User guide

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Glossary
FR111A
Red Alarm: A T1 error condition generated when a local failure (e.g., loss of synchronization) exists for 2.5 seconds,
causing a Carrier Group Alarm (CGA). See also "Blue Alarm" and "Yellow Alarm".
Request for Comment (RFC): A set of papers in which Internet standards (published and proposed), along with generally-
accepted ideas, proposals, research results, etc. are published.
Ring Down Box: A device that emulates a CO by generating POTS calls for testing and product demos.
Ring Down Circuit: A tie line connecting phones where picking up one phone automatically rings another phone. A
feature used for emergencies to alert the person at the other phone of the incoming call.
RJ-11: An industry standard interface used for connecting a telephone to a modular wall outlet; comes in 4- and 6-wire
packages.
RJ-48: An 8-wire modular connector for voice and data circuits.
Robbed Bit Signaling: The popular T1 signaling mechanism where the A and B bits are sent by each side of the T1
termination and are "buried" in the voice data of each voice channel in the T1 circuit. Since the bits are "robbed"
infrequently, voice quality is remains relatively uncompromised. See "bit robbing".
The robbed-bit signaling technique is used in D4 channel banks to convey signaling information. The eighth (least
significant) bit of each of the 24 8-bit time slots is "robbed" every sixth frame to convey voice-related signaling information
such as on-hook, off-hook, etc., for each channel.
Router: A device that connects two networks using the same networking protocol. It operates at the Network Layer (Layer
3) of the OSI model for forwarding decisions.
Routing Information Protocol (RIP): A distance vector-based protocol that provides a measure of distance, or hops, from
a transmitting workstation to a receiving workstation.
RS-232C: An EIA standard for a serial interface between computers and peripheral devices (modem, mouse, etc.). It uses
a 25-pin DB-25, or a 9-pin DB-9 connector. The RS-232 standard defines the purposes, electrical characteristics and timing
of the signals for each of the 25 lines.
RS-422: The EIA standard for a balanced interface with no accompanying physical connector. RS-422 products can use
screw terminals, DB-9, various DB-25, and DB-37 connectors.
RS-530: The EIA standard for the mechanical/electrical interface between DCEs and DTEs transmitting synchronous or
asynchronous serial binary data. RS-530 provides for high data rates with the same connector used for RS-232; however, it
is incompatible with RS-232.
S
Serial Port: The connector on a PC used to attach serial devices (those that need to receive data one bit after another),
such as a mouse, a printer or a modem. This consists of a 9- or 25-pin connector that sends data in sequence (bit by bit).
Serial ports are referred to as "COMx" ports, where x is 1 to 4 (i.e., COM1 through COM4). A serial port contains a
conversion chip called a "UART" which translates between internal parallel and external serial formats.
Service: The requirements offered by an RPOA to its customers to satisfy specific telecommunications needs.
Severely Errored Seconds (SES): Refers to a typical T1 error event where an error burst occurs (a short term, high bit-
error rate that is self-clearing). Per the ITU-T (CCITT) G.821: any second in which the BER is less than 1x10
-3
.
Signaling: The process of establishing, maintaining, accounting for, and terminating a connection between two endpoints
(e.g., the user premises and the telco CO). Central office signals to the user premises can include ringing, dial tone,
speech signals, etc. Signals from the user's telephone can include off-hook, dialing, speech to far-end party, and on-hook
signals.
In-band signaling techniques include pulse and tone dialing. With common channel signaling, information is carried out-of-
band.
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP): TCP/IP protocol that allows network management.
Simultaneous Voice Data (SVD): A technology for letting a user send data via a modem, and use a handset to talk to
another user at the same time over the same connection. The alternative, making a second call, can be expensive or even
impossible. The uses for SVD are telecommuting, video conferencing, distant learning, tech support, etc.
Stop Bit: One of the variables used for timing in asynchronous data transmission. Depending on the devices, each
character may be trailed by 1, 1.5, or 2 stop bits.
Superframe (D4): A T1 transmission format that consists of 12 DS1 frames, or 2316 bits. A DS1 frame consists of 193 bit
positions. A frame overhead bit is in the first position, and it is used for frame and signaling phase alignment only.
Subscriber Loop: See "Local loop".
Switched 56: A circuit-switched (full duplex digital synchronous data transmission) service that lets you dial a number and
transmit data to it at 56 Kbps. It is a relatively low cost service, widely used in North America for telecommuting, video
conferencing and high speed data transfers. Many phone companies are (or will be) phasing out Switched 56 in favor of
ISDN service.