M2M & Mobile Internet Glossary

Applications, theory and product related information can be found at www.totalremotecontrol.com

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 Z

1G - First generation wireless: analogue cellphones.
2G - Second generation wireless: digital cellphones.
2.5G - 2G plus faster data services: GPRS
3G - Third generation or "3rd generation mobile telecommunication system" (UMTS)
3GPP - 3rd Generation Partnership Project which is a co-operation of standards organisations.

A
AH - Authentication Header
AIM - Application Interface Module
Air interface - The radio frequency section of the circuit between the mobile device and the active base station.
Air Interface Protocol - The protocol used across the air interface.
API - Application Programmatic Interface - an interface by which one application can interface to another.
APN - Access Point Name: the reference used by the Mobile Station to identify the required external network.
ARP - Address Resolution Protocol
ATM - Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Authentication - The process of verifying the identity of a user, terminal, or service provider.

B
Bandwidth - A measure of network capacity to transport data: measured in kbits/sec (kbps) or Mbits/sec (Mbps)
Base station (BS) - The common name for the radio equipment used for serving a number of several cells.
BER - Bit Error Rate
BLER - Block Error Rate
Bluetooth - A wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) standard that allows devices to connect over a short range.
BOOTP - Bootstrap Protocol
BPSK - Binary Phase Shift Keying
BS - Base Station
BSS - Base Station Subsystem
BTS - Base Transceiver System

C

CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access is a multiple access technique.
Cell - The radio coverage area of a base station.
CHAP - Challenge Handshaking Protocol.
Circuit Switched (CS) Network - A network that provides a communications channels for the sole use of a single user.
Circuit Switching - A method of communicating in which a dedicated path is established between two devices through one or more intermediate switching nodes. Bandwidth is guaranteed and delay is essentially limited to propagation time
CORBA - Common Object Request Broker Architecture
CPCH - Common Packet Channel
CRC - Cyclic Redundancy Check

D
DBMS - Database Management System
DCA - Dynamic channel allocation
DCN - Data Communications Network
DDNS - Dynamic Domain Name Service
DECT - Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications
DHCP - Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
DNS - Domain Name Server. The service providing mappings between domain names and IP addresses.
Downlink (DL) - Direction of data transfer from the network to the mobile device.
Dual Band - Ability of the GSM network and handsets to operate across two frequency bands( 900MHz and 1800MHz ).

E
EDGE - Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution. A system to enable data speeds of up to 384kbit/s using existing GSM infrastructure.
Encryption - A function used to transform data so as to hide its information content to prevent its unauthorised use.
ESME - External Short Message Entity - A transmitter and receiver of SMS messages.
ESP - Encapsulated Security Payload
ETSI - European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

F
Fading - Loss of radio signal due to multipath propagation.
FDD - Frequency Division Duplex
FDMA - Frequency Division Multiple Access
FEC - Forward Error Correction
FER - Frame Error Rate
FTP - File Transfer Protocol

G
GGSN - Gateway GPRS Support Node: provides connectivity between the GPRS domain and external data networks such as the Internet and Corporate Intranets. Each external network is given a unique Access Point Name (APN), which is used to establish the connection to the required destination network.
GPRS - General Packet Radio Service is an implementation of packet switching within GSM (which is basically a circuit switched technology). Rather than sending a continuous stream of data over a permanent connection, packet switching only utilises the network when there is data to be sent.
GPS - Global Positioning System. A system of 24 satellites used for identifying earth locations to within a few metres.
GSM - Global System for Mobile Communications. Digital cellphone system used throughout Europe based on TDMA.
GSN - GPRS Support Node
GTP - GPRS Tunnelling Protocol
GUI - Graphical User Interface

H
H.323 - A protocol for the transmission of real-time audio, video and data information over packet switched networks.
Handover - The action of switching a call in progress from one cell to another (intercell) or between radio channels in the same cell (intracell) without interruption of the call.
HLR - Home Location Register - A database within the GSM network which holds subscriber's subscription information including data relating to the current location of the customers.
HSCSD - High Speed Circuit Switched Data. A permanent (circuit switched) connection between users for data exchange
HTTP Hypertext Transfer Protocol

I
ICMP Internet Control Message Protocol
IKE Internet Key Exchange (formerly ISAKMP/Oakley)
iMode - Japanese network NTT DoCoMo runs iMode, which is packet-switched network.
IMSI - International Mobile Subscriber Identity which is used by GSM/GPRS to identify a customer.
IMT-2000 - International Mobile Telecommunications 2000. The ITU initiative for a service that will provide radio access to the global telecommunications infrastructure.
Interactive service - A means for the bi-directional exchange of information between users or between users and hosts.
Internet Protocol (IP) - The IP part of the TCP/IP communications protocol.
Interoperability - The ability of multiple entities in different networks or systems to operate together.
ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network.
ISP - Internet Service Provider
ITU - International Telecommunications Union. A United Nations organisation responsible for co-ordinating global telecommunications activities, especially in the areas of standards setting, radio spectrum allocation and regulation.

J
Jitter - The variability in the time taken for data packets to pass through the GPRS bearer

K

L
L1 - Layer 1 (physical layer)
L2 - Layer 2 (data link layer)
L2F - Layer 2 Forwarding Protocol
L3 - Layer 3 (network layer)
LAC - Link Access Control
LAN - Local Area Network
Latency - The time taken for data packets to be pass through GPRS bearer, normally measured as a round-trip time
LDAP - Lightweight Directory Access Protocol
LLC - Logical Link Control
LLC Acknowledged - GPRS mode of operation where data transfer is acknowledged at the LLC layer.
Location service - A particular mobile service in which location information can be provided to authorised users.

M
MA - Multiple Access
MAC - Medium Access Control
Macro cells - Cells with a large cell radius, typically several tens of km. Characterised by low-to-medium traffic density with support for moderate speeds.
ME - Mobile Equipment
Mega (satellite) cells - Provide coverage to large areas. Particularly useful for remote areas with low traffic density.
Micro cells - Cells with low antenna sites, predominantly in urban areas, with a typical cell radius of up to 1 km.
MMI - Man-Machine Interface
MO - Mobile Originated
Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) - A network of communication satellites intended for use with mobile and portable wireless telephones.
Mobile service - A service with a set of capabilities that allows some combination of terminal mobility and service profile management.
MS - Mobile Station.
MSC - Mobile Switching Centre
Multi-band terminal - Terminal equipment with the capability of accessing services using different frequency bands.
MMS - Multi-Media Services is the ability to send and receive video and audio from your phone.
MT - Mobile Terminated
MUI - Mobile User Identifier

N
Narrowband - A classification of a communication channel that is often taken to mean a bandwidth of 64kbit/s or less.
NAT - Network Address Translation.
NE - Network Element
Network Architecture - A network configuration which identifies and defines entities and interfaces.
NOS - Network Operating System
Network operators - A provider of network capabilities needed to support the services offered to subscribers.
NRT Non-Real Time
Non-Transparent - A mode of operation used in the GSM circuit-switched data service where user data is acknowledged or a mode of operation in GPRS where a customer's identity is authenticated prior to the completion of PDP context establishment

O
Optimisation Middleware - Application software used to improve the performance of the basic bearer service

P
Packet – Data transmitted over a packet-switching network such as the Internet. A packet includes not just data but also much more such as source and destination information.
Packet switching - A method of transmitting messages through a communication network, in which long messages are subdivided into short packets and routed to a final destination.
Packet transfer mode - Transmission and switching functions achieved by packet oriented techniques.
PBX - Private Branch Exchange
PCS - Personal Communications System
PDA - Personal Digital Assistant. Handheld computer or personal organiser device.
PDN - Packet Data Network
PDP - Packet Data Protocol.
PDP Context - A user data session, with known characteristics, utilising a virtual connection to an external network.
PDU - Protocol Data Unit.
Pico cells - Small cells with a typical cell radius of less than 50m that are predominantly situated indoors.
PKI - Public Key Infrastructure
PLMN - Public Land Mobile Network
PPTP - Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol
PSTN - Public Switched Telephone Network
PTM - Point to Multipoint
Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) - A network established and operated by an administration or Recognised Operating Agency (ROA) for the specific purpose of providing land mobile telecommunication services to the public.
Public Network Operator - A provider of network facilities to support the services offered to the general public.
Public service provider - A service provider which offers services to the general public.

Q
Quality of service (QoS) - The collective effect of service performances which determine the degree of satisfaction of a user of a service.
QPSK - Quadrature Phase Shift Keying.

R
RA - Registration Authority
RAB - Radio Access Bearer
RAN - Radio Access Network
Radio frequency (RF) channel - A portion of the RF spectrum with a defined bandwidth and a carrier frequency.
Radio resource - A portion of spectrum available in a limited geographical area (cell). This portion of spectrum can be further divided into radio frequency channels.
RBS - Radio Base Station
RLC - Radio Link Control
RLC Acknowledged - GPRS mode of operation where data transfer is acknowledged at the RLC layer.
RNC - Radio Network Controller
RNS - Radio Network Subsystem
Roaming - Provision and use of GSM/GPRS/UMTS outside of the customers' home network or country.
Robustness - The ability to withstand random errors, burst errors and high bit error ratios over the whole service area
RT - Real Time
RX - Receiver

S
SA - Security Association
Satellite system or network - A space system using one or more artificial satellites and its co-operating earth stations.
Security - The protection of information availability, integrity and confidentiality.
Service profile - A record containing information related to a user in order to provide a defined set of services.
SGSN - Serving GPRS Support Node: A new network element providing mobility and session management support.
SIM - Subscriber Identity Module.
SIM Toolkit - Subscriber Identity Module Application Toolkit that extends the role of the SIM card, making it a key interface between the mobile terminal and the network.
Simulator - Device used to simulate the operation of a network function.
Smart Cards - The current generation of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards contain integrated silicon chips which extend the intelligence and capability of the card and provides the user with access to a vast range of new card-enabled (as opposed to network-enabled) applications.
Smart Phones - New GSM terminals with enhanced display capabilities and new functionality which enable users to access their email, faxes and company intranets easily and quickly. Smart phones have larger displays, often a QWERTY or touch-sensitive keypad, and specialised built-in software linked to specific services and applications.

SMPP - Short Message Peer to Peer Protocol (2-Way-SMS protocol).
SMS - Short Message Service.
SMSC - Short Message Service Centre.
SNMP - Simple Network Management Protocol
SPD - Security Policy Database
SSL - Secure Socket Layer
Subscriber - An entity that has a contractual relationship with a service provider.

T
TAP - Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol (1-Way-SMS protocol).
TCP/IP - Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. A communications protocol developed to internetwork dissimilar systems.
TD/CDMA Time Division/Code Division Multiple Access
TDD - Time Division Duplex
TDMA - Time Division Multiple Access
TE - Terminal equipment - A device that provides the capabilities for user applications, e.g. telephony.
Telematics - A wireless communications system designed for the collection and dissemination of data.
Terminal mobility - The ability of a terminal to access telecommunications services from different locations while in motion, and the capability of the network to identify and locate that terminal or the associated user.
Terminal roaming - The movement of a terminal from one “region” to another while the network keeps track of the terminal's location.
Throughput - The rate at which IP packets can be transferred.
Tunnel - A predefined virtual circuit between two points over which encapsulated user data may be transported
TLS - Transport Layer Security
TX - Transmit

U
UDP - User Datagram Protocol
UE user equipment
UMTS - Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. A technology for rapidly moving data and multimedia over wireless devices. The European implementation of the 3G wireless phone system.
Universal Personal Telecommunications (UPT) service - Provides personal mobility and service profile management.
URAN - UMTS Radio Access Network
USIM - UMTS Subscriber Identity Module
Uplink - Direction of data transfer from the mobile device to the network.

V
Value added service provider - A service provider who offers services that add value to other (primitive) services.
VoIP - Voice over Internet Protocol. This takes standard voice signals and encodes them using IP.
VPN - Virtual Private Network

W
WAP - Wireless Application Protocol. A technology designed to provide mobile terminals with access to the Internet.
WCDMA - Wide-band Code Division Multiple Access
Wideband - A classification of information capacity or bandwidth that is often taken to be between 64kbits/s and 2Mbit/s.
Wireless access - A terminal access to a network which uses wireless technology.
Wireless terminal - Any mobile or personal station / terminal, with which non-fixed access to the network is used.
W-LAN - Wireless LAN

X
Y
Z