4 Using the ATIS Telecom Glossary

4.1 About Terms
The terms and definitions contained herein are offered as an American National Standard to be used in a manner consistent with such standards.

Nearly all terms are listed alphabetically; a few exceptions to this rule are; (1) the family of networking topologies, which are grouped under the definition of “network topology,” and (2) the family of dispersion terms, which are grouped under the definition of “dispersion.” In all cases, cross references guide the reader to the location of the definition, while hyperlinks and the search engine provide instant access to the text of all entries. Term names containing numerals are alphabetized as though the numbers were spelled out; thus, “144-line weighting” will appear in the “O” portion of the alphabet between the terms “on-board communication station” and “one-part code,” since “144-line” is pronounced as if it were spelled “one-forty-four line. . . .” For user convenience, exceptions to the alphabetical-sequence rule are taken for entries comprising numerically consecutive terms, e.g., “digital signal 0,” . . . “digital signal 4,” which are grouped numerically following the “digital signal” entry.

This standard incorporates and supersedes T1.523-2001, Telecom Glossary 2000.

4.2 About Abbreviations and Acronyms
An abbreviation for the term name often appears in parentheses following the term name. When both the abbreviation and the spelled-out version of a term name are commonly used to name an entity defined in this glossary, the definition resides with the more commonly used version of the term name. For example, the definition of “decibel” resides under the term name “dB.” Hyperlinked cross references provided the user with easy access in all cases.

4.3 About Multiple Definitions
When more than one definition is supplied for a given term name, the definitions are numbered, with the more general definition given first. Succeeding definitions are often specific to a specialized discipline, and are usually so identified. No ranking or importance is implied in the numbered sequence of definitions.

4.4 About Figures and Multimedia Illustrations
Figures have been added to many definitions throughout the glossary to illustrate complex concepts or systems that are defined herein. A figure that is relevant to more than one definition has been inserted, for convenience, beneath all relevant definitions in this glossary. For example, the definition of “uplink” contains a figure that shows both an uplink path and a downlink path. The definition of “downlink” includes the same figure.

Video clips have been added to illustrate definition of complex video elements or attributes.

Audio clips have been added to illustrate definitions of audio concepts.

4.5 About Notes
Notes appended to the defining phrase are expository or tutorial in nature. Notes and cross references apply only to the immediately preceding definition unless stated otherwise.

4.6 About Cross-references
Several types of cross references are used:

• “Abbreviation for” (or “Acronym for”) is used to inform the reader of the fully spelled out version of the term under question. Often a definition or a hyperlink to a definition is provided.
• “See also” and “Contrast with” are used occasionally to amplify a definition by referring the reader to related (but different) definitions and thereby to extend the reader’s understanding of the concept addressed.
• “See” is used where an undefined term name is entered as a cross reference only to direct the reader to a related term name or term names also defined in the glossary.
• “Synonym” is used when term names are synonymous. The definition is usually placed under the generally preferred term name, which is usually the most common name. Occasionally the definition resides under two or more term names when each term is the common name in different individual disciplines. Synonyms are listed for cross-reference purposes. Terms labeled “synonym [loosely]” are in occasional informal use, but may be semantically inexact or may border on slang.

4.7 About Links
Nearly all hyperlinks, within definitions in this Glossary, connect internally to other related Glossary definitions. Few hyperlinks were created that point to Web documents outside the Glossary.

4.8 About Updated Terms
Term names that are semantically incorrect, that have been replaced by recent advances in technology, or that have definitions that are no longer applicable, are designated as “deprecated.” In such cases, the reader is referred to current term names, where applicable.

Use of definitions that carry the source citations “47CFR,” “47 CFR 36-A,” “RR,” or “NTIA,” are addressed with a cautionary note below.

Caution: Users of this standard are cautioned that in cases where term names or definitions have been extracted verbatim from sources embedded in law (e.g., Title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, [47CFR], or international treaty), in those cases, the wording of these legal definitions may have changed in the source documents [e.g., by legislative action] after this ATIS Telecom Glossary was completed. To be absolutely up to date, the user is advised to take the following cautionary measures: in any context where a CFR definition (or a Radio Regulations [RR] definition) may apply or may have legal ramifications, the user is advised to

• cite the term name and definition number (where more than one definition appears under that term name), and
• if applicable, research the legal definition currently in effect (or to be in effect at the time it is to be applied), and
• cite that definition as well as the one contained in this ATIS Telecom Glossary.

4.9 About Changes
When an individual considers that
this standard requires insertion or deletion of a definition, a statement citing
the essential need for that addition or deletion shall be sent to the PRQC Chair or ATIS Committee Administrator for forwarding to the editor(s) of the next revision.