Glossary of Internet Terms - FAQs -Internet Reference

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GIGABYTE - 1000 or 1024 Megabytes, depending on who is measuring.

HDSL - (High bit-rate Digital Subscriber Line) – A circuit consisting of one or more twisted wire pair that deliver T1 speeds. At present, this requires two lines.

HTTP – (HyperText Transfer Protocol) – The standard Internet protocol for the exchange of information on the World Wide Web. The user can view web pages and other sites.

internet - (Lower case i) Two or more networks connected together.  (See also Internet)

Internet - (Upper case I) The Internet is a network of networks that are connected using the TCP/IP protocols.  The Internet evolved from the ARPANET of the late 60's. The World Wide Web is a part of the Internet and was developed in the mid 1990’s.

IP – (Internet Protocol) - The way networks exchange data with each other, using a set of technology standards that enable information to be routed from one network to another using diverse routes. IP is used in routing E-Mail, Web browsing and FTP and Gopher sites. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) reassembles the packets back in sequence in the user’s browser.

Intranet - A private network inside a company or organization.  (See also extranet)

IP Number -- (Internet Protocol Number) A unique address on the Internet or private network consisting of 4 parts separated by dots, e.g.  123.00.00.456  URL’s, such as www.NOVACON.net, are converted to IP addresses by the digital routers that control Internet routing.

ISDL – (ISDN Digital Subscriber Line) - Protocol to deliver data at up to 128 kbps between 2 points, including remote office locations or the Internet.

ISDN – (Integrated Services Digital Network) - Gives a user up to 128 kbps if the line is only used for data.  Can be configured to allow one channel of voice services (often a fax line) and 64 – 128 kbps of “always on” data connection.

ISP - (Internet Service Provider) - An entity that provides commercial access to the Internet. These can range in size from someone operating dial-up access with a 56 kilobit line and several dozens of customers to providers with multiple pops in multiple cities and substantial backbones and thousands or even tens of thousands of customers.

Kbps - Kilobits Per Second

KILOBYTE – (abbreviated as K -or- KB) - A unit of measurement equivalent to one thousand bytes of computer memory or disk capacity.

LAN - (Local Area Network) - A computer network, usually in the same building or on the same floor of a building.  (See also WAN)

LATA - (Local Access and Transport Area) - This was created by the 1984 divestiture and defines a geographic area in which a local exchange carrier, or LEC provides services or connectivity.  Traffic that crosses from one LATA to another is the exclusive domain of the IXC.  The 358 LATA covers the Chicago area from roughly the Wisconsin state line to just South of Kankakee, and just West of Aurora and Ottawa to Lake Michigan and the Indiana state line.  

LOCAL LOOP - A pair of wires that connect the customer through the phone company’s central office and then on to its final termination point within the LATA, such as an ISP for Internet access, or to a remote office.  The circuit is capable of carrying voice, data or video (sometimes at the same time). The circuit is powered from the central office with 48V (open circuit voltage) limited in current to a value somewhat higher than 20mA. This current is used for signaling phone access, burning off moisture, breaking through metallic oxides caused by corrosion, or can power a carbon microphone.  Pricing for a local loop varies with the total mileage of the circuit. (NOVACON has excellent local loop pricing!) The two major components on a T-1 quote are the cost of the local loop and the cost of the desired bandwidth.

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