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