| A |
|---|
| ACK | Acknowledgment | |
| ACM | Address Complete Message | |
| AIN | Advanced Intelligent Network | "The Advanced Intelligent Network (AIN) is a telephone network architecture that separates service logic from switching equipment, allowing new services to be added without having to redesign switches to support new services. Developed by Bell Communications Research, AIN is recognized as an industry standard in North America." |
| AIOD | Automatic Identified Outward Calling | |
| ANI | Automatic Number Identification | |
| ANM | Answer Message | |
| ANSI | American National Standards Institute | ANSI facilitates the development of US domestic standards through concensus processes and communicates US standards to the international standards arena. |
| ANSI-41 | ANSI-41 | Is the standard for transaction based functionality on non-GSM celluar networks. Provides provision of SMS / HLR Update type services. |
| API | Application Programming Interface | "Access to the functionality of a software package is provided to a programmer/user through an API. The API could be a library that presents a set of function calls that a programmer can access at compile or run time or a GUI based API , message based API etc.." |
| ASCII | American Standard Code for Information Interexchange (ANSI) | "The ANSI 7-bit character code with, with an 8th bit for parity checking." |
| ASN.1 | Abstract Syntax Notation 1 | "ASN.1 is an internationally standardised, vendor independent, platform independent, and language independent notation for specifying data structures at a high level of abstraction. Used extensively to encode data structures in SS7 for transaction based signalling - i.e. TCAP,MAP,INAP" |
| AUC | Authentication Centre | The AUC stores confidential data and keys in a GSM network that are used to provide security. |
| B |
|---|
| BCD | Binary Coded Decimal | BCD uses four bits to represent digits |
| BCI | Backward Call Indicators | |
| BCLID | Bulk Calling Line Identification | |
| BER | Basic Encoding Rules | |
| BRA | Basic Rate Access ISDN | The provision of an ISDN service through 1.44kbits/s access |
| BSN | Backward Sequence Number | |
| C |
|---|
| CCITT | Consultative Committee on International Telephone & Telegraph | This was the previous (before June 1994) for ITU-T |
| CCS | Common Channel Signaling | A mode of operation whereby the the signalling channel is used as a datalink to carry call control and management signals and is not dedicated to particular bearer channels in a fixed pattern. |
| CDMA | Code Division Multiple Access | "Under CDMA, communications channels are created by assigning a special coding scheme to information flows. CDMA-based second generation cellular radio systems are in use in parts of Asia and North and South America." |
| CDSL | Customer Digital Subscriber Line | |
| CGB | Circuit Group Blocking Message | |
| CGU | Circuit Group Unblocking Message | |
| CIC | Carrier Identification Code | The CIC is a number used by switches at each end of a point-to-point telephony circuit (controlled by ISUP or TUP) to identify a specific bearer channel. The bearer channel is typically a single timeslot on a T-1/E-1 interface |
| CIDS | Calling Identity Delivery & Suppression | |
| CLID | Calling Line ID | |
| CLLI | Common Language Location Identification | |
| COT | Continuity Test Message | |
| CPG | Call Progress Message | |
| CRA | Circuit Reservation Acknowledgment Message | |
| CRC-4 | Cyclic Redundancy Check | A method of checking for transmission errors in E1 trunk lines. |
| CRM | Circuit Reservation Message | |
| CS-1 | Capability Set 1 | Refers to the SS7 Intelligent Network (IN) Standard ITU-T Intelligent Network CS-1 Stanard |
| CSC | Circuit Supervision Control | |
| CVR | Circuit Validation Response Message | |
| CVT | Circuit Validation Test Message | |
| D |
|---|
| DPC | Destination Point Code | The DPC is the Point Code Number for the piece of SS7 network equipment receiving SS7 Signalling |
| DPNSS | Digital Private Network Signalling System | A common channel signalling protocol for linking private digital exchanges (enabling PBX facilities such as call forwarding ot work over the entire network) |
| DSL | Digital Subscriber Line | There are many forms of DSL - this is the transmission technology carrying signalling over the local loop. |
| DSS1 | Digital Subscriber Signalling System no 1 | This is an ISDN user network interface. It is a common channel digital access signalling system. ITU-T recommendation is Q.931 and ETSI EN 300 403-1 |
| DTMF | Dial Tone Multifrequency | A tone signalling system available to POTS users with a multi-frequency key pad |
| E |
|---|
| E1 | E1 | "The European standard (see North Amercian T1). E1 carries information at the rate of 2.048 millions bits per second. E1 30 channels, 2.048 Mbps." |
| EIR | Equipment Identification Register | The EIR in a GSM Network stores the serial numbers (supplied by manufacturers) of the mobile terminals IMEI. |
| ETSI | European Telecommunications Standards Institute | ETSI produce regional telecom signalling protocol standards that are subsequently used in Europe and elsewhere. |
| F |
|---|
| FISU | Fill-in Signal Unit | |
| FSK | Frequency Key Shifting | |
| FSN | Forward Sequence Number | |
| FSS | Facility Selective Service | |
| FTP | Fast Transfer Protocol (IETF) | |
| G |
|---|
| GPRS | General Packet Radio Services | Packet switched data radio technology for GSM Networks. GPRS connections are always open giving mobile terminal users the same kind of network availability they may be used to from corporate networks. There are no set up and clear down times associated with data calls made via GPRS. Terminals can therefore effectively become a part of the Internet. |
| GRS | Group Reset Message | |
| GSC | Gateway Switching Center | |
| GSM | Global System for Mobile communication | "TDMA-based second generation mobile Cellular Radio technology, originated in Europe but now used in over 100 countries around the world. GSM supports voice, data and text messaging and allows roaming between different networks – which means that GSM users can take their phones with them to many parts of the world." |
| GTT | Global Title Translations | |
| GTV | Global Title Value | |
| H |
|---|
| H.323 | H.323 | An ITU-T suite of protocols designed for controlling multimedia communications over IP |
| HDLC | High Level Data Link Control | |
| HLR | Home Location Register | An HLR is a central database in a GSM network that stores all permanent subscriber data and the relevant temporary data of all subscribers. |
| I |
|---|
| IAM | Initial Address Message | |
| ICP | Intelligent Call Processing | |
| ICR | Intelligent Call Router | |
| IDLC | Integrated Digital Loop Carrier | |
| IDT | Integrated Digital Terminal | |
| IEEE | Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers | |
| IETF | Internet Engineering Task Force | |
| IMEI | International Mobile Station Equipment Identity | The IMEI uniquely identifies GSM mobile terminals internationally - it’s a serial number. Allocated by the manufacturer and registered in the network by operators in the EIR. |
| IMSI | International Mobile Subscriber Identity | When registering for a service on a GSM network a subscriber is assigned an IMSI number. Calls and services can only be used by a subscriber with a SIM card with a valid IMSI and IMEI number |
| INAP | Intelligent Network Application Part | "SS7 Protocol enabling Intelligent Network services. Networks using INAP deliver easily programmable services on a per customer basis, such as follow-me, televoting, pre-paid, and credit card calls." |
| INR | Information Request Message | |
| IP | Intelligent Peripheral or Internet Protocol (IETF) | |
| IPC | Interprocess Communication | |
| IPI | Intelligent Peripheral Interface | |
| ISDN | Integrated Services Digital Network | "ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a CCITT standard, covering a range of voice, data, and image services. It provides end to end, simultaneous handling of digitised voice and data traffic on the same links, via the same exchanges. " |
| ISDNUP | ISDN User Part | |
| ISO | International Standards Organization | |
| ISPC | International Signaling Point Code | |
| ISUP | ISDN User Part (circuit related) | "The functional part of the Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) protocol, (i.e., the part that specifies the interexchange signaling procedures for the setup and tear down of trunk calls between networks)." |
| ITU | International Telecommunication Union | |
| ITU-T | Telecommunication Standardization Sector (of ITU) | Before June 1994 the ITU-T was known as CCITT |
| ITU-TS | Telecommunication Standardization Sector (of ITU) | |
| IVR | Interactive Voice Response | Interactive Voice Response refers to those systems that provide information in the form of recorded messages over telephone lines in response to user input |
| L |
|---|
| LAN | Local Area Network | "A communication system that provides reliable high-speed, point to point, connections for routing data packets between devices in a single building or complex." |
| LCN | Logical Channel Number (x.25) | |
| LI | Length Indicator | |
| LINK SETS | Link Sets | Signaling data links are grouped into link sets. All links in a link set must connect to a single point code. Up to 16 links can be assigned to a single link set. |
| LNP | Local Number portability | |
| LOCREQ | Location Request | |
| LSSU | Link Status Signaling Unit | |
| M |
|---|
| MAP | Mobility Application Part | "The SS7 Protocol layer MAP provides a GSM Network with a mechanism to communicate between its component parts and other networks. It allows MSCs to communicate with VLR,HLR's and BSC's.It provides the underlying signalling for SMS and Location Based services." |
| MIN | Mobile Identification Number | |
| MSC | Mobile Switching Center | "The switching node of a GSM network is the Mobile Switching Centre. The MSC performs all the switching functions of a fixed-network switching node, e.g. routing path search,signall routing and service feature processing. In addition it has to control allocation of radio resources and subscriber mobility." |
| MSISDN | Mobile Station ISDN Number | "The real telephone number of a GSM subscriber. A mobile subscriber can have many MSISDN numbers - for different services - voice,fax,data" |
| MSRN | Mobile Station Roaming Number | A temporary location-dependent ISDN number on GSM Networks. It is assigned to the locally responsible VLR to each mobile station in its area. |
| MSU | Message Signaling Unit | |
| MTP | Message Transfer Part | "Provides physical, data link, and network layer functions. MTP transports information from the upper layers (including the user parts and SS7 applications) across the SS7 network and includes the network management procedures to reconfigure message routing in response to network failures. Refers to level 1 through 3 in the SS7 protocol stack (MTP1-MTP3)." |
| MUX | Multiplexer | A device used to allow a single communication circuit to take the place of several parallel ones. At the other end of the link a demultiplexer separates the channels. |
| N |
|---|
| NCP | Network Control Point | |
| NIC | Network Interface Card | An interface card allowing a node to be connected to a LAN. |
| O |
|---|
| OPC | Origination Point Code | The OPC is the Point Code of the SS7 equipment that is transmitting the SS7 signalling. |
| P |
|---|
| PBX | Private Branch Exchange | A switching system owned by a client that acts as an in-house telephone exchange with advanced features and capabilities. |
| PCM | Pulse Code Modulation | A method of digitally encoding speech |
| Point Code | Point Code | "A number that uniquely identifies a node in an SS7 network. Used to direct messages to the appropriate destination. Each switch, Service Control Point (SCP), Signal Transfer Point (STP), and IP (Intelligent Peripheral) has a unique point code in the SS7 network." |
| POTS | Plain Old Telephony System | |
| PPP | Point-to-Point Protocol | |
| PRI | Primary Rate Interface | |
| PSTN | Public Switched Telephone Network | |
| Q |
|---|
| Q.931 | Q.931 | A well know ITU-T standard for access signalling between an ISDN terminal and narrow band ISDN network. |
| S |
|---|
| SCCP | Signaling Connection Control Part | This allows non-circuit related signalling (such as TCAP) to be carried over SS7 routes. |
| SCE | Service Creation Environment | This allows the creation of services in an SS7 Intellignet Network environment. |
| SCP | Service Control Point (SS7) | Service Control Points contain centralized network databases for providing enhanced services. The SCP accepts queries from the Service Switching Point (SSP) and returns the requested information to the requestor. |
| SDLC | Synchronous Data Link Control | |
| SDSL | Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line | |
| SEP | Signaling Endpoint | |
| SF | Status Field | |
| SI | Service Indicator | |
| SIB | Service Independent Building Blocks | In the area of SS7 based Intelligent Networks this refers to the abstract representation of IN capabilities that allow IN services to be built. |
| SIF | Signaling Information Field | |
| SIM | Subscriber Identity Module | In GSM networks a subscriber is associated with a mobile station via the means of a personal chip card. |
| SIO | Signaling Information Octet | "SIO contains information on the identity of the user of an SS7 MTP message - eg. ISUP , TCAP" |
| SIP | Session Initiation Protocol | SIP is an IETF initiative that provides an alternative to the H.323 standard for VoIP signalling. |
| SLC | Signaling Link Code | |
| SMPP | Short Message Peer to Peer | This protocol allows communication into and between SMSC's. Often this protocol is provided as a means of providing third party SMS applications with single or bulk SMS delivery. |
| SMS | Short Message Service | A text message service that enables short messages of generally no more than 140-160 characters in length to be sent and transmitted from a cellphone. In a GSM network this service is enabled by the SS7 MAP Protocol. |
| SMSC | Short Message Service Centre | "A node in the network that receives all mobile originated text messages, determines the current status of the recipient, forwards the message to the appropriate destination subscriber, or stores them for later transmission." |
| SMTP | Simple Mail Transfer Protocol | |
| SNMP | Simple Network Management Protocol (IETF) | |
| SS7 | Signaling System #7 | "SS7 is a global standard for telecommunications defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T). It provides protocol signalling standards for both fixed and cellular networks allowing for circuit based telephony calls and transaction based services - i.e. delivery of SMS , Intellingent Network Services. " |
| SSP | Service Switching Point | "Service Switching Points are telephone switches interconnected by SS7 links. SSPs perform call processing on calls that originate, tandem, or terminate at that site. SSPs generate SS7 messages to transfer call-related information to other SSPs or to query an SCP for routing instructions." |
| STP | Signaling Transfer Point | "Signal Transfer Points are switches that relay messages between network switches and databases. Their main function is to route SS7 messages to the correct outgoing signaling link, based on SS7 message address fields." |
| T |
|---|
| T1 | T1 | "A North Amercian standard - 1.544 Mbps point-to-point dedicated, digital circuit provided by the telephone companies. T1 (DS1): 24 channels, 1.544 Mbps.See E1 for European standard." |
| TCAP | Transaction Capabilities Application Part | "Used for transporting non-circuit, transaction-oriented data across an SS7 network. Intially used for 800 number translation now used to implements services for applications such as GSM-MAP and IS-41. These ""applications"" provide IN services such as Home Location Register (HLR) or Short Message Service (SMS)." |
| TCP | Transmission Control Protocol | |
| TCP/IP | Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol | |
| TDMA | Time Division Multiple Access | "A method of allowing lower-speed channels to share a high-speed communication circuit, by allocating separate time slots to each channel. Each channel has access to the entire bandwidth of the link for a restricted time." |
| TMSI | Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity | In a GSM network the VLR can assign a TMSI in place of an IMSI for definiate identification purposes in the area handled by the VLR. |
| TUP | Telephone Users Part | |
| U |
|---|
| UDP | User Datagram Protocol | |
| UMTS | Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service | "UMTS provides the European standard for 3G specificed by ETSI. Whereas GSM uses TDMA , where each device has a fixed time slot allocation for the duration of a call, UMTS uses W-CDMA." |
| USSD | Unstructured Supplementary Services Data | USSD is a means of transmitting data or instructions over GSM Networks. It operates by providing a connection across the GSM network over which data is sent. Text messages can be up to 182 characters in length. |
| V |
|---|
| VLR | Visitor Location Register | In a GSM network the VLR stores the data for all mobile stations that are currentky staying in the administrative area of the associated MSC - typically there is a VLR per MSC. |
| VOIP | Voice Over Internet Protocol | Describes the provision of voice services over the packet based Internet Protocol - IP. |
| VPN | Virtual Private Network | |
| W |
|---|
| W-CDMA | | |
| WAN | Wide Area Network | |
| WATS | Wide Area Telephone Service | |
