Glossary

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

A

API

Application Programming Interface - A set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications. Most operating environments, such as Microsoft Windows, provide an API so that programmers can write applications consistent with the operating environment. Although APIs are designed for programmers, they are ultimately good for users because they guarantee that all programs using a common API will have similar interfaces.

 

Authentication

Security method used to prevent hackers from getting through corporate firewalls. When a user wishes to access an internal server, the server asks the user's system for some form of ID to authenticate the user as a legitimate user.

Auto Commissioning

Also known as WebSetup. The process of registering the DIRECWAY satellite adapter for your account. This forms based process first dials into the registration server and downloads the latest forms, then hangs up the phone line as the user fills out the forms. Upon completion of the forms, the phone once again dials the server and uploads all information provided by the user.

Azimuth

Also known as the magnetic azimuth. This is the compass direction the antenna is pointing.

B

Backbone

A LAN or WAN that interconnects intermediate systems (bridges and/or routers). Large capacity, high speed, long distance links.

 

Bandwidth

The amount of data that can be sent through a connection, usually measured in bits-per-second (bps). Greater bandwidth means more information can be transmitted per unit of time.

 

bit

Short for binary digit, the smallest unit of computer information often denoted by 'b' as in bps.

Broadcast

Transmitting data to all users on a network.

 

Browser

Client program used to search, retrieve, and present information from the World Wide Web. Examples: Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Explorer

byte

Eight consecutive bits often denoted by 'B', as in Bps.

C

Cache

A cache stores information where you can get to it fast. A Web browser cache stores an HTML page’s code as well as any graphics, and multimedia elements embedded in it. When you go back to that page, the basic core of the page is already on your hard drive.

CAC

Conditional Access Controller - A DIRECWAY service utilizing encryption technology to protect the various DIRECWAY services from unauthorized access.

CPU

Central Processing Unit is the microprocessor chip in your computer, which handles the central management functions of the PC.

CRC

Cyclic Redundancy Check - A technique for detecting and correcting data transmission errors by the receiver.

D

DAK

DIRECWAY Access Kit - The USB modem or PCI adapter card and antenna that allow a PC to receive the DIRECWAY signal.

 

Dial up

A type of communication that is established by a switched-circuit connection using the telephone network.

 

DSL

Digital Subscriber Line.

DVB

Digital Video Broadcast.  Signal format used by DIRECWAY Systems

 

DNS

Domain Name Service - An Internet service that translates domain names to an Internet Protocol (IP) based address such as 192.168.x.y. If a particular server cannot resolve a name to an address, it will poll other servers until one can translate it.

Driver

A program that controls a hardware device. Drivers act like a translator between the device and programs that use the device. Each device has its own set of specialized commands that only its driver knows. These files usually have an extension of either .sys or .drv in the Microsoft world.

E

Elevation

The number of degrees the antenna is pointed above the horizon.

Encryption

The translation of data into a secret code. Encryption is the most effective way to achieve data security. To read an encrypted file, you must have access to a secret key or password that enables you to decrypt it

 

Ethernet

A common method of networking computers in a LAN. Ethernet will handle about 10 million bps and can be used with almost any kind of computer.

F

Firewall

A host computer configured to filter and control network traffic to and from the outside world.

 

FTP

File Transfer Protocol often used for downloading large files from the internet.

G

Gateway

A hardware or software setup that translates between two dissimilar protocols. Also, any mechanism used to provide access to another system.

 

GUI

Graphical User Interface

H

HGW Hybrid Gateway

Computer in the NOC that directly interfaces with the Internet and spoofs IP addresses. Handles two-way TCP traffic to users. It provides the DIRECWAY uplink traffic, handles flow control to respond to satellite channel overload, and also acts as a proxy for return channel traffic.

HTML

Hyper Text Markup Language - The coding language used to create Hypertext documents for use on the World Wide Web.

HTTP Hyper Text Transfer Protocol

The protocol for moving hypertext files across the Internet. This is the most important protocol used in the World Wide Web.

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I

Internet

A system of linked computers and computer networks, international in scope, that facilitates data communication services.

 

Internet Protocol - (IP)

The part of TCP/IP that handles the movement of data packets from source to destination computers.

 

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

Organization maintaining its own backbone network connected to the Internet and providing Internet access to organizations and individuals. It provides a connection to E-Mail and Newsgroup Services to its customers.

 

IP Address

Unique 4-byte number that identifies a host on an IP Network. It is normally written as four decimals separated by dots, e.g. 146.188.3.119.

 

IP Datagram

The messaging format used by computer to communicate with other computers over TCP/IP networks.

 

IRQ Requests

How peripheral devices get the CPUs attention.

 

IRQ Steering

Allows more than one peripheral device to “share” the same IRQ. 

 

IRU

Indoor Receive Unit. The satellite adapter that receives data from the satellite.

ITU

Indoor Transmit Unit. The satellite adapter that transmits data to the satellite.

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J

K

L

LAN - Local Area Network

A network that connects computers in a small pre-determined area (like a room, a building, or a set of buildings).

 

Latitude

A geographical term that denotes distance North or South of the equator.

Longitude

A geographical term that dentoes distance East or West of the Prime Meridian at Greenwich, England.

LNB

Low Noise Block - Part of the antenna system that amplifies the received signal from the antenna and converts it from a microwave signal to a lower frequency signal. The lower frequency signal can then be carried on coaxial cable to the DIRECWAY adapter.

M

Multicast

Transmitting messages to a select group of recipients in a network. In the DIRECWAY world, this select group of recipients is called a community.

N

NOC

National Operations Center - The heart of the DIRECWAY systemwith multiple connections to the Internet backbone.

O

 

One-way

A DIRECWAY product both and receives data via satellite but requests data from the Internet via a conventional terrestrial telephone connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

P

Peripheral Devices

The hardware, outside or inside the case or housing for the essential computer (processor, memory, and data paths) that is capable of providing input to the essential computer or of receiving output or of both.

 

Polarization

The angle of rotation, either clockwise or counter-clockwise, of the oval shaped DIRECWAY Satellite dish.

POP3

Post Office Protocol (version 3) - A protocol used to retrieve email from your mail server.

PPP

Point-to-Point Protocol - A method of connecting your PC to your local ISP, and provides error checking features.

Protocol

An agreed upon, standardized format for communicating between computers or devices.

Proxy

Also known as Proxy Server - A cache on a Web Server which acts as an intermediary between a Web client and that Web server. It basically holds the most commonly and recently used content from the World Wide Web for users in order to provide quicker access.

Q

R

RAM

Random Access Memory is hardware inside your computer that retains memory on a short-term basis. This information is stored temporarily while you're working on it.

 

Registry

A database application used by Microsoft Operating Systems since 1995 to store configuration information. Most Windows applications write information to the registry during installation for use during boot and application startup.
WARNING! Incorrect registry modifications have the potential to disable your computer.

 

Remote User

A telecommuter, individual contractor, business traveler, or nomadic user who needs client access to a corporate enterprise LAN over dial-up WAN links.

 

S

T

TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol

A set of rules that establish the method by which data is transmitted over the Internet between two computers.

 

Turbo Internet

Turbo Internet provides a high speed broadband connection to the Internet.

Transponder

A satellite component that receives and retransmits data.

Terrestrial

Earthbound

 

Tunneling

This is the practice of encasing one protocol in another protocol. Private data packets are secured using encryption, authentication or integrity functions and are then encased in IP packets for transport across the Internet.

Two-way

A DIRECWAY product both transmits to and receives data via satellite.

 

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U

Universal Serial Bus - USB

A hardware standard for external device connections that converts the data bus world of the CPU (parallel) into the “one bit at a time (serial) world of external devices. Examples are:  a mouse, modems, game controllers, and keyboards.  USB supports Plug and Play installation so that you can easily add new devices to your computer without having to add an adapter card or shut down.

 

Uplink

Data path carrying data from an earthstation up to the satellite.

V

VPN - Virtual Private Network

The use of public IP networks (the Internet) as private corporate communication systems to directly and securely exchange data between remote users and their LANs or intranets.

W

Websetup

The process of registering the DIRECWAY  satellite adapter for your account.  The client PC connects to the Internet using either a DIRECWAY 800 number or the customer’s ISP, downloads the latest forms, then hangs up the phone line while the user fills out the forms.  Upon completion of the forms, the client PC again connects to the Internet and uploads all information provided by the user. 

 

World Wide Web (WWW)

A distributed information service based around online hypertext documents accessed using a Web browser.

X

Y

Z