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- ATM (Asynchronous Transfer
Mode) -
- Transmission protocol that uses very short
fixed-length (53 bytes) packets or cells to carry voice, data,
and video signals. By using a standard cell size, ATM can switch
data via software and route and switch its traffic at higher
speeds. ICN is currently taking steps to implement ATM
with MPEG-2 compression.
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- Audio Conference - Feature of voice
service which provides the ability for multiple callers to dial
into a line which allows for group communication.
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Backbone (ICN) - Includes
the HUB in Johnston, the centralized switching center of the
Network, interconnecting the HUB with all Part I and Part II
endpoints throughout the state by digital links for two-way transmission
of 45 megabit video, voice, and data for state, education, and
administrative purposes as defined in the Iowa Code, chapter
8D. Iowa’s fiber optic network backbone is like the trunk
of a tree with many branches reaching out to communication sites.
Bandwidth - Measurement of capacity
which determines the rate information can be transmitted across
the medium over time. These rates are measured in bits (bps),
kilobits (kbps), megabits (mbps), or gigabits (gbps) per second.
Typical transmission services are 64 kbps, 1.544 mbps (T-1),
and 45 mbps (T-3).
bps - (Bits per second) Number
of binary digits transmitted per second in a data communications
system.
- Broadband - Facility or circuit that
has bandwidth in excess of that required for high-grade voice
communication.
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Channel - Communication
path established between two or more institutions.
Compressed Video - 1/28th of the
ICN standard education video bandwidth as commonly used at the
ICN. Enables video conferencing on a T-1 or less bandwith platform.
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DAX (Digital Exchange) - Computerized digital cross connect that allows one
or more specific channels from high-capacity lines to be split
out separately and redirected.
DCC-45 (Digital Cross Connect)
- Switch within the ICN that connects full-motion video classrooms.
Dedicated Line - Permanent direct
connections between two telephone lines or PBXs. The route and
circuit are always available to the person who leases or owns
the line and the signal does not need to be switched.
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- Dialtone - Dialtone to a technician
means that the switching office serving your telephone is ready
to receive address information on your call. Dialtone to the
layperson means that a tone is being sent to your telephone by
the switching office verifying that an electrical path is complete
and is now awaiting your dialing instructions. Dialtone is not
always necessary for telephone service. For instance, some cellular
service vendors do not use dialtone at all. In addition, dialtone
can serve as an effective trouble indicator, as an electrical
impairment on your telephone line will, in most cases, also affect
dialtone.
Dial-up - Process of, or the facilities
involved in, establishing a temporary connection via a switched
telephone network.
Digital - Binary (zero or one)
output of a computer or terminal in data communications. Modems
convert the pulsating digital sounds into analog waves for transmission
over conventional telephone lines.
Direct Connect Call - ICN service
which allows an agency, directly connected to the ICN, to call
other direct connect agencies without assistance of local exchange
switching facilities. There is a savings of $.02 per minute in
connecting in this manner. However, this service does require
a minimum of $1,000 per month in gross long-distance tolls to
be cost effective.
Distance Education - Ability to
establish a learning situation across wide geographical distances.
Teacher and students may be located in two or more classrooms.
With fiber optics capability, participants may interact in a
two-way voice and video interactive environment.
DMS 500 (Digital Multiplex System) -
Switching system used for all of the voice, data and dialable
wideband video services offered by the ICN.
DS-0 - Digital equivalent of one
normal telephone line (64 kbs signal). Measures the speed information
can be transmitted.
DS-1 - Digital signal for 1.544
million bps. Digital transmission format in which 24 telephone
line equivalents are multiplexed into one DS-1 channel. Measures
the speed information can be transmitted. Video transmitted at
this speed is 1/28th of the DS-3.
DS-3 - Digital signal for 44.736
Mbps. Telephone term describing the 44.736 Mbps signal carried
on a DS-3 facility. One DS-3 equals 28 DS-1s or 672 DS-0s. Measures
the speed information can be transmitted. A DS-3 and a T-3 are
equivalent. Video transmitted at this speed approximates full-motion.
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Equal Access - ICN
standard to provide equal educational, medical, and governmental
opportunities to Iowa citizens statewide through the use of advanced
telecommunications services.
Exchange - Switching center, or
the area where a common carrier furnishes service at the exchange
rate. Under required regulations, exchange rates must be prescribed
in the carrier’s filed tariffs.
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Fiber Optics - Technology
using thin strands of glass to propagate transmission signals.
The maximum bandwidth at which a fiber optic cable can transmit
signals has yet to be determined.
FOTS (Fiber Optic Terminal System) - Each
ICN site has a FOTS room where fiber enters the building. Signal
regeneration equipment that recognizes and interprets the incoming
light signal into new, stronger pulses of light is often found
in the FOTS room.
Frame Relay - Communications method
for connecting computer systems (Wide Area Networks) that transmits
bursts of date. The data is divided and compressed into packets
of information allowing more than one person to access the same
physical circuit simultaneously.
Full-Motion Video - Video channel
44.736 megabits wide. ICN's premiere service provided as connections
for broadcast quality images and sound capable of real time interactivity
between multiple sites.
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Hub - Centralized
switching center of a network. The ICN HUB is located at the
STARC Armory in Johnston.
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ICN - Iowa
Communications Network.
IEC or IXC (Interchange Carrier) - Any
carrier registered with the FCC authorized to carry customer
transmissions between LATAs interstate. In addition, if approved
by a state public utility commission, intrastate which includes
carriers such as AT&T Communications (formally AT&T Long
Lines), MCI, and US Sprint.
Interactive - Live communications
with either two-way audio and video or two-way audio and one-way
video, providing for question-and-answer capabilities. ICN two-way
video is interactive.
Interactive Video - Capability
to transmit and receive two-way (full duplex) video transmissions
between originating site and remote classrooms. ICN two-way video
is interactive.
Internet - Network of computer
networks, linking computers from colleges and universities, government
agencies, institutions and commercial organizations worldwide.
The largest international computer network.
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- Internet Subscription - ICN service
which provides access to the Internet via a gateway (router).
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- IowaHub Subscription - ICN service
which provides e-mail package translation, word processing document
attachment translation, and directory listing features.
IPTV - Iowa Public Television.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) - ICN service that allows a variety of switched digital
data and voice transmissions to be accommodated simultaneously.
Networking concept that provides subscribers with end-to-end
fully digital communications.
ITTC (Iowa Telecommunications and Technology Commission)
- Governing body established by Senate File 2089
during the 1994 Legislative Session. Made up of five voting members,
appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, plus the
State Auditor.
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LAN - (Local
Area Network) User-owned, user operated, high volume data transmission
facility connecting a number of communicating devices (computers,
terminals, printers, etc.) within a single room, building or
campus.
LATA - (Local Access Exchange Area)
Geographic service area where long distance service within the
LATA is provided by the LEC. Long distance service between LATAs
is provided by an IEC.
LEC - (Local Exchange Carrier)
Carrier providing local services to customers within a LATA.
LECs have monopolies with LATAs.
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Mbps - (Mega
Bits per Second) Measure of the number of bits of data transmitted
in a second, where Mega (M) is one million bits.
Multiplexer/ Mux - Equipment that
allows two or more signals to pass over and share a common transmission
path.
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Narrowcast - Transmission
of programs to a specifically defined audience normally using
the newer technology delivery systems. Sometimes referred to
as a target audience, a limited audience, or a “narrow”
audience, hence the name “Narrowcast."
Network (the) - Iowa Communications
Network consists of the HUB (STARC Armory); interconnecting the
HUB with all Part I endpoints (regional switching centers, Regents
Institutions, and other Part I endpoints); Part II endpoints
(secondary switching centers); and by the end of FY 1999, additional
schools, libraries and area education agencies. Includes state
and federal government administration sites.
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Part I - Involved
the installation of a Network Control Center at the STARC Armory
in Johnston and the linking of Iowa’s three Regents Universities,
15 community colleges, Iowa Public Television, and the State
Capitol Complex.
Part II - Involved creating a point
of presence in each of the remaining 84 Iowa counties by connecting
to the 15 community colleges.
Part III - Involved expanding the
Network to other authorized users within the counties, such as
schools, libraries, and area education agencies.
Point-to-Point - Circuit that directly
connects two points. There are generally no intermediate processing
nodes nor computers, although there could be switching facilities
(e.g., a phone line circuit that links two and only two logical
entities).
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- PVC (Permanent Virtual Circuit) - Virtual circuit that is a logical rather than a
physical connection between end points. Using virtual circuits,
multiple logical connections can be established across a single
physical path.
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Real Time - Capture,
processing, and presentation of data at the time the data is
originated.
Regional Switching Centers - Part
I endpoints providing interconnectivity for Part II endpoints
and Part III endpoints.
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- Ring Topology - Network structure
whereby connection between devices is accomplished by arranging
them in a physical ring.
Router - Sophisticated, protocol-specific
device that passes data between LANs by examining the data and
selecting the most efficient of all available routes.
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SONET (Synchronous Optical Network)
- American and international standard for
transmission of digital signals.
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- SDE (System Development Engineer) - ICN
staff who serve authorized users by consulting on technologies
and addressing ICN service issues. Each SDE serves a specific
region or user group.
Switch - Computers or electromechanical
devices that connect transmissions to their destination points.
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T-1 - Part
of transmission service providing a transmission rate of 1.544
Mbps or equivalent to 24 DS-0 circuits.
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- Telecommunications - Communications
process that allows the transmission of information from a sender
to a receiver by means of an electromagnetic or lightwave medium.
Teleconferencing - Conference of
two or more people linked by telecommunications. It can be audio
only, video one way and audio the other, or video both ways.
Telejustice - Use of a telecommunications
system for conducting both state and federal judicial proceedings
such as hearings and revocations.
Telemedicine - Use of a telecommunications
system for purposes of health care. Of special importance to
Iowa, telemedicine can link rural hospitals to urban counterparts
for such services as physician conferences for diagnoses and
the rapid transmission of X-ray film, CT head scans, and ultrasound
studies.
Token Ring - Local area network
access mechanism and ring topology in which a supervisory frame
or token is passed from station to adjacent station sequentially.
Stations wishing to gain access to the network must wait for
the token to arrive before transmitting data. In a token ring,
the next logical station receiving the token is also the next
physical station on the ring.
Topology - Overall configuration
of a network.
Traffic - Volume and intensity
of transmitted signals on a communications channel.
Transmission - Sending and receiving
of a telecommunications signals.
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Video Conferencing - Real-time, usually two-way, transmission of digitized
video images between two or more locations.
Virtual Circuit - Network facilities
that give the appearance of an actual end-to-end circuit in packet
switching. A dynamically variable network connection where sequential
user data packets may be routed differently.
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- Voice Service - ICN service which
provides inbound and/or outbound calling ability.
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WAN (Wide Area Network) - Network of computer devices separated by a large geographical
area.
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