Glossary
Abis
This is a GSM term for an interface linking the BTS (base
transceiver station) and the BSC (base station controller). Other
GSM interfaces are the A between the BSC and the MSC (mobile
switching center), and the E between the MSC and the PSTN.
Address
A coded representation of the origin or destination of data.
Agent
In SNMP, this refers to the managed system.
ANSI
American National Standards Institute.
Attenuation
Signal power loss through equipment, lines or other transmission
devices. Measured in decibels.
AWG
The American Wire Gauge System, which specifies wire width.
Backhaul
Transporting traffic between distributed sites (typically access
points) and more centralized points of presence. See Cellular
Backhaul.
Balanced
A transmission line in which voltages on the two conductors are
equal in magnitude, but opposite in polarity, with respect to
ground.
Bandwidth
The range of frequencies passing through a given circuit. The
greater the bandwidth, the more information can be sent through
the circuit in a given amount of time.
Baud
Unit of signaling speed equivalent to the number of discrete
conditions or events per second. If each signal event represents
only one bit condition, baud rate equals bps (bits per second).
Bipolar
Signaling method in E1/T1 representing a binary “1” by alternating
positive and negative pulses, and a binary “0” by absence of
pulses.
Bit
The smallest unit of information in a binary system. Represents
either a one or zero (“1” or “0”).
Bridge
A device interconnecting local area networks at the OSI data link
layer, filtering and forwarding frames according to media access
control (MAC) addresses.
Buffer
A storage device. Commonly used to compensate for differences
in data rates or event timing when transmitting from one device to
another. Also used to remove jitter.
Byte
A group of bits (normally 8 bits in length).
Cell
The 53-byte basic information unit within an ATM network. The
user traffic is segmented into cells at the source and reassembled
