A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z
Access BPL:
A technology used to carry broadband communication traffic over power lines in the last mile between the backbone and the subscriber. Installing an Access BPL network provides a Utilities' subscribers with broadband communication access to the IP global village, over the Web.
Access Hopping: In a typical communication network, the constant changes in the electricity wire conditions, as well as the fluctuating demands in bandwidth, require even more dynamic solutions than those of other broadband network media. MainNet’s patented Access Hopping (AH) technique uses a network cell topology similar to that used in the cellular phone market, where each cell phone automatically migrates between base-stations. This technique enables dynamic routing of up to 1000 connected users in a single cluster, while maintaining high-frequency bandwidth.
AMR:
Automated Meter Reading — collection and transmission of meter readings and other data back to and from the Utility Network Operations Center (NOC), using Power Line Communications or other means of communication (see more in Broadband AMR).
Backbone:
The top level of a hierarchical communication network; the central connection; the main data lines along which data is transferred. It is the portion of a network that connects servers with others. Smaller networks are attached to the backbone. A backbone can span a geographic area of any size, from a single building to an entire campus - or even an entire country.
Backhaul:
The transmission links between cell sites and the operator's switching center. In general, transmitting data from remote locations over the network backbone to a point from which it can be distributed over the network.
Bandwidth:
Unit of measurement that describes the volume of information being sent through a connection. Bandwidth is usually measured in bits-per-second (bps).
BPL Modem:
An analog-to-digital modulation device that uses BPL technology to transmit broadband communication over powerlines. One end plugs into a standard, wall-mounted power outlet socket, and the other to a computer's network interface port.
Broadband:
An always-on, high-bandwidth network connection using one of a variety of technologies – for example, Internet Protocol (IP). Broadband refers to telecommunication in which a wide band of frequencies is used to transmit data. The wide band permits data to be sent concurrently on many different frequencies within the band, allowing a greater amount of data to be sent in a given amount of time. The FCC defines broadband as anything over 300 bps. However, a more generally accepted definition could be the 500 Kbps up to 3 Mbps offered by BPL, cable and DSL.
Broadband AMR:
Automated meter reading using high bandwidth to transmit meter readings and other data back to a Utility's Network Operations Center (NOC), allowing multiple Smart Grid applications to run in parallel. Broadband AMR typically uses BPL for transferring the data.
Broadband over Powerline (BPL):
A technology that uses wide band frequencies to transmit data over Utility power lines. BPL operates by modulating high-frequency radio waves with the digital signals from the Internet. The radio waves are then fed into the Utility grid at certain points, traveling along the power lines and passing through the Utility transformers to subscribers' homes and businesses. To receive broadband communication services, a subscriber installs a modem that plugs into a standard power outlet socket. In addition, BPL technology is used for broadband AMR, to enable the utilization of multiple Smart Grid applications in parallel.
Cable:
Cable broadband technology uses the same hybrid fiber and coaxial cable network that carries cable TV signals. The term hybrid signifies that fiber is used to carry signals from a serving location to a suburb, while a coaxial cable is used to carry the TV and broadband signals from the suburb to the end-user premises.
CSMA/CA:
The Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Avoidance technique, designed for data transmission where reliable collision detection is not possible – such as, in powerline communications. Performance improvement is achieved by reducing the probability of collision and retry.
Capacitive Coupler:
Devices used to connect BPL modems to medium-voltage power lines. A capacitive coupler transfers communication signals onto the power line in a capacitive manner, without directly connecting to the line.
Coupling:
The desirable or undesirable transfer of energy from one medium (such as, metallic wire) to another medium (such as, fiber optic). Alternatively, the transfer of power from one circuit segment to another. In BPL technology, the term coupling refers to the transfer of communication signals onto a medium-voltage power line without directly connecting to the line, using inductive or capacitive couplers.
CPE:
Customer-Premises Equipment or Customer-Provided Equipment — any terminal and associated equipment located at a subscriber's premises and connected via a carrier's telecommunication channel(s) to the demarcation point ("demarc"). The demarc is a point established in a building or complex to separate customer equipment from that of the telephone company.
DSL:
Digital Subscriber Line — a broadband delivery technology used mostly by telecom operators. Today, there are several DSL technologies known in the marketplace: ADSL – asymmetric DSL in which data is transmitted faster from the local telephone exchange to the broadband user or subscriber (download), than from the end-user premises to the exchange (upload); SHDSL – symmetrical high-speed DSL, and VDSL: Very high speed symmetrical DSL.
Electrical Load Balancing:
The use of various energy storage techniques used by electrical power generation plants to store surplus electrical power during low-demand periods, for release as demand rises.
Ethernet:
The IEEE's 802.3 standard for local area networking (LAN) that enables computers to communicate with each other, over a wired network. Usually, Ethernet uses a coaxial or twisted pair cable, although fiber and wireless versions are also available.
Fiber:
An optical fiber line intended for high-bandwidth data transmission. The fiber consists of an extremely thin glass cylinder core surrounded by a concentric layer of glass sheath. Data is transmitted along fiber lines in the form of modulated pulses of light. Potentially, the bandwidth that can be passed through fiber could be as high as 2.5Gbps.
Gateway:
In a communications network, a network node used for interfacing with another network that uses different protocols. A gateway may contain devices such as protocol translators, impedance matching devices, rate converters, fault isolators, or signal translators, as necessary to provide system interoperability. In addition, a gateway requires the establishment of mutually-acceptable administrative procedures between the two networks.
High Voltage:
The voltage used by energy Utilities for the long-distance transmission of electricity on a transmission grid. For this purpose, typical voltages are in the range of 155,000 to 765,000 volts. The generator voltage (which is thousands of volts) is converted to High Voltage, in order to reduce voltage losses along the transmission lines.
HomePlug:
HomePlug is an industrial Alliance comprising industry leaders at each level of the value chain - from Technology through to Services and Content. The mission of the Alliance is to enable and promote the rapid availability, adoption and implementation of cost- effective, interoperable and Standards-based electric home networks and electrical products.
HomePlug is defining standards in three key technological areas:
- HomePlug 1.0 + AV (in-home connectivity, including digital home and consumer electronics applications)
- HomePlug BPL (to-the-home, Broadband-over-Powerline applications)
- ;HomePlug Home Automation (command-and-control applications)
Hotspot:
An area in which an access point provides public wireless broadband network services to users, through a wireless LAN or Wi-Fi.
Inductive Couplers:
Devices used to connect BPL modems to medium-voltage power lines. An inductive coupler transfers communication signals onto the power line by wrapping around the line, without directly connecting to the line.
Internet:
A vast collection of inter-connected networks. The Internet connects tens of thousands of independent networks into a vast global Internet — and is probably the largest Wide Area Network (WAN) in the world.
IP:
Internet Protocol the universal computer language that made the Internet possible.
ISP:
Internet Service Provider — the company that leases and manages connections to the Internet for almost all homes and businesses.
Last Mile:
A term used for any telecommunications technology that carries signals along the short distance between the main public telecommunications network, and the home or business premises (i.e., the infrastructure at the neighborhood level, or local loop). The actual distance of the "Last Mile" can vary.
Low Voltage:
In electricity grids, the voltage that is used for standard household electrical services, and does not exceed 250 volts.
MDU:
Multi-Dwelling Unit — a segment of the real estate industry having buildings (such as, apartment complexes, condos, hotels and resorts) with multiple occupants, and delivering a variety of services (such as, broadband) to those occupants.
Medium Voltage:
The voltage used by energy Utilities to transmit electricity over a distribution grid, typically within neighborhoods or in rural areas. This is generally between 6,000 and 33,000 volts and is stepped down from the high-voltage lines, in power substations. Medium-voltage power lines are the electricity lines seen at the top of an electricity Utility’s poles beside roadways, in areas that do not have an underground electricity service or underground cable lines.
MTU:
Multi Tenant Unit — a telecom term referring to a building with multiple offices or apartments.
Network:
In communications, a network of telecommunication links arranged so that messages may be passed from one part of the network to another, over multiple links. Telecommunication network links may in turn be built out of hierarchical transmission systems. Examples of telecommunications networks are computer networks, the Internet and the Public Switched Telephone Network.
NOC:
Network Operation Center placed in one or more locations in an organization, into which information is collected, and from which the communication network is managed and controlled. The term is normally used when referring to telecommunications providers, although a growing number of other organizations (such as, public Utilities and private companies) have also adopted these centers - both for managing their internal networks and to provide monitoring services.
OEM:
Original Equipment Manufacturer — a company that assembles components manufactured by other companies, and sells the products under its own brand name.
OFDM:
Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing — although based on the principle of frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), OFDM is implemented as a digital modulation scheme. It has developed into a popular technique used for wideband digital communication systems.
PLC:
Power Line Communications — a term mainly used to describe narrowband communication services over the Utility grid. However, sometimes it is also used to describe broadband communication services over power lines. (See BPL, Broadband Power Line)
Power Outage:
A failure to supply electrical power to an area, caused either by damage of a power station that affects a power line, or by damage occurring in other parts of the distribution system.
QoS:
Quality of Service — refers to control mechanisms that can provide different priorities to different users or data flows, or guarantee a certain level of data flow performance in accordance with requests from the application program.
Repeater:
In Access broadband over power line (BPL) systems, a BPL repeater is a device used to boost the distance the signal can travel over the electricity grid. While a typical BPL signal travels down line for only 1,000 to 3,000 feet (300 to 900 meters), a BPL repeater is used to increase this distance by re-transmitting the signal. Advanced repeaters use Smart repetition to improve the quality of the signal and to constantly adapt the signal to the changing conditions in the electrical environment. Therefore, use of a BPL repeater also facilitates extension of the BPL network by enabling the installation of new units, without requiring any pre-configuration.
RF:
Radio Frequency — used as a generic term in many industries to describe radio signals that are used for communication purposes.
Smart Repetition:
To meet the changing demands for bandwidth and speed when using BPL for broadband communication services, the Smart Repetition technique allows each unit within a BPL network to choose the best route to achieve the highest performance, at any given time. This dynamic routing feature enables the service provider to maintain quality of service (QoS) at all times, while permitting Plug-and-Play installation and maintenance of the system.
SCADA:
Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition — a system used by power Utilities to send and collect supervisory controls and to monitor electricity power distribution and generation. Powerline communications can be used as a means of transferring data between the SCADA system and the monitored devices.
Smart Grid:
A known name for an ever-widening range of Utility applications - such as, broadband AMR, power outage management, predictive failure analysis and control and power theft detection. Smart Grid applications are aimed at enhancing and automating the monitoring and control of electricity or other Utility distribution networks - for added reliability, efficiency and cost-effective operation.
TCP:
Transmission Control Protocol — usually written with Internet protocol as TCP/IP, and together comprising the suite of protocols that defines the Internet.
Triple Play:
The bundle of three services (TV, telephone and high-speed Internet) originally delivered over proprietary networks, usually by separate companies. IP technology enables such services to be delivered digitally over any single broadband connection - by one provider, billing the services on one invoice.
UDP:
User Datagram Protocol — one of the core protocols of the Internet protocol suite. Using UDP, programs running on networked computers are able to send short messages (sometimes known as datagrams) to each other.
Utility:
A municipal or private business that provides electricity, water, district heating or gas to the public and is subject to governmental regulation.
VoIP:
Voice over Internet Protocol — a real-time communication technique that converts voice into digital packets containing media and signaling data, which is transmitted over networks using Internet Protocol, allowing users/subscribers to send and receive voice calls over the Internet.
Wi-Fi:
Wireless Fidelity — a form of short-range (up to 0.1 kilometers) wireless networking, supporting download rates of up to 54Mbps. This technology enables the connection of two or more computers, without the necessity for physical cabling between them. Wi-Fi is used in many community wireless networks and in the provision of wireless 'hotspots' set up in hotels, coffee shops, airports, etc. Wi-Fi may also be used to create a wireless network in the home or office.
Wireless:
A term used to describe broadband technologies where data is transmitted by radio wave and microwaves - i.e., there are no physical links between the networked devices. The variety of different forms of wireless broadband includes FWA, Wi-Fi and WiMAX.
Wireline:
A term used to describe telecommunications systems, where a service is provided over some form of cabled or wired network (e.g. copper, fiber optic) as opposed to a wireless or radio network.
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