Automatic Call Distribution.  Based on modern digital PABX systems, ACD systems manage the rules upon which inbound telephone calls, to a helpdesk for example, are distributed amongst the available support staff in order to improve the quality of service to customers.  Large systems are often referred to as Call Centres.

A transmission method which carries source signals as electrical waves which directly match the form of the input signal. Still largely used for the local connection of telephone services, despite the conversion of the main telephone backbone networks to digital transmission, such systems require a modem to convert a computer's digital output into a form which they can handle.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode. A broadband technology that will allow varying bandwidth to be switched at very high speeds, allowing the delivery of multiple data streams, carrying for example voice, data and video information, on a single connection.

The transfer capacity of a network link. For example, a FAX machine transfers data at 9600 bits per second, a fast modem at 33,600 bits per second (33.6kbps), ISDN at 64,000 bits per second (64kbps). Compare this to a hard disk on a PC which transfers data at rate of 10,000,000 bps.

A network that supports high-speed data transmission. Unlike broadband systems, a baseband network uses the whole of its bandwidth to transmit a single digital signal: multiple simultaneous transmissions are therefore not possible.

A device that connects two separate networks - usually LANs - allowing them to exchange traffic as if they were a single network.

A network that supports a number of simultaneous transmissions over a single physical link.

Category 5.  A cable specification which is part of the EN50173 standard frequently used for connection of computers to hubs in an Ethernet LAN with RJ45 type connectors.  This cable type can also be used for digital voice distribution and is the primary cable type for structured wiring systems.

Call Line Identification.  An electronic identifier transmitted in the call signal that identifies the number of the telephone making the call.

Co-Axial Cable.  A single cored copper cable with a braided earth screen, as used in television distribution.  A thin, very flexible type of co-ax with twist on bnc connectors formed the basis of the “ThinEther” 10base2 Ethernet system where computers were connected together on a daisy chain of cable with terminators at each extreme.  While simple and cheap to install, the sytem was vulnerable to physical damage and a single failure would take down the whole system - adding in extra computers could also be a difficult task!  Largely replaced by the 10bastT system using UTP cable and hubs.

A term used to describe a signal represented by two digits - usually 0 or 1 - during transmission; commonly contrasted with an analogue signal, whose value varies continuously. Digital transmission methods transport a computer's two-value (binary) language, dispensing with the need for a modem to translate between them. The benefits of digital transmission include high bandwidth and virtually error-free communications.

A logical grouping, used to organise networked computers. On the Internet, the highest-level domain is the country; sub-domains, listed to the left and separated by dots, work through an increasingly specific hierarchy in order to identify a unique location, known as the 'domain name'. Reading from right to left is analogous to reading from the bottom to the top line of a postal address.  Rallye’s domain name is   rallye.co.uk.

Electronic Data Interchange.  The secure electronic exchange of contractual documentation, such as Purchase Orders or Invoices.  Heavily used in the retail and automotive sectors.

Electronic Mail. Messages, usually text, sent from one person to another, or from one person to many, via computer. The recipient does not need to be physically present or connected to the network at the time of transmission.

A baseband system supporting data transmission at speeds of 10 Mbit/s  (10baseT) or 100 Mbit/s (100baseT); widely used to connect computers on a LAN. Connections between PC’s can be by “thin-ether”, a flexible co-axial type cable with bnc connectors; or by Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cable with RJ45 connectors which requires an additional piece of hardware called a HUB through which all the machines are connected.

An Intranet which provides access to a community of users such as a company and its major suppliers.

Software that enables users in multiple locations to exchange computer files and work on them simultaneously across a network. Lotus Notes is an example.

A piece of hardware used to interconnect computers in modern LAN systems, such as 10baseT or 100baseT Ethernet.  Hubs themselves can be interconnected to form larger LANs while optimising the traffic on the local segment.

The Internet is a global collection of computer networks which are able to function effectively as a single network, using the TCP/IP protocol. Services include e-mail, file transfer and bulletin boards;  multimedia information - text, graphics, video and sound - can be distributed over the World Wide Web. The number of Internet hosts has doubled every year since 1989; current estimates (March 1998) put the number of users at over 100 million world-wide. 

Offering similar facilities to the Internet, an intranet is distinguished by the restriction of access to a closed group of users - for example, within the same company.. Intranets generally use software designed for the World Wide Web to distribute common information, such as  Company Handbooks and Quality Manuals, to achieve significant savings on printing & distribution costs while ensuring everyone has access to the latest versions.

Integrated Services Digital Network.  Nothing more than the upgrading of connections to the local telecommunications provider (such as BT or CableTel) to a digital service with significant improvement in voice and data connectivity.  Can be used for voice and data applications simultaneously and offers extremely cost-effective solutions to any size of operation.

Integrated Services Private Branch Exchange.

Local Area Network.  A network linking together computers, printers and related devices, usually over a short distance (less than 1 km) and normally within a single building or site. A LAN allows all users on the network to share resources, optimising efficiency and avoiding unnecessary duplication of assets or effort. Separate from the public network, a LAN can support high transmission speeds - typically between 10 Mbit/s and 100 Mbit/s.

Modulator/Demodulator.  A device connected to a computer and an analogue telephone line so that computers can communicate over the telephone network. The modem converts the computer's digital signal into sound, enabling transmission over an analogue path; the process is reversed when receiving data. The faster the modem, the quicker the rate of data throughput, the shorter the phone call and the lower the bill. Recently the standard for modems has shifted from operating speeds of 28.8 kbit/s to 33.6 kbit/s.

Optical Character Recognition. 

Cable made of glass fibres through which signals are transmitted as pulses of light. Fibre cables are capable of carrying very high bandwidth and are used extensively for long distance interconnections in the public telephone network.  As prices have come down, optical fibre cable is being used increasingly for interconnection of LAN’s between buildings and for backbone links within buildings.  “Fibre-to-the-desktop” has yet to replace traditional methods such as thin ethernet or UTP because of price and complexity of termination.

Private (Automatic) Branch Exchange.

Plain Old Telephone Service.  Colloquial term for voice telephony services.

To come together for support or concentrated effort.

A device (or computer/software package) that interconnects LANs, ensuring that traffic is carried over the best available path to its intended destination. Unlike a bridge, a router must be compatible with the protocols used by the networks that it connects - the more advanced systems can understand different protocols and link disparate LAN’s.

A device which scans images from paper and converts them into a form which can be used by a computer software package

Session Initiation Protocol. SIP is an IP protocol used to initaitated differnet mulitmedia communications such as Voice, Video and Video confernece calls over IP.

A methodology for the design, implementation and management of cable distribution systems for voice and data services.  Based upon international standards, such as EN50173 Cat5, structured wiring systems tend to be more expensive to install initially but pay massive dividends over time in terms of ease of change and management of connectivity, even for small installations.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. (TCP/IP).  The suite of protocols originally developed for the ARPANetTM and now used to define membership of its successor, the Internet. TCP/IP specifies how data is sent and received over a network - how it should be routed and addressed. In general usage, though, the term is convenient shorthand for all key Internet standards, and not simply those that are transmission-related.

A device which converts signals from a piece of communications equipment into a format suitable for transmission on a given network. For example, an ISDN terminal adapter does for analogue hardware (non-ISDN handsets, answering machines, fax machines, etc.) much the same as that which a modem does for the computer: translates - in this instance, from analogue to digital.

An alternative LAN baseband system to Ethernet.  Token Ring lost out to Ethernet in the LAN world and is rarely seen outside of large IBM installations.

Unshielded Twisted Pair.  A type of cabling which is used for the interconnection of computers and hubs in a 10baseT Ethernet LAN as well as the distribution of digital voice systems, such as ISDN2.  UTP is the standard cable type for Category 5 structured cable systems

A computer program that is capable of replicating itself, often without a user's knowledge. Many are designed to cause damage, corrupting or erasing data. Others appear innocuous - displaying a message or playing a tune - but nevertheless can cause unintended side-effects, interfering with computer processes and wasting computer resources. Once a virus is in a computer system, it may unwittingly be passed on to other users who come into contact with contaminated files - for example, by downloading or copying onto disks. Encryption techniques (to verify the identity of an originator) and anti-virus software are common methods for protecting a system against invasion, especially for Internet users.

A software package which continuously checks a computer for viruses and warns (or disinfects) if one is found.  A virus checker is only as good as the list of viruses it can identify and it is essential that the software be updated as new viruses are identified.  Given the dire consequences of an unchecked virus attack, EVERY company should have up-to-date virus checking software installed on ALL their machines.

Wide Area Network.  A network allowing the interconnection and intercommunication of a group of computers (or LANs) over a large geographical area, often comprised of private circuits rented from a Public Telecommunications Operator such as BT or Cable&Wireless.

Also known as the web, this is a technology implemented on Internet servers which allows users to simply and quickly navigate information.  By simply pointing to a link and clicking on it, a user can move to an information server literally on the other side of the world.  A World Wide Web site is generally access through a front or home page which has a simple URL (Universal Resource Location) address, such as www.microsoft.com.  This page will contain links to the information held on the site and acts as the table of contents to the site.  The World Wide Web is the fastest growing part of the Internet and its commercial uses include advertising, marketing, market research, retailing, distribution and sales with a number of service providers now offering secure credit card transactions. Rallye's home page can be found at: http://www.rallye.co.uk