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| A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
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 ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line)
A high speed technology which utilizes existing telephone copper wiring to transmit data downstream (to the subscriber) at up to 7.1Mbps and upstream (from the subscriber) at up to 680kbps, depending on line distance. (See RADSL for more information.)
anonymous FTP
Using the FTP function of the Internet without a secret login ID and password. This is permitted on large systems that share some of their files with outside users who otherwise would not be able to login.
asymmetric
Internet connections that provide different data transfer rates for uploading and downloading. Since most Internet users need to receive far more information than they send, the download rate is much higher than the upload rate.
asynchronous
In data communications, a transmission method in which information is sent one character at a time. Each letter, number or other character is delineated by a start and stop indicator at the beginning and end of the character. After a time interval, another character is sent. This system increases transmission times because of extra data in packets.
ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode)
High Bandwidth packet technology that uses 53 byte fixed sized cells to deliver data, voice and video. A set of telecommunication interfaces defined by ANSI and ITU.
ATU-C (ADSL Terminal Unit-Central)
DSL system equipment that is located at the Central Office end.
ATU-R (ADSL Terminal Unit-Remote)
DSL system equipment that is located at the customer's end, i.e., your DSL system. |
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backbone
The high-density portion of a communications network. A common, high-speed medium (i.e. fiber optics) that links several LANs or computers.
backup
Copying files that are stored on a hard drive to another medium such as floppy disks or a backup tape.
bandwidth
This is a reflection of the size or the capacity of a given transmission channel.
bridge
A LAN internetworking device that filters and transfers data packets between LANs, enabling them to operate as a single network.
browser
A software application that lets you browse through information on the World Wide Web. It is the tool used to view the vast number of pages available.
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cache
Local storage on your computer that holds recently-viewed Web pages. This lets you review these pages quickly without waiting for them to download from the Internet again.
CAP (Carrier-less Amplitude/Phase modulation)
Incoming data that is put on a single carrier and then transmitted down a phone line. The carrier itself is suppressed before transmission (it contains no information, and can be reconstructed at the receiver), hence the adjective "carrier-less."
client/server
Computer technology that separates network-connected computers and their users into two categories: clients and servers. When you access information from a computer on a network, you are a client. The computer that delivers the information is the server. A server stores information and makes it available to any authorized client upon request.
CPE (Customer Premises Equipment)
Refers to the telephones, computers, DSL modems, and similar devices owned by our customers and connected to the telephone network from their homes or offices.
communication server
Connects multiple serial devices (i.e., modem pools, printers, PCS and terminals) to a network. A computer in a LAN configuration used to store the program and data files shared by the users connected to the network.
cyberspace
A term, coined by science fiction author William Gibson, that represents the total universe of all interconnected computers.
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discussion groups
The Netscape term for Internet newsgroups.
DMT (Discrete Multi-Tone)
Refers to a version of multicarrier modulation in which incoming data is collected and then distributed over a large number of small, individual carriers. DMT creates these channels using a digital technique known as Discrete Fast-Fourier Transform. DMT is the basis of ANSI Standard T1.413.
domain name
A registered name that is given to an Internet address so that the address is shorter and easier to remember.
download
Transferring computer information from a remote computer into your own local computer.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line)
See ADSL
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email (electronic mail)
Electronic messages transmitted over the Internet from user to user. E-mail can contain text, files of any type, which are sent as attachments.
Ethernet
A LAN technology that operates over twisted-pair wiring or coaxial cable at speeds up to 100Mbps or higher. Your computer must have an Ethernet card installed for Canada On-line DSL service to work.
Ethernet card
A printed circuit board that plugs into a computer to permit the computer to connect to a network.
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frame relay
A switching technology that uses packets. Two of the strengths of frame relay are that the packets can have variable length frames and it is protocol independent.
FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
An Internet function that enables files to be transferred between computers. You can use it to download files from a remote host computer, and upload files from your computer to a remote host computer.
(See Anonymous FTP.)
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gateway
1) A network element interconnecting two otherwise incompatible networks, network nodes, subnetworks or devices. It performs protocol conversion operations across a wide spectrum of communications functions.
2) A device for interconnecting dissimilar LANs where one network conforms to an "open" standard or protocol and the other network to a vendor's proprietary protocol.
3) A telephone company network service that provides a transparent access and billing interface between information service providers and information consumers.
GIF (Graphics Interchange Format)
A graphics file format that is commonly used on the Internet to provide graphics images in Web pages.
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header
Information included at the top of an email message that identifies the message's author, the recipient and lots of other technical details. The full header is normally hidden from view.
HTML (Hypetext Markup Language)
The standard language used to create webpages on the internet.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
The protocol (rules) computers use to transfer hypertext documents.
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IP (Internet Protocol)
The rules that support basic Internet data delivery functions. (See TCP/IP)
IP Address
An Internet address that is a unique number consisting of four parts separated by dots, sometimes called a "dotted quad." Each of the four parts is a number from 0 to 255, for example, 255.255.255.0. Every Internet computer has an IP address and most computers also are assigned one or more Domain Names that are easier to remember than the dotted quad.
IRC (Internet Relay Chat)
An Internet tool that lets users join a "chat" channel and exchange messages. IRC is soon going to permit the full-color, live-action video required for video-conferencing.
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
ISDN provides circuit-switched access to the public telephone network. Data rates are typically available in multiples of 64 kbps, and can be used for voice, data, and video services. With a Basic Rate ISDN (BRI) line, you can place voice and data calls simultaneously. Primary Rate ISDN (PRI) is a broadband service most commonly used for business applications.
ISP (Internet Service Provider)
A company, such as Canada On-line, that is connected directly to the Internet, and which sells connection services to individuals and businesses who want to tap into the Internet.
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JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group)
The name of the committee that designed the photographic image-compression standard. JPEG is optimized for compressing full-color or gray-scale photographic-type, digital images. It doesn't work well on drawn images such as line drawings, and it does not handle black-and-white images or video images. |
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kilobits per second (Kbps)
A measure of bandwidth capacity or transmission speed. It stands for a thousand bits per second. |
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local loop
Telephone connection between your home and Canada On-line central office. |
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MAC address (Media Access Control)
A unique address associated with an Ethernet card. The MAC address is transmitted as part of the header of all data packets sent from any computer on a network.
MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions)
An Internet standard that lets computer files be attached to email. Files sent by MIME arrive as exact copies of the original so that you can send processing files, graphics images, spreadsheets and software applications to other users, provided the recipient has a MIME-capable email application--most today are MIME-capable.
modem
An electronic device that lets computers communicate using regular phone lines. The name is derived from "modulator-demodulator" because of its function in processing data over analog phone lines.
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NNTP (Network News Transfer Protocol)
An Internet protocol that handles Usenet newsgroups at most modern Internet service providers.
PNG (Portable Network Graphics)
A new standard for Internet graphic images that is planned as a replacement for the GIF format. PNG has similar characteristics to GIF, with improved network performance.
POP (Post Office Protocol)
An Internet protocol that enables a single user to read email from a mail server.
post
An article in a newsgroup. "Posting" is the act of sending a "post" to the newsgroup so that other subscribers can read the article.
RADSL (Rate Adaptive Digital Subscriber Line)
RADSL allows a service provider to adjust the bandwidth of the DSL link to fit the need of the application and to account for the line length and quality. The service provider can pre-define the bandwidth or allow it to be self-adjusting. RADSL extends the possible distance from the subscriber to the central exchange office, thus increasing the percentage of homes served by DSL services.
router
A network device that enables the network to re-route messages it receives that are intended for other networks. The network with the router receives the message and sends it on its way exactly as it was received.
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signature file
An ASCII text file, maintained within email programs, that contains a few lines of text for your signature. The programs automatically attach the file to your messages so you don't have to repeatedly type a closing.
SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)
The simple, classic protocol used to handle the Internet's email functions.
symmetric
Internet connections that provide the same data transfer rate in both directions (upload and download).
synchronous
Transmission in which the data characters and bits are trasmitted at a fixed rate with the transmitter and receiver synchronized by timing circuits. Synchronous transmissions eliminate the need for start and stop bits, allowing for a significant increase in the amount of information that can be transmitted during a given time interval.
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TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol)
The basic programming foundation that carries computer messages around the globe via the Internet. Co-created by Vinton G. Cerf, former president of the Internet Society, and Robert E. Kahn.
Telnet
An Internet protocol that lets you connect your PC as a remote workstation to a host computer anywhere in the world and to use that computer as if you were logged on locally.
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URL (Uniform Resource Locator)
This is the equivalent of having the phone number of the place you want to call. You will constantly use URLs with your Internet software to identify the protocol, host name, and file name of Internet resources you want, such as Web pages and FTP sites.
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WAN (Wide Area Network)
A data network that connects LANs in distant locations through private, leased data lines or the public network.
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xDSL (See DSL)
xDSL is the term that is often used synonymously with DSL. It is used to describe the family of DSL technologies that include ADSL, HDSL, SDSL, RADSL, IDSL, VDSL, and others. |
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