User's Manual
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Appendix - Gossary
MAC Address The permanent “identity” for a device programmed into the
Media Access Control layer in the network architecture during the
modem’s manufacture.
Network Driver A le that is loaded on the computer to allow the computer to
recognize the Ethernet card or USB port.
NID - (Network Interface Device)
The interconnection between the internal house telephone wiring
and a conventional telephone service provider’s equipment.
These wiring connections are normally housed in a small
plastic box located on an outer wall of the house. It is the legal
demarcation between the subscriber’s property and the service
provider’s property.
PacketCable A project with the objective of developing a set of necessary
telephony specications and operations support interface
specications for Advanced Cable Gateways and associated
equipment used over the DOCSIS based cable network.
PSTN - (Public Switched Telephone Network)
The worldwide voice telephone network which provides dial tone,
ringing, full-duplex voice band audio and optional services using
standard telephones.
Provisioning The process of enabling the Media Terminal Adapter (MTA) to
register and provide services over the network.
TCP/IP - (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
A networking protocol that provides communication across
interconnected networks, between computers with diverse
hardware architectures and various operating systems.
TFTP - (Trivial File Transfer Protocol)
The system by which the Media Terminal Adapter’s conguration
data le is downloaded.
TSP - (Telephony Service Provider)
An organization that provides telephone services such as dial
tone, local service, long distance, billing and records, and
maintenance.
Universal Serial Bus - (USB)
USB is a “plug-and-play” interface between a computer and add-
on devices, such as an Advanced Cable Gateway.