| Glossary
Announcement Server
Manages and plays information tones and messages in PacketCable
network. Announcements are needed for communications that
do not complete and to provide enhanced information services
to the user.
Billing System
Receives CDRs from the RKS for invoicing and customer service.
Call Detail Record (CDR)
A data record typically used in a telephony system to record
usage information on a per-call basis. Typical fields in the
record include originating number, terminating number, start-time,
duration, etc.
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Call Management Server (CMS)
In a PacketCable 1.0-based system, this is the entity that
provides call control, routing and signaling related services,
and implements features, such as Custom Local Area Signaling
Service (CLASS) features. The CMS controls both the in-home
media gateways and the media gateways connecting to the Public
Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Also referred to as the
call agent or call server, or softswitch.
Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS)
A device deployed in cable operator head-end buildings. The
CMTS is connected to the radio frequency (RF) modulator receiver
and converts cable modem and MTA data into packets for transport
to IP data networks.
Custom Local Area Signaling Services (CLASS)
CLASS consists of number-translation services, such as call-forwarding
and caller identification, available within a local exchange
of Local Access and Transport Area (LATA).
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CODEC (COder/DECoder)
A device that transforms (encodes) analog signals into digital
signals for transmission through a network in digital format,
and decodes received signals, transforming them back to analog
signals.
Competitive Local Exchange Carrier
(CLEC)
CLECs can offer a variety of services such as local exchange,
long distance, international, and Internet access. Depending
on the type of authority granted to a particular CLEC by the
FCC and/or a State Public Service Commission, CLECs may also
build their own networks consisting of local loops, wired,
or wireless. CLECs can also lease facilities from Incumbent
LECs or other CLECs at wholesale rates for resale to end users.
CLECs include PCS providers, Cable Providers (CATV), Competitive
Access Providers (CAPs), Local Multipoint Distribution System
Operators (LMDS), and power utilities.
CVOSS (Net2Phone’s Cable Voice OSS)
Service Assurance and Network Management platform that collects
real-time call information from the Cable access network,
Record Keeping Server and VoIP gateways, complementing it
with a broad range of independent PSTN tests, and adds extensive
data correlation, alarming, and reporting capabilities.
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DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specifications)
A standard specification developed by CableLabs for interface
specifications for cable modems and associated equipment.
DOCSIS 1.1, defines functionality that allows cable operators
to provide guaranteed bandwidth — i.e., quality of service
— to cable modem customers, while DOCSIS 2.0 increases
the supported upstream bandwidth.
International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
An organization established by the United Nations to set telecommunications
standards, allocate frequencies to various uses, and sponsor
trade shows every four years.
IP Telephony
Technology that allows voice phone calls to be made over the
Internet or other packet networks using a PC via gateways
and standard telephones.
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Lifeline POTS
A basic telephone service for the poor or elderly to ensure
access in cases of emergency. Lifeline service can also generally
refer to telephone service which has a redundant power supply
that maintains a connection to emergency services in case
of power outage.
Local Exchange Carrier (LEC)
Generally refers to incumbent local telephone companies such
as the Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) which traditionally
had the exclusive franchised right and obligation to provide
local services in their respective service areas.
MGCP (Media Control Gateway Protocol)
Standard protocol for IP telephony control resulting from
the combination of two other standards: Bellcore’s Simple
Gateway Control Protocol (SGCP) and IP Device Control (IPDC).
MGCP was originally intended for gateways but can be adopted
for terminals; its call processing function is decoupled from
the gateways (and terminals), and integrated with the gatekeeper
function in a central call server. MGCP served as the basis
for NCS.
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Media Gateway
Provides the bearer circuit interfaces to the PSTN and transcodes
the media stream. A PacketCable term for device that allows
for the flow of IP voice traffic onto the PSTN (circuit-switch),
and back again.
MTA (Multimedia Terminal Adapter)
A hardware device that interfaces standard analog phones to
an IP network providing analog voice, analog fax, and telephony
modem connection over an IP communications network. On the
user side, the MTA provides multiple telephone line ports.
Each telephone line port interfaces to standard analog touch-tone
devices. The MTA originates or terminates voice/fax telephone
calls at its telephone interface ports.
Media Server
A device that processes multimedia applications such as call
distribution, fax-on-demand, and automated e-mail response
programs.
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NCS (Network-based Call Signaling)
An extended variant of the MGCP call signaling protocol. The
NCS architecture places call state and feature implementation
in a centralized component, the Call Management Server (CMS),
and places device control intelligence in the MTA.
PacketCable
The PacketCable project managed by CableLabs is aimed at defining
interface specifications that can be used to develop interoperable
equipment capable of providing packet-based voice, video,
and other high-speed multimedia services over hybrid fiber
coax (HFC) cable systems utilizing the DOCSIS protocol.
Packet Switching
The method used to transmit data on data networks. Unlike
the public switched telephone network, packet-switched networks
do not reserve a circuit between end points. Instead, they
break up messages or files into many small packets. Each message
packet may take a different route from origin to destination,
traveling along network circuits that are shared with packets
from other messages.
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POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)
The basic service supplying standard single line telephones,
telephone lines and access to the public switched network.
PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network)
The traditional circuit-switched voice telephone network in
use today.
Quality of Service (QoS)
Providing a guarantee of bandwidth in the network for use
by applications.
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Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP)
The Internet-standard protocol for the transport of real-time
data, including audio and video.
Record Keeping Server (RKS)
In a PacketCable network, the RKS is responsible for accepting
event messages, incorporating partial billing information
generated by a distributed set of PacketCable elements and
correlating this information into a single coherent record
that describes the resources used during the service, and
passing this information on to the billing system.
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)
An Internet standard used to initiate, manage, and terminate
interactive sessions between one or more users on the Internet.
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Softswitch
A software-based system for handling call management functionality
that is handled in the PSTN by a traditional telephony hardware
switch device. Referred to in PacketCable as CMS.
SS7 (Signaling System 7)
The PSTN standard for signaling that is used for transmitting
information alongside the voice conversation of a phone call.
T-1 (Trunk Level 1)
A digital telephone link operating at a signaling speed of
1.544 Mbps, which is the equivalent of 24 individual phone
lines and can be used for voice or data.
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Trunk
A circuit that carries calls between Central Offices (COs)
and other systems such as PBXs or Inter Exchange Carriers.
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP)
Technology for transmitting voice conversations over a data
network using IP, the Internet Protocol.
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