Glossary of Terms
T-X
T
TA - Terminal Adapter
Allows existing non-ISDN terminals to operate on ISDN lines. It provides conversion
between a non ISDN terminal device and the ISDN user/network interface.
Tandem - An exchange used to switch network traffic between other nodes.
TAC - Trunk Access Class
TAPI - Telephony Applications Programmers Interface
A standard for CTI developed by Microsoft and Intel associated with PC based computer
systems. It is an open standard which permits the direct control of a telephone
from a windows based application.
TCP/IP - Transport Control Protocol/Internet Protocol
TE1 - Terminal Equipment Type 1
ISDN-compatible terminals. A TE1 can be an ISDN telephone, a personal computer capable
of working with ISDN, a video-phone etc any device that can attach to and work with
ISDN.
TELNET - Network terminal emulation protocol. Simple protocol to allow programs to exchange ASCII and control characters over network interfaces, as though the data were being produced/displayed by a normal terminal.
Terminal - Any device capable of sending or receiving information over a communication channel.
Tie Line - A permanent communications link between 2 or more PBXs provided by a PTT/PTO.
TJF - Test Jack Frame (See MDF)
Trunk - An individual circuit, provided by either a public network operator or via a private network capable of carrying an individual telephone call (either incoming or outgoing).
Trunk performance - A measurement of the efficiency and utilisation of a particular trunk.
TS - Trunk Select. A button on a terminal which can be pressed to answer incoming trunk calls on that button.
TSAPI - Telephony Service Application Prog Interface
The equivalent of TAPI in a Novell environment where control of the telephone is
initiated over the LAN rather than by direct connection to the telephone.
U
Unified Messaging - Brings voicemail, E-mail and fax together over a LAN (Local Area Network) and integrates then in on convenient mailbox.
V
V Series - ITU recommendations covering data transmission over telephone circuits.
V.24 - Standard serial port (equivalent to RS-232C).
VAN - Value Added Network
Network built using the communications offerings of traditional common carriers,
but connected to computers that permit new types of telecoms tariffs to be offered.
Video-conferencing - Communication using systems which support image, voice and data transfer over digital circuits. Videoconferencing systems can take the form of large, dedicated units for group meetings or can be integrated with desktop PCs.
VIOCA - Visually Impaired Operator Console Attachment
Visual Mailboxes - A way for you to view, analyse and manage your unified messages from you PC screen.
Voicemail - A configuration of personal voice mailboxes in which messages can be stored.
Voice messaging system - Hardware and software products that operate with most PBX, hybrid or key systems allowing users to send, receive and redirect voice messages through office telephone systems and computers. Also called voice mail.
Voice processing system - Hardware and software products that encompass voice messaging, voice recognition, voice response and any applications that deal with the processing of voice communications.
Voice recognition - A system that translates human voice into computer commands. Also known as speech recognition.
Voice response system - A computer connected device that can selectively link sentences of stored words to create an appropriate spoken message.
VPN - Virtual Private Network
The provision of facilities normally associated with a private telecoms network
over the shared lines, exchanges, and switches of a public network.
X
X series
ITU recommendations covering data transmission over digital circuits. e.g. X.25,
X.75.