Linksys Voice System Administration Guide
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Glossary
ACD (Automatic Call Distribution)—A switching system designed to allocate incoming calls to
certain positions or agents in the order received and to hold calls not ready to be handled
(often with a recorded announcement).
Area code—A 3-digit code used in North America to identify a specific geographic telephone
location. The first digit can be any number between 2 and 9. The second and third digits can be
any number.
Billing increment—The division by which the call is rounded. In the field it is common to see
full-minute billing on the local invoice while 6-second rounding is the choice of most long-
distance providers that bill their customers directly.
Blocked calls—Caused by an insufficient network facility that does not have enough lines to
allow calls to reach a given destination. May also pertain to a call from an originating number
that is blocked by the receiving telephone number.
Bundled service—Offering various services as a complete package.
Call completion—The point at which a dialed number is answered.
Call termination—The point at which a call is disconnected.
CDR (Call Detail Records)—A software program attached to a VoIP/telephone system that
records information about the telephone number’s activity.
Carrier’s carrier—Companies that build fiber optic and microwave networks primarily selling to
resellers and carriers. Their main focus is on the wholesale and not the retail market.
Casual access—When customers choose not to use their primary carriers to process the long-
distance call being made. The customer dials the carrier’s 101XXXX number.
CO (Central Office)—Switching center for the local exchange carrier.
Centrex—This service is offered by the LEC to the end user. The feature-rich Centrex line offers
the same features and benefits as a PBX to a customer without the capital investment or
maintenance charges. The LEC charges a monthly fee to the customer, who must agree to sign
a term agreement.
Circuits—The communication path(s) that carry calls between two points on a network.
Customer Premise Equipment—The only part of the telecommunications system that the
customer comes into direct contact with. Example of such pieces of equipment are telephones,
key systems, PBXs, voice-mail systems, and call accounting systems as well as wiring telephone
jacks. The standard for this equipment is set by the FCC, and the equipment is supplied by an
interconnect company.
Dedicated access—Customers have direct access to the long-distance provider via a special
circuit (T1 or private lines). The circuit is hardwired from the customer site to the POP and does
not pass through the LEC switch. The dial tone is provided from the long-distance carrier.
