS

Jump Start.

•JTC

Joint Technical Committee.

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•K

•k

kilo (1000). A combining form used to signify thousand in forming the names of units of measurement.

•K

Constraint length of the convolutional code.

•kb

kilobit (1000).

•kbit/s, kbps

kilobit per second (1000). kbit/s or kbps is a measurement of “data rate” and is equal to 1000 bits every second.

•Kc

Ciphering key. A sequence of symbols that controls the operation of encipherment and decipherment.

•kg

kilogram (1000).

•KHz

kiloHertz (1000). KHz is a measure of frequency equal to 1000 cycles per second.

•Ki

Individual subscriber authentication Key (part of authentication process of AUC).

•kW

kiloWatt (1000). KW is a unit of power equal to 1000 watts.

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•L

•L1

Layer 1. L1 provides the functions for the transparent transmission of a bit stream between data link entities.

•L2ML

Layer 2 Management Link. The L2ML controls the TEI (Terminal Endpoint Identifier) management and addressing procedures (allocation, de-allocation of BTS internal transceiver addresses)

•L3

Layer 3. L3 provides the paths for the transfer of data between systems and across networks.

•LA

Location Area. An area in which an MS (Mobile Station) may move freely without updating the location register. An LA may comprise one or several base station areas. It is also the area that is used to page the MS (Mobile Station).

•LAC

Location Area Code. This code uniquely identifies a (LA) Location Area within a PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network). It may range from 0 to 65,535.

•LAI

Location Area Identification (identity). The information indicating the location area in which a cell is located.

•LAN

Local Area Network. A LAN is a network shared by communicating devices, usually on a small geographical area.

•LAPD

Link Access Protocol on the D channel. LAPD is a Layer 2 protocol used on the ISDN D channel.

•LAPDm

Link Access Protocol on the Dm channel. LAPDm is a modified version of LAPD and is used to support the transport of information between the mobile and the network.

•lbs.

Pounds (force).

•LE

Local Exchange. A LE is the first telephone exchange or switch into which the lines connecting subscribers terminate.

•LEA

Law Enforcement Agency. LEA is an agency responsible for insuring obedience to the laws.

•LED

Light Emitting Diode. A LED is a device which converts electrical energy into light.

•LI

Length Indicator. The LI is used to specify the number of octets which make up a given IE (Information Element).

•LIU

Line Interface Unit.

•LLC

Logical Link Control is responsible for acknowledged / unacknowledged data transfer. It provides a reliable logical link between the MS and the SGSN.

•LNA

Low Noise Amplifier. A LNA is a device that receives and amplifies weak signals, whilst contributing as little noise as possible.

•Location Area

An area in which a mobile station may move freely without updating the location register. A location area may comprise one or several base station areas.

•LOF

Loss of Frame. LOF is a type of transmission error that may occur in wide-area carrier lines.

•LOS

Loss of Signal.

•LPC

Linear Predictive Coding. LPC is an encoding technique used to aid in the prediction of the next sample.

•LR

Location Register. An LR is a database function storing information typically used in the routing of signaling information. Examples include the HLR (Home Location Register) and the VLR (Visitor Location Register).

•LTE

Local Terminal Emulator.

•LTP

Long Term Predictive.

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•M

•M3UA

MTP3 User Adaptation Layer. The M3UA provides the equivalent set of primitives at its upper layer to the MTP3 users as provided by the MTP Level 3. In effect, the M3UA extends access to the MTP3 layer services to a remote IP based application.

•M

Mega. M means million.

•m

Meters.

•M

Mandatory.

•MA

Mobile Allocation. The radio frequency channels allocated to an MS for use in its frequency hopping sequence.

•MAC

Medium Access Control. MAC is the lower of the two sublayers of the Data Link Layer and handles access to a shared medium.

•MACN

Mobile Allocation Channel Number.

•MAH

Mobile Access Hunting supplementary service.

•MAI

Mobile Allocation Index.

•MAINT

MAINTenance.

•MAIO

Mobile Allocation Index Offset.

•MAP

Mobile Application Part (of Signaling System No. 7). The inter-networking signaling between MSCs and LRs and EIRs.

•MB

MegaBytes. A MB is a unit of measurement for computer storage, memory and information. It is approximately equal to one million bytes.

•Mbps, Mb/s

Megabits per Second. Mbps describes a unit of data transfer to and from a computer storage device.

•MCC

Mobile Country Code. The MCC is a three digit number uniquely identifying a given country. It is utilized within the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and LAI (Location Area Identity).

•MCC

Multi-Channel Controller.

•MCI

Malicious Call Identification supplementary service.

•MCL

Minimum Coupling Loss.

•MDM

Mobile Directory Number.

•ME

Mobile Equipment. Equipment intended to access a set of GSM PLMN services, but which does not contain subscriber related information. Services may be accessed while the equipment, capable of surface movement within the GSM system area, is in motion or during halts at unspecified points.

•MF

MultiFrame.

•MF

Multi-Frequency (tone signaling type).

•MFCR2

Signaling and control protocol used in South America.

•MGCP

Media Gateway Control Protocol. A voice protocol that runs in conjunction with SS7 and an IP protocol to bridge circuit switched and packet networks. MGCP separates the signalling and call control from the media gateway.

•MGMT

Management.

•MGR

Manager.

•MHC

Multisite HLR Coordinator

•MHS

Message Handling System.

•MHz

MegaHertz. MHz is a measure of frequency equal to one million cycles per second.

•MIB

Management Information Base. EMS representation of object database.

•Microcell

A cell in which the base station antenna is generally mounted below rooftop level. Radio wave propagation is by diffraction and scattering around buildings, the main propagation is within street canyons.

•min

Minute.

•MM

Mobility Management. MM is a generic term representing the specific mobility functions provided by a mobile network.

•MMI

Man Machine Interface. MMI is the interface between the user and the equipment or machine.

•MNC

Mobile Network Code. The MNC is either a two or a three digit number used to uniquely identify a given network within a specified country. The MNC is used as part of the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and LAI (Location Area Identity).

•MNRG

Mobile station Not Reachable for GPRS Flag. This flag is found at the HLR (Home Location Register) and indicates that the mobile is not reachable through a SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node). The presence of the flag will prevent any unnecessary GPRS signaling.

•MO

Mobile Originated. This is the term given to all communication initiated at the mobile.

•MOM

Manager of Managers.

•MoU

Memorandum of Understanding.

•MPT

Ministry of Post & Telecommunications.

•MPTY

Multi ParTY supplementary service.

•MRFC

Media Resource Function Controller

•MRFP

Media Resource Function Processor

•MRN

Mobile Roaming Number.

•MS

Mobile Station. The GSM subscriber unit. It is comprised of two distinct elements, the ME (Mobile Equipment) and the SIM (Subscriber Identity Module).

•MSC

Mobile Switching Center.

•MSC-CCF

Mobile Switching Center-Call Control Function. The MSC-CCF server is integrated in the MSS. This server is responsible for call control, processing and PSTN access for the UltraWAVE system.

•MSCM

Mobile Station Class Mark.

•msec

millisecond (.001 second).

•MSI

Mobile Subscriber Identity.

•MSIN

Mobile Station Identification Number. The MSIN forms part of the IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) to uniquely identify a mobile or subscription from within a given network.

•MSISDN

Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network. Published mobile number (See Also IMSI). Uniquely defines the mobile station as an ISDN terminal. It consists of three parts: the Country Code (CC), the National Destination Code (NDC) and the Subscriber Number (SN).

•MSRN

Mobile Station Roaming Number. A number assigned by the MSC to service and track a visiting subscriber.

•MSS

Multi-Service Server. The MSS is part of the UltraWAVE system and is running the VLR and MSC-CCF. It may also include the HLR, AUC, PPS, SMSC and VPS as optional servers.

•MT

Mobile Terminated. This is the term given to all communication which terminates at the mobile.

•MT(0,1,2)

Mobile Termination. The part of the MS which terminates the radio transmission to and from the network and adapts terminal equipment (TE) capabilities to those of the radio transmission. MT0 is mobile termination for voice with no support for terminal equipment. MT1 is mobile termination with support for an ISDN S-type interface. MT2 is mobile termination with support for a modem (R-type) interface.

•MTA

Metropolitan Trading Area.

•MTBF

Mean Time Between Failures. The average time a component works with out failure.

•MTM

Mobile-To-Mobile (call).

•MTP

Message Transfer Part. The MTP forms part of the SS7 protocol stack and provides reliable routing usually within a network.

•MTP3

Message Transfer Part level 3 provides message routing between signaling points in the SS7 network. It re-routes traffic away from failed links and signaling points and controls traffic when congestion occurs.

•MTTR

Mean Time To Repair. The average time to repair a failed system or device.

•Multiframe

Two types of multiframes are defined in the system: a 26-frame multiframe with a period of 120 ms and a 51-frame multiframe with a period of 3060/13 ms.

•MUX

Multiplexer. This is the term given to a device which multiplexes several signals onto a common transmission channel.

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•N

•N.cm

Newton-centimeters (torque).

•NAIG

North American Interest Group.

•NAM

Network Access Mode.

•NB

Normal Burst (see Normal burst).

•NCC

Network (PLMN) Color Code. The NCC is broadcasted as part of the BSIC (Base Station Identity Code). It is used to differentiate between operators utilizing the same frequencies.

•NCELL

Neighboring (or current serving) Cell.

•NDC

National Destination Code.

•NE

Network Element (Network Entity). A generic term used to describe equipment operating as part of a communication network.

•NGR

New Generation Radio.

•NIB

GSM Network in a Box. The Altobridge chassis containing UltraWAVE, BSC and BTS functionality.

•NIC

Network Interface Card. A NIC allows a device to communicate across a network.

•NM

Network Management (manager). NM is all activities which control, monitor and record the use and the performance of resources of a telecommunications network in order to provide telecommunication services to customers/users at a certain level of quality.

•NMC

Network Management Center. The NMC node of the GSM TMN provides global and centralized GSM PLMN monitoring and control, by being at the top of the TMN hierarchy and linked to subordinate EMS nodes.

•NMI

Network Management Interface. NMI is used from the Craft PC or the EMS to verify and change equipment parameters.

•NMS

Network Management System.

•Normal burst

A period of modulated carrier less than a timeslot.

•NPI

Number Plan Identifier.

•NR

Not Required.

•NRZ

Non Return to Zero.

•NS

Network Service (sub-network independent portions) protocol between the SGSN and the BSS. This protocol manages NSVCs associated with NSEIs and performs load sharing among them.

•NSEI

Network Service Element Identifier. The NSEI together with the BVCI uniquely identifies a BSSGP virtual connection.

•NSS

Network Switch Subsystem.

•NSVC

Network Service Virtual Connection. Each physical link in Frame Relay can accommodate multiple permanent virtual circuits (PVCs) that are mapped to the NS virtual circuit.

•NSVCI

Network Service Virtual Connection Identifier. NSVCI identifies the circuit used in Gb interface carrying data over the frame relay link between BSS and SGSN

•NT

Non Transparent. NT utilizes the RLP (Radio Link Protocol) to ensure error free data by adopting a retransmission mechanism.

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•O

•O&M, OAM

Operations and Maintenance. This term refers to the processes and functions used in managing a network or an element within a network.

•OACSU

Off-Air Call SetUp. The procedure in which a telecommunication connection is being established while the RF link between the MS and the BTS is not occupied.

•OCB

Outgoing Calls Barred within the closed user group.

•ODB

Operator Determined Barring.

•OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer.

•OFL

OverFlow (in percentage terms).

•OMAP

Operations and Maintenance Application Part (of Signaling System No. 7).

•OMC

Operations and Maintenance Center. The OMC node of the GSM TMN (Telecommunications Management Network) provides dynamic OAM monitoring and control of the PLMN nodes operating in the geographical area controlled by the specific OMC.

•OMC-D

Operations and Maintenance Center - Data Part.

•OMC-R

Operations and Maintenance Center - Radio Part.

•OMC-S

Operations and Maintenance Center - Switch Part.

•OML

Operations and Maintenance Link.

•OOF

Out Of Frame.

•OOS

Out Of Service.

•OPC

Originating Point Code. A part of the label in a signaling message that uniquely identifies, in a signaling network, the (signaling) origination point of the message.

•OPPS

Open-Prepaid-Roaming Public-Private System

•OPR

Open-to-all Prepaid Roaming

•OS

Operating System. This can be described as the software within a computer which controls basic functions.

•OSI

Open Systems Interconnection. The OSI is a 7 layer reference model developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO).

•OSP

Object Service Packages.

•OSS

Operating Support System.

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•P

•PA

Power Amplifier.

•PABX

Private Automatic Branch eXchange. The PABX is a private switch often found within a company. The PABX will perform switching of local calls within the company as well as setting up external connections with the local carrier.

•PACCH

Packet Associated Control Channel. The PACCH coveys signaling information related to a given GPRS mobile such as acknowledgements and power control information. The PACCH also carries resource assignment and reassignment messages.

•PACS

Personal Access Communication System.

•PAD

Packet Assembly / Disassembly. A PAD is a device used to assemble and disassemble packets enabling simple devices to connect to a packet switched network.

•PAGCH

Paging and Access Grant Channel. The PAGCH is used in the GPRS packet transfer establishment phase to send resource assignment to a MS (Mobile Station) prior to packet transfer.

•Paging

The procedure by which a GSM PLMN fixed infrastructure attempts to reach an MS within its location area, before any other network-initiated procedure can take place.

•PALIM

Private A-Link Intelligent Multiplexer interface.

•PBX

Private Branch exchange. An exchange system used in companies and organizations to handle internal and external calls.

•PC

Personal Computer.

•PCCCH

Packet Common Control CHannel. The PCCCH comprises of logical channels for GPRS common control signaling.

•PCF

Packet Control Function. The PCF is the entity in the BS Plus that manages the relay of packets between the BS Plus and the WAVE2000 PDSN.

•PCH

Paging CHannel. A GSM common control channel used to send paging messages to the MSs.

•PCM

Pulse Code Modulation. PCM is a process in which an analogue signal is encoded into a digital bit stream. The analogue is first sampled, then quantized and finally encoded into a bit stream.

•PCMCIA

Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. PCMCIA is a technical standard for small cards which are able to plug into notebooks to provide enhanced functions. Common examples are network cards, modem cards and security cards.

•PCR

Protocol Converter. A PCR translates between two protocols to facilitate communications between different systems.

•PCS 1900

Personal Communications Services. A cellular phone network using digital techniques similar to those used in GSM 900, but operating on frequencies of 1865 - 1910 MHz and 1945 - 1990 MHz.

•PCU

Packet Control Unit. The PCU is responsible for the radio related aspects of GPRS when connected to a GSM network and lies between the BTS (Base Transceiver Station) and the SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node).

•PDCH

Packet Data Channel. The PDCH is a general term for a timeslot in GPRS which may carry either signaling or user data.

•PDP

Packet Data Protocol. Any protocol that transmits data as discrete units known as packets, such as IP or X.25.

•PDS

Packet Duplex Synchronous.

•PDSN

Packet Data Service Node. A PDSN provides access to the internet, intranets and applications servers for mobile stations utilizing a cdma2000 Radio Access Network (RAN).

•PDTCH

Packet Data Transmission CHannel. A PDTCH is a channel allocated for data transfer.

•PDU

Packet Data Unit. A unit of data specified in an (N)-protocol layer and consisting of (N)-protocol control information and possibly (N)-user data.

•PH

PHysical (layer).

•PID

Path ID.

•PIN

Personal Identification Number.

•Plaintext

Unciphered data.

•PLL

Phase Lock Loop (refers to phase locking the GCLK in the BTS).

•PLMN

Public Land Mobile Network. The PLMN is a generic name for all mobile wireless networks that use land based radio transmitters or base stations.

•PM

Performance Management. An EMS application.

•P/N

Part Number.

•POST

Power-On Self Test.

•POTS

Plain Old Telephone Service (basic telephone services). A term used to describe an ordinary voice telephone service.

•PP

Peak-to-Peak.

•PPM

Parts Per Million.

•PPP

Point-to-Point Protocol. The PPP was designed to provide router to router and host to network connections over synchronous and asynchronous circuits.

•PPS

Prepaid System.

•PRI/R2

Primary Rate Interface/R2 Trunk Signaling. A PRI is an ISDN term describing either an E1 circuit in Europe or a T1 circuit in North America.

•PRM

Performance Report Message.

•PSAP

Public Safety Answering Point.

•PSPDN

Public Switched Packet Data Network. Public data communications network. X.25 links required for NE to EMS communications will probably be carried by PSPDN.

•PSTN

Public Switched Telephone Network. The landline telephone network.

•PTCCH

Packet Timing Advance Control Channel. The PTCCH is used in GPRS to ensure that the correct timing advance is maintained for each MS (Mobile Station).

•PUCT

The value of the Home Unit in a currency chosen by the subscriber.

•PVC

Permanent Virtual Circuit. A connection to a network that allows connection and disconnection to various points is a switched virtual circuit. Circuits that are routed through software switching devices like X.25 pads and frame relay networks are virtual. A hard wired connected in a plain old circuit, not a virtual circuit.

•PW

Password.

•PWR

Power.

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•Q

•QA

Q (Interface) - Adapter.

•QAF

Q - Adapter Function.

•QoS

Quality Of Service. The performance of a communications channel or system is usually expressed in terms of QoS.

•QCELP

QualComm Code Excited Linear Predictive Coding. A vector quantizer-based speech codec that changes compression ratios for segments of speech.

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•R

•R2

R2 Trunk Signaling. R2 is a CCS (Common Channel Signaling) system that allows the equipment units at the exchanges to send and receive digits.

•RA

Routing Area. The SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) will control one or more RA (Routing Area). It is the responsibility of the mobile to keep the SGSN informed as to its current RA. Routing Areas can be made up of one or more cells.

•RAB

Random Access Burst.

•RAC

Routing Area Code. RAC is a fixed length of 1 octet and identifies a routing area within a location area.

•RACCH

Random Access Control Channel. A GSM common control channel used to originate a call or respond to a page.

•RACH

Random Access Channel. The channel used for initial access into a system. The RACH function is different depending on the technology of the system.

•RADIUS

Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service. RADIUS is a system of distributed security that secures remote access to networks and network services against unauthorized access. RADIUS is designed to simplify the security process by separating the security technology from the communications technology.

•RAI

Remote Alarm Indication.

•RAM

Random Access Memory. RAM is the place in a computer where the operating system, application programs, and data currently in use are kept so that they can be quickly reached by the computer's processor. Turning off the computer looses the data in the RAM.

•RAND

RANDom number. A number selected from a known set of numbers in such a way that each number has the same probability of occurrence. This is typically used in the authentication and ciphering process.

•RAU

Routing Area Update. A GPRS mobile will perform a RAU in the Ready and Standby state. The RAU is triggered when the mobile crosses a RA (Routing Area) boundary, or periodically. A RAU is also performed when the mobile moves from the Idle to the Standby state. This will typically happen when the mobile is powered on.

•RBER

Residual Bit Error Ratio.

•REC

RECommendation.

•REJ

REJect(ion).

•REL

RELease.

•RELP

Residual Excited Linear Predictive.

•RELP-LTP

RELP Long Term Prediction. A name for GSM full rate.

•REQ

REQuest.

•RF

Radio Frequency. Any frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum normally associated with radio wave propagation.

•RFC, RFCH

Radio Frequency Channel. A partition of the system RF spectrum allocation with a defined bandwidth and center frequency.

•RFD

RF Distribution card.

•RFI

Radio Frequency Interference.

•RLC

Radio Link Control. A sublayer of the radio interface that provides reliability. RLC varies depending on the communication system employed.

•RLP

Radio Link Protocol. An ARQ protocol used to transfer user data between an MT and IWF (see GSM 04.22).

•RMC

Rate Metering and Congestion.

•RMS

Root Mean Square (value).

•ROM

Read Only Memory. ROM is built in computer memory containing data that normally can only be read but not written to. ROM is not lost when the computer is turned off.

•RPE -Regular Pulse Excited. RPE-LTP

Regular Pulse Excitation - Long Term Prediction. The GSM digital speech coding scheme.

•RR

Radio Resource management. RR is used to control the radio resources over an air interface.

•RSL

Radio Signaling Link.

•RSSI

Received Signal Strength Indication. RSSI is the measured power of a received signal.

•RSZI

Regional Subscription Zone Identity.

•RTE

Remote Terminal Emulator.

•Rx

Receive(r). Rx is the terminator of any signal on a transmission medium.

•RXLEV_D

Received signal level downlink. RXLEV_D indicates the average signal strength received downlink.

•RXLEV_U

Received signal level uplink. RXLEV_U indicates the average signal strength received uplink.

•RXQUAL_D

Received signal quality downlink. RXQUAL_D indicates the average signal quality received downlink.

•RXQUAL_U

Received signal quality uplink. RXQUAL_U indicates the average signal quality received uplink.

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•S

•SABM

Set Asynchronous Balanced Mode. A message which establishes the signaling link over the air interface.

•SACCH

Slow Associated Control CHannel. A GSM control channel used by the MS for reporting RSSI and signal quality measurements.

•SACCH/C4

Slow Associated Control CHannel/SDCCH/4. A GSM signaling channel that provides a relatively low signaling connection. The SAACH is associated with either a traffic or dedicated channel. The SAACH can also be used to transfer SMS (Short Message Service) messages if associated with a traffic channel.

•SACCH/C8

Slow Associated Control CHannel/SDCCH/8.

•SACCHFT

Slow Associated Control CHannel/Traffic channel.

•SACCHFTF

Slow Associated Control CHannel/Traffic channel Full rate.

•SACCHFTH

Slow Associated Control CHannel/Traffic channel Half rate.

•SAP

Service Access Point. In the reference model for OSI, SAPs of a layer are defined as gates through which services are offered to an adjacent higher layer.

•SAPI

Service Access Point Indicator (identifier). SAPI is used to identify a SAP and may identify what is required by the upper layer.

•SB

Synchronization Burst (see Synchronization). SB is information used by the receiver to get synchronized to an incoming signal.

•SCCP

Signaling Connection Control Part provides connection-less and connection-oriented services and extended functions including specialized routing (GTT- Global Title Translation) and sub-system management capabilities above MTP3.

•SCF

Service Control Function. SCF is used in IN (Intelligent Network) to control functional entities in providing Intelligent Network services.

•SCH

Synchronization CHannel. A GSM broadcast control channel used to carry information for frame synchronization of MSs and identification of base stations.

•SCP

Service Control Point (an intelligent network entity). SCP is a physical entity in the IN (Intelligent Network) that implements a SCF (Service Control Function).

•SCSI

Small Computer Serial Interface. SCSI is a standard for computer system communication.

•SCTP

Streaming Control Transmission Protocol. SCTP is a reliable transport protocol operating on top of IP.

•SDCCH

Standalone Dedicated Control CHannel. A GSM control channel where the majority of call setup occurs. Used for MS to BTS communications before MS assigned to TCH.

•SDF

Service Data Function. SDF is the set of functions in a IN (Intelligent Network) that provides for the management of service data in accordance with a service data template.

•SDH

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy. SDH is a method of transmitting digital information where the data is packed in containers which are synchronized in time enabling relatively simple modulation and demodulation at the transmitting and receiving ends. This technique is used to carry high capacity information over long distances.

•SDU

Selection and Distribution Unit. In CDMA networks, the SDU combines the signals from multiple BTSs and converts the low-rate compressed data to and from 64 kb/s traffic used by the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

•SEF

Severely Errored Frame.

•SELV

Safety Extra Low Voltage. Being specified as a SELV system includes a protective measure against direct and indirect contact with hazardous voltages through "safe separation" implemented in the device.

•SES

Severely Errored Second. A one-second period that contains >30% errored blocks or at least one severely disturbed period.

•SF

Superframe. Each SF consists of 12 frames.

•SFH

Slow Frequency Hopping. SFH is a technique in which the carrier frequency changes using a predetermined hopping pattern. The hopping pattern is slower than the bit rate.

•SG

Signaling Gateway. An SG is used to support the transport of signaling traffic received from one network and passed into another network.

•SGSN

Serving GPRS Support Node. The SGSN keeps track of the location of an individual MS (Mobile Station) and performs security functions and access control.

•SID

Silence Descriptor. SID is a frame that conveys information on the background noise.

•SIF

Signal Information Field. The bits of a message signal unit that carry information for a certain user transaction; the SIF always contains a label.

•SIM

Subscriber Identity Module. Removable module which is inserted into a mobile equipment; it is considered as part of the MS. It contains security related information (IMSI, Ki, PIN), other subscriber related information and the algorithms A3 and A8.

•SITE

BSC, BTS or collocated BSC-BTS site.

•SLC

Signaling Link Code. The SLC is the number of the SL (Signaling Link) to which SS7 MTP management messages are related.

•SM

Session Management. The SM function exists in the mobile and in the SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node) and handles PDP (Packet Data Protocol) Context Activation, Modification, Deactivation, and Preservation Functions.

•SMA

Sub-Miniature type A connector.

•SMCLI

Subscriber Management Command Line Interface.

•SMEG

SMS Email Gateway.

•SMG

Special Mobile Group. The ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) technical committee SMG has the primary function of coordinating some aspects of GSM.

•SMGUI

Subscriber Management Graphical User Interface.

•SMPP

Support Short Message Peer-to-Peer.

•SMS

Short Message Service. The SMS that allows a SME (Short Message Entity) to send text messages to other SME.

•SMSCB

Short Message Service Cell Broadcast.

•SMS-SC

Short Message Service - Service Center. The SMS-SC is a store and forward center for SMS.

•SMS/PP

Short Message Service/Point-to-Point.

•SMTP

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. SMTP is the TCP/IP protocol which facilitates the transfer of electronic-mail messages, specifies how two systems are to interact, and the format of messages used to control the transfer of electronic mail.

•SN

Subscriber Number. SN is the number dialled to reach a customer in a telecoms network.

•S/N

Serial Number.

•SND

SEND.

•SNDCP

Sub-Network Dependent Convergence Protocol. SNDCP provides services to the higher layers which may include connectionless and connection-oriented mode, compression, multiplexing and segmentation.

•SNMP

Simple Network Management Protocol. SNMP is part of the TCP/IP suite and is used to control and manage IP gateways and other network functions.

•SONET

Synchronous Optical Network. SONET is an interface standard for synchronous optical fiber transmission, applicable to the physical layer of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model

•SP

Signaling Point. A SP is a node in the SS7 network. it is either the originating or terminating point.

•SPC

Signaling Point Code. SPC is a code used by the SS7 network for routing purposes.

•SQL

Structured Query Language.

•SRES

Signed RESponse (authentication). SRES is the variable generated in the AUC (Authentication Center) and the MS (Mobile Station). A successful authentication occurs if the SRES value received from the AUC by the VLR (Visitor Location Register) matches that sent by the MS.

•SRF

Specialized Resource Function. SRF is the set of functions for the control and access to resources used in providing services.

•SS7, SS#7

CCITT Signaling System No. 7 (alias C7). A CCS (Common Channel Signaling) system defined by the ITU-T (International Telecommunications Union-Telecommunications Standardization Sector).

•SSF

Service Switch Function. SSF is the set of processes in an IN (Intelligent Network) that provides the communication path for interaction between a CCF (Call Control Function) and a SSF (Service Switching Function).

•SSN

Sub System Number. The SCCP (Signaling Connection Control Part) function uses the SSN to determine the local subsystem.

•SSP

Service Switching Point (an intelligent network element). SSP is the physical entity in an IN (Intelligent Network) that implements the service switching function.

•SSP

SCCP messages, Subsystem-prohibited.

•STP

Signaling Transfer Point. In a common channel signaling network, a STP provides for the transfer of signaling messages from one SL (Signaling Link) to another.

•SUBM

Subscriber Management.

•Superframe

51 traffic/associated control multiframes or 26 broadcast/common control multiframes (period 6.12 s).

•SW

Software.

•Synchronization

Period of RF carrier less than one timeslot whose modulation bit stream burst carries information for the MS to synchronize its frame to that of the received signal.

•SYS

SYStem.

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•T

•T1

24-channel 1.544 Mbps communication system.

•TA

Terminal Adaptor. A physical entity in the MS (Mobile Station) providing terminal adaptation functions (see GSM 04.02).

•TA

Timing Advance. In order to get TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) schemes to work, the time-frames from each mobile must be synchronized when received by a base station. This synchronization is achieved by using the concept of TA. The TA value can be computed only by the BTS, and is then provided to the mobile through signaling.

•TAF

Terminal Adaptation Function. The functional part of the MS (Mobile Station) which performs the adaptation between a specific terminal equipment (TE) and the generic radio transmission part is called the TAF.

•TAP

Telelocator Alphanumeric Protocol. TAP defines the wireless standard for sending alphanumeric messages to pagers.

•TBF

Time Between Failures. TBF is that average time that a component works without failure. It is calculated by dividing the total number of failures into the total number of operating hours.

•TBF

Temporary Block Flow. A TBF is a physical connection used by the two RR (Radio Resource) entities to support the unidirectional transfer of LLC (logical Link Control) PDU (Protocol Data Unit) on packet data physical levels. A TBF is temporary and only remains for the duration of the data flow.

•TC

Transaction Capabilities.

•TCAP

Transaction Capabilities Application Part (of Signaling System No. 7). TCAP enables the deployment of advanced intelligence in the network by supporting non circuit related information exchange between SP (Signaling Point) using the SCCP (Signaling Connection Control Part) connectionless service.

•TCH

Traffic CHannel. GSM logical channels which carry either encoded speech or user data. A Traffic channel can be one of the following: TCH/F (full rate TCH), TCH/F2.4 (full rate TCH at < 2.4 kbit/s), TCH/F4.8 (full rate TCH at 4.8 kbit/s), TCH/F9.6 (full rate TCH at 9.6 kbit/s), TCH/FS (full rate speech TCH), TCH/H (half rate TCH), TCH/H2.4 (half rate TCH at 2.4 kbit/s), TCH/H4.8 (half rate TCH at 4.8 kbit/s) or TCH/HS (half rate speech TCH).

•TCP/IP

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. The TCP/IP suite includes, but is not limited to, protocols such as TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), IP (Internet Protocol), UDP (User Datagram Protocol), ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol), FTP (File Transfer Protocol), and SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).

•TDM

Time Division Multiplexing. TDM is a digital multiplexing technique in which two or more apparently simultaneous channels can be combined to form a bit stream by interleaving bits or bit words from different channels.

•TDMA

Time Division Multiple Access. TDMA is a communication technique that uses a common channel for communications among multiple users by allocating each a unique time slot.

•TE

Terminal Equipment. Equipment that provides the functions necessary for the operation of the access protocols by the user.

•Tei

Terminal endpoint identifier. Tei is a unique identifier given to each device or terminal on an ISDN S or T interface.

•TEI

Terminal Equipment Identity. Each TRX (Transceiver) in a BTS (Base Transceiver Station) corresponds to one or several links and these links are distinguished by TEIs.

•Test SIM

SIM used for handset and network testing.

•TFA

TransFer Allowed. TFA is a procedure included in the signaling route management functionality that is used to inform a signaling point that a signaling route to a specific destination has become available.

•TFP

TransFer Prohibited. TFA is a procedure included in the signaling route management functionality that is used to inform a signaling point of the unavailability of a signaling route.

•Timeslot

The multiplex subdivision in which voice and signaling bits are sent over the air. Each RF carrier is divided into eight timeslots.

•Timing advance

A signal sent by the BTS to the MS. It enables the MS to advance the timing of its transmission to the BTS so as to compensate for propagation delay.

•TLLI

Temporary Logical Link Identity. The TLLI provides a signaling address for communication between the MS (Mobile Station) and the SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node).

•TMN

Telecommunications Management Network. The implementation of the Network Management functionality required for the PLMN is in terms of physical entities which together constitute the TMN.

•TMSI

Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity. A unique identity temporarily allocated by the MSC to a visiting mobile subscriber to process a call. May be changed between calls and even during a call, to preserve subscriber confidentiality.

•TN

Timeslot Number. The radio interface of GSM uses a combination of FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) and TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) along with Frequency Hopping to create channels. The information is sent in time and frequency windows which we call slots. Each frequency is divided into 8 timeslots, numbering 0 to 7.

•TON

Type Of Number.

•Traffic channels

Channels which carry users' speech or data.

•Traffic unit

Equivalent to an Erlang.

•Training sequence

Sequence of modulating bits employed to facilitate timing recovery and channel equalization in the receiver.

•Transceiver

A device that transmits and receives. In IEEE 802.3 networks, the attachment hardware that connects the controller interface to the transmission cable.

•TRAU

Transcoder Rate Adaption Unit. The TRAU performs a transcoding (encoding/decoding) function for speech channels and rate adaptation for data channels.

•TRFD

TurboWAVE Radio Frequency Distribution card.

•TRX

TRansceiver(s). A network component which can serve full duplex communication on eight full-rate traffic channels according to specification GSM 05.02. If Slow Frequency Hopping (SFH) is not used, then the TRX serves the communication on one RF carrier.

•TS

Timeslot (see Timeslot). In a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) system the carrier is split into multiple timeslots, the duration being dependant on the technology.

•TS

Technical Specification.

•TS

TeleService. A TS is a complete end-to-end service, including terminal capabilities used by the end parties.

•TSC

Training Sequence Code. The TSC is used to maintain timing and equalize the channel.

•TSDI

Transceiver Speech & Data Interface.

•TSP

Telecommunications Service Provider.

•TU

Traffic Unit. 1 TU = 1 Erlang.

•TUP

Telephone User Part (of Signaling System No. 7). TUP was an earlier implementation of SS7 that did not allow for data type applications.

•Tx

Transmit(ter). The source or generator of any signal on a transmission medium.

•TXPWR

Transmit PoWeR; Tx power level in the MS-TXPWR_REQUEST and MS-TXPWR-CONF parameters.

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•U

•UA

Unnumbered Acknowledgment. A message sent from the MS to the BSS to acknowledge release of radio resources when a call is being cleared.

•UDI

Unrestricted Digital Information. This is an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) term to describe the ability to transfer any bit pattern over a digital channel.

•UDUB

User Determined User Busy.

•UI

Unnumbered Information frame.

•Um

Air interface.

•UMTS

Universal Mobile Telecommunication System.

•UP

User Parts.

•UPD

Up to date.

•Uplink

Physical link from the MS towards the BTS (MS transmits, BTS receives).

•UPS

Uninterruptable Power Supply.

•US

United States of America.

•USSD

Unstructured Supplementary Services Data.

•UTRA

Universal Terrestrial Radio Access.

•UUS

User-to-User Signaling supplementary service.

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•V

•VA

Vitirbi Algorithm (used in channel equalizers).

•VAC

Volts AC.

•VAD

Voice Activity Detection. A process used to identify presence or absence of speech data bits. VAD is used with DTX.

•VAS

Value Added Services.

•VCO

Voltage Controlled Oscillator.

•VDC

Volts DC.

•VLR

Visitor Location Register. A GSM network element which provides a temporary register for subscriber information for a visiting subscriber. Often a part of the MSC.

•VME

VersaModule-Eurocard bus.

•VMS

Voice Mail System. The VMS provides voice mail service to the calling party when the called party is busy, no answer, not reachable or turned off.

•VPLMN

Visited Public Land Mobile Network. A VPLMN is that PLMN on which the mobile subscriber has roamed when leaving their HPLMN (Home Public Land Mobile Network).

•VPS

Voice Prompt System (also known as Audio Announcement Server).

•VSWR

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio. The VSWR is the ratio between the sum and difference of the incident and the reflection voltage waves.

•VSS

Voice Service System. It integrates the Audio Announcement System (AAS) and Voice Mail System (VMS) to provide both multi-lingual announcement and voice mail service.

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•W

•WAN

Wide Area Network. A network that provides data communications over a large geographical area.

•WAP

Wireless Access Protocol. WAP is a standard that allows the content of the Internet to be viewed on the screen of mobile devices such as a mobile phone.

•WLL

Wireless Local Loop. WLL is a system that connects subscribers to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) using radio signals.

•WOS

Wireless Office System.

•UltraWAVE

WAVEXchange II Switch. The UltraWAVE is a large capacity Altobridge digital wireless switch which can support GMSC, MSC, VLR and HLR switch configurations and is equipped with multiple A-Interface and PSTN trunks. The UltraWAVE integrates value-added IN prepaid, short message, voice mail and multi-party conference services. The UltraWAVE can support up to 100,000 subscribers.

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•X

•X.25

CCITT specification and protocols for public packet-switched networks.

•X.25 link

A communications link which conforms to X.25 specifications and uses X.25 protocol (NE to EMS links).

•X/MOTIF

X windows Motif. The basis of the GUI used for the Altobridge EMS.

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•Y

•YP

yellow pages

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•Z

•ZF

intermediate frequency

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