Glossary - B
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B
B Channel
See Bearer Channel.
Backbone
High-capacity network infrastructure; the part that carries the heaviest traffic. The backbone is also that part of the network that joins LANs together - either inside a building or across a country. LANs are connected to the backbone by bridges and/or routers ; the backbone serves as a communications highway for LAN-to-LAN traffic.
Backplane
The high-speed communications line to which individual components are connected.
Backward Explicit Congestion Notification (BECN)
A bit in the frame relay header.
Bandwidth
The common measure of transmission capacity. For analog transmission, it is measured in cycles per second; for digital transmission, it is measured in bits per second.
Bandwidth on Demand Inter-Operability Group (BONDING)
An industry working group that develops common control and synchronization standards needed to manage high-speed data as it travels through the public switched telephone network (PSTN). These standards are for DS0 inverse multiplexing and switched services.
Baseband
Transmission scheme in which the entire bandwidth or data-carrying capacity, of a medium (such as a coaxial cable) is used to carry a single digital pulse, or signal, between multiple users. Because digital signals are not modulated, only one kind of data can be transmitted at a time.
Basic Rate ISDN (BRI)
A 2-wire line-side local switching system port that uses the 2B1Q line code at a 160 kilobit per second rate to transport overhead and up to two B channels and one D channel.
Basic Service
A telecommunications service limited to local switching and transmission.
Basic Service Element (BSE)
An Open Network Architecture term. BSEs are telecommunications services that enhanced service providers could get from their service provider. There are four general categories of BSE: Switching, signaling, transmission and network management.
Basic Serving Arrangement (BSA)
An Open Network Architecture term that defines the relationship between an enhanced service provider (ESP) and the service provider providing the telephone lines. It includes, for example, the basic interconnection access arrangement to the PSTN, the features and functions associated with that access link, and the transport service (switched or dedicated). Generally, the ESP may choose service elements from various alternatives.
Basic Trading Area (BTA)
Geographic boundaries that segment the United States for licensing purposes. BTAs are based on Rand McNally's Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide. BTA boundaries follow county lines and include the county or counties whose residents make the bulk of their purchases in that area. The FCC uses BTAs to license a number of services, including Personal Communications Services. See also Major Trading Area.
Baud
A measure of the speed of transmission of data; the number of elements transmitted per second.
Baudot
A seven-bit code that is used by some text messaging telephone services.
Beacon
Token ring frame signaling that the ring is inoperative because of a serious error such as defective cable or faulty nodes.
Bearer Channel (B Channel)
A 64 kilobits per second channel used for information transfer.
Beta Test
The stage at which a new product is tested under actual usage conditions. (Alpha testing is conducted in-house.)
BGP
Billing Account Number (BAN)
The primary telephone number used for billing regardless of the number of lines associated with that number.
Billing Name and Address (BNA)
The name and address used for billing.
Billing Telephone Number (BTN)
The ten-digit number, including the area code, to which charges for a given telephone service are billed.
Bipolar Eight Zero Substitution (B8ZS)
A DS1 line code that performs zero code suppression by replacing an all-zeros byte with a special pattern of ones and zeros that contains two consecutive bipolar violations.
Bipolar Violation (BPV)
The presence of two consecutive "one" bits of the same polarity on a T1 facility.
Bit
The smallest unit of information in the binary system of notation.
Bit Rate
The speed at which digital signals are transmitted, usually expressed in bits per second (bps).
Bit Seven (BIT7)
A TR008 DS1 line code that performs zero code suppression by placing a one in bit 7 of an all-zeros byte.
Blockage
The number of calls out of 100 attempts that meet delays in finding access.
Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
Protocol for communications between a router in one autonomous system and routers in another.
Bridge
A device that connects and passes data packets between two network segments.
Bridge Router
A device that can provide the functions of a bridge, router or both concurrently. A bridge/router can route one or more protocols, such as TCP/IP and/or XNS, and bridge all other traffic.
Broadband
A data-transmission scheme in which multiple signals share the bandwidth of a medium such as fiber-optic cable. This allows the transmission of voice, data and video signals over a single medium; for example, cable television uses broadband to deliver dozens of channel signals over a single cable.
Broadband Facility
A transmission facility that has a capacity greater than a voice grade line; for example, a broadband facility can carry numerous voice, video and data channels simultaneously.
Broadband Inter-Carrier Interface (BICI)
A carrier-to-carrier interface line PNNI (private network-to-network interface) that is needed because carriers do not permit their switches to share routing information or detailed network maps with their competition's equipment. NOTE: BICI supports permanent virtual circuits between carriers; however, the ATM Forum is currently addressing switched virtual circuits.
Business Addl Wireless Router 802.11G - 5/2, 10/2
An intelligent device near the edge of the network that forms data packets and selects the most expedient route for data to travel.
Business Call Answering
One of Verizon's Voice Messaging options for businesses. Learn more.
Business Links Rewardssm
Verizon's Business Linksm Rewards is a free rewards program for business customers that gives bonus credits for every dollar spent on qualifying local and regional toll services when the total monthly Verizon bill exceeds $125. Bonus credits are earned after other discounts have been applied.
Business/Residence Indicator
A code that identifies the end-user service type (business or residence).
Busy Redial
When reaching a busy signal, Automatic Busy Redial will store and redial the last number you dialed. Once the line is free, Busy Redial alerts you with a distinctive ring and connects you automatically. Learn more.
Bypass Mode
Operating mode on FDDI and token ring networks where an interface has de-inserted from the ring.
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