The ability to add power and capability to an existing system
without significant expense or overhead. An "economy of scale"
exists when a small increase in load produces a less-than-linear
increase in overhead. A "diseconomy of scale" exists when a small
increase cause a significant increase in overhead.
A set of one-or-more typical interaction dialogs between the users
of a system (people or other systems) and a proposed system
that is about to be developed. Scenarios are developed during the
analysis phase of system development to assist in understanding business
events, objects and interactions. Scenarios document specific
transaction sequences, transformations, interfaces and information
exchange. They represent cases that should be included in the
Software Quality Assurance Test Plan, and may be used for end user
training after the system is completed. Use case scenarios
facilitate communication between the people who request a system,
analysts, developers and testers. They are used to validate
understanding, and to identify normal and special use situations.
Scenarios clarify an evolving agreement between requesters and
development teams.
Control mechanisms that prevent unauthorized use of resources.
Service Control Point
- SCP
Computers that enable carriers to offer enhanced services by:
(1) acting on the format, content, code, protocol or similar
aspects of transmitted information;
(2) providing additional or restructured information; or
(3) involving subscriber interaction with stored data. e.g.
translating 800 numbers to a POTS number or a trunk group.
SCPs connect to Signalling Points, which connect to Switches.
Service
Creation Environment - SCE
GUI software for entering complex enhanced service
specifications.
Service
Management System - SMS / 800
An IBM Information Management System (IMS) interactive
computer system that coordinates all national 800 numbers across all U.S. telephone companies and carriers.
It supports IBM 3270 terminal on-line access, batch processing (for
800 basic service only), and a Mechanized Interface.
Service Order - SO
A request to provide communication service(s).
Service Type
The service(s) requested on a Service Order (e.g. VF, DDS,
DS-1, DS-3,
etc.)
A data transmission format comprised of 12 frames of 192 bits each.
A single 193rd bit is used for link control and error checking. As an
industry standard, D4, also known as SF, has been superseded by the
Extended Super Frame (ESF) format. However, because ESF is not backward
compatible and there continues to be a large installed base of channel
banks and DS-1 Multiplexers that are based upon D4, it is still the
default private line formatting technique.
Shared Tenant Service
- STS
The provision of PBX services (frequently by a landlord) to
multiple customers located in the same building, campus or group of
buildings. External calls can be placed and received over common
lines and intracompany calls can be made without the use of outside
LEC lines. State
regulations frequently restrict the provision of STS to protect LEC
interests.
Signal
An event-oriented change in state (e.g. a tone, frequency shift,
binary value, alarm, message, etc.)
Signalling Equipment
Tone Generator / Tone Detection, etc.
Simple Network Management Protocol
- SNMP
A network management tool that is used to manage customer network
equipment and processes. Usually graphic on an x-window display.
Simplex
One way transmission path (no response of any kind).
Single-Point-Circuit
A private line that has one IEC leg
(from one PoP to another).
SL-1 - The trade name for a
Northern Telecom PBX system
Slam
An end user that is PICed without
their permission. An RBOC
Slam Fee must be paid for each slam.
SLIP - Serial Line Internet
Protocol
Slotting
The process of assigning a circuit
to available channel capacity
across the network (during the circuit design process).
The date that SMS is notified to activate an 800 number.
SMS Customer Record
All information related to one 800
number, effective date and time, etc.
SMS FID - Field IDentifier
Specifies the type of information needed in each field (variable)
in an SMS Customer Record.
SMS Time
SMS operates on the
prevailing U.S. Central Time, which is Central Standard Time (CST)
in the Winter and Central Daylight Savings Time (CDT) in the
summer. SMS users may
enter local time by suffixing their local zone. For example:
"10:00A/E" (ten A.M. Eastern time zone) is converted by SMS to "9:00A/C" (nine A.M. Central time zone).
SNA - IBM Systems Network
Architecture
Mainframe-centric hierarchical communication protocol.
SNMP - Simple Network
Management Protocol
A communications protocol used
in the monitoring and management of communications devices and services.
SNMP utilizes three basic request primitives: Set, Get, and Get-Next
for configuration and performance information, and one asynchronous
notification: Trap for alarm and status information. (Originally
designed for TCP/IP.) Most popular
SNMP software: SunNet Manager, HP OpenView and IBM NetView / 6000.
A formal approach to software development, automated
regression testing, configuration management, versioning, profiling
and release control with the goal of zero defects.
SONET - Synchronous Optical
Network
A 1984 ANSI standard (developed by
ECSA)
for optical fiber transmission on the public network. 52Mbps to
13.22Gbps. Effective for ISDN
services including ATM.
(See OC - Optical Carrier SONET transport
levels)
SOP - (SMS) Service Order
Processor
Sort
To arrange in sequence by type, class, state, value, etc.
SOS - Save Our Ship
Distress Call
Source Code
A collection of computer programming commands that is used to
define the behaviors (processes, operations, methods, functions)
of computer systems and applications.
Special Access
A class of LEC services
that provides the link from the customer's premise to an IECPoP for
non-switched dedicated circuits.
Speed Dialing
A service to abbreviate and accelerate frequently dialed
numbers.
SQL - Structured Query
Language
The RDBMS interface language
(Insert, Select, Update, Delete, etc.) (ODBMSs use some form of
Object SQL - OSQL)
SRDM - Sub Rate Data Mux
SS7 - Signaling System 7
An addressing protocol that speeds up call processing by
operating out of band. Includes fraud detection, caller ID, store
and forward, ring back, concurrent data, etc.
SSP - Service Switching Point
State
(USA) One of the 50 states, a territory or a possession of the
United States of America or the District of Columbia.
(Object) The current condition(s) or value(s) stored in the
data attribute(s) of an object.
State Tax
A collection of tax types that each state is allowed to charge.
Tax jurisdiction (which state can charge tax for a call) is based
on the two-out-of-three rule: where it originates, where it
terminates, where it is being billed to - if two match, that state
can charge the tax.
Station Line
A line between an individual extension and a
PBX or key system. May
also refer to an internal circuit that can be connected to a PBX
switchboard.
Station
Message Detail Recording -
A PBX feature that provides
information on the calls placed from each station line. In
contrast to AIOD, it can also track local
and toll-free calls.
Normal long distance phone call - billed if anyone answers. A
service arrangement, other than Person-to-Person, which requires
the assistance of an operator to complete the call to the
designated phone number.
Status Code
Object (class or instance) state codes with an enumerated
list of possible values.
A group of similar objects that is derived from a superclass.
Subcomponent
Part of an assembly or a system.
Subnet Address
An extension of the IP address that allows a network to be
autonomous by itself and still be a subsection of a larger user network.
Subscribers
Synonomous with end user, customer, and local user.
Superclass
A grouping of similar class definitions.
Super Frame-SF
A data transmission format comprised of 12 frames of 192 bits
each. A single 193rd bit is used for link control and error checking.
As an industry standard, D4, also known as SF, has been superseded by
the Extended Super Frame (ESF) format. However, because ESF is not
backward compatible and there continues to be a large installed base of
channel banks and DS-1 Multiplexers that are based upon D4, it is still
the default private line formatting technique.
Surcharge
An additional charge on top of a base rate for a specified reason.
Nondedicated local access
between the customer's premise and the serving wire center which is
interconnected to the company's
point-of-presence for
origination or termination of service.
Switched Access
Service
A class of LEC
services that provides the link from the customer's premise to the
IEC
PoP for switched circuits.
Switched Circuit
A communications path that allows the originator to specify a
desired destination for each call.
Switched DAL -
Switched Dedicated Access (Egress) Line
Dedicated trunk group (T1, etc.) circuit(s) used to access (
1+, etc.) or egress (800,
etc.) through normal network switching facilities.
Switched
Multi-Megabit Data Services - SMDS
A broadband communications standard for the public network
that does not require predefinition of a specific path.
Switched Resellers
Resellers that utilize their own switching hardware (and sometimes
their own lines) and the lines of other IXCs to provide long-distance
service to its subscribers. They provide their own billing and service.
All dial up long-distance services including conventional
residential and WATS (most have
incremental use charges). (See
Message toll Service)
Switching Fee
A per-line fee (usually around 5$) imposed by the LEC to reprogram
their switching system to change your default carrier. Subscribers must
usually pay this fee when switching to a reseller. Some resellers will
reimburse the subscribers for this fee.
Switchless Reseller
A reseller of long-distance services that does not utilize any of
its own lines, or (switching) equipment. All actual service and
equipment is handled by the IXC. Billing is usually done, by the
reseller themselves, to the customer.
Switch Site
A location that supports dynamic communication path routing.
Sync - Synchronized -
Synchronization
Synchronous
A form of communication transmission with a direct timing
relationship between input and output signals. The transmitter and
receiver are in sync and signals are sent at a fixed rate.
Information is sent in multibyte packets. It is faster than
asynchronous character transmission, since start and stop bits are
not required. It is used for mainframe-to-mainframe and faster
workstation transmission.
System Integrators
A vendor that offers design, connection, implementation and
management services for diverse network resources.
