Specifications

October 8, 2003 Networking Alpha Signs (9700-0112C)
66 Glossary
organizations, professional societies, and companies, and affiliated with the Consultative Committee for
International Telegraphy and Telephony (CCITT) and the International Standards Organization (ISO).
apparatus
A complex device or machine consisting of the enclosure, the enclosed equipment, and the protruding
accessories, designed for a specific purpose.
AppleTalk
The Apple Computer suite of protocols that allows the hardware and software on an AppleTalk network to
interact and route data.
AppleTalk network
A collection of connected, individually controlled computers, printers, and other devices, together with the
hardware and AppleTalk software used to link them.
application
A software program with which a user can create, authorize, or change data. Can generally be accessed from a
menu or toolbar.
AR
Access Rate. Actual data access rate measured in bits per second.
ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange. A set of characters using an 8-bit code for data transfer
adopted by ANSI to ensure compatibility among data devices.
back end
A device (such as a server or software program) that provides services to a front end (a software application).
See also front end.
baseband
Characteristic of a network technology where only one carrier frequency is used, like Ethernet.
battery backup
Battery-backed up memory. If a sign is turned off, unplugged, or power is inadvertently lost, the messages,
graphics, and time settings stored in the sign’s memory are not lost. When the sign is plugged in again, the
messages, graphics, and time that were in memory are still available. Some signs use a battery; some use a
capacitor.
baud
The speed at which data bits are transmitted and received, usually measured in bits per second. For example,
9600 baud is equal to 9600 bits per second.
binary
A numbering system comprised of bits, strings of ones and zeros. See also bit.
bit
Binary digit used in the binary numbering system. Can be 0 or 1.
boot
To plug in, turn on, or otherwise start a computer, sign or machine.