Telecom Dictionary Navigation

Telecom Dictionary - I

IBM - This is the company International Business Machines.

Icon - A symbol or picture that represents an object (such as a program) or action (such as deletion).

Idle - When a computer is not being used but is ready.

IDSL - see ISDN Digital Subscriber Line.

IM - see Instant Messaging.

Inclination - The angle at which a satellite orbit is tilted relative to Earth's equator.

Incoming Call ID - A way of letting the called know who's calling.

Index - The homepage of a website -- such as http://www.satellite-tv-hq.net/index.htm

Inductance - An electromotive force that has been induced by a varying current in a conductor (measured in Henrys).

Information - A general term for any data, which normally has the intent of being shared.

Information SuperHighway - This term refers to the idea of a connected telephone network that has the capability of heavy data transmission.

Information Technology (IT) - This is really just data processing before it was called MIS (Management Information Systems) and then IT.

Initialize - To set all parameters to zero or some other prescribed amount.

In-orbit Testing - The various tests of satellite functions that are conducted when a satellite reaches its orbital location.

Input/Output (I/O) - This term refers to devices that have the capability of transmitting and receiving data in both directions, such as a disk drive or, more generally, a computer.

Instant Messaging (IM) - Real-time, online Email -- more like a chat really.

Instant On - This mode of a device allows the device to instantly be turned on, ready for use, with no start-up time.

Intelligence - The part of the computer that carries out the calculations -- i.e., the logic and arithmetic functions.

Intelligent Peripheral - This is a peripheral device that allows varying types of information interactions between a network and user(s).

Intelligent Terminal - This is the opposite of a Dumb Terminal, and it is a terminal that is an input/output (I/O) device.

INTELSAT - The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. It operates a network of satellites with the purpose of international transmissions.

Interactive - When a device (or person) can communicate in real-time with another device (almost always a computer of some sort).

Interface - This is the software or platform that determines the interaction between the user and a device, setting the rules and tone of the relationship.

Interference - Energy from other sources -- such as fading from airline flights, RF interference from adjacent channels, etc. -- that interferes with the reception of the desired signals.

International Morse Code - see Morse Code.

Internet - This is the world's largest, public, shared network.

Internet Access - How you connect to the internet.

Internet Protocol (IP) - The IP is a standard that describes how software keeps track of the Internet's different addresses.

Interrupt - This is when a process stops temporarily due to an outside event occurrence.

Inverse Multiplexer - This device performs the opposite function of a multiplexer. It splits a single information stream into multiple information streams.

Inverter - This device converts DC into AC current.

I/O - see Input/Output.

Ionization - Breaking up molecules into ions, which are positively or negatively charged atoms.

IP - see Internet Protocol.

IP Address - Locations on the internet are all designated in decimal form of four fields of eight bits, written as xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

IRD - An integrated receiver and decoder that receives transmissions of data, video, and voice.

ISDN - Integrated Services Digital Network.- A standard for integrated transmission of voice, video and data.

ISDN Digital Subscriber Line (IDSL) - This is a type of DSL service that provides up to 144-Kbps transfer rates in each direction (slower than ADSL) and can be used regardless of the distance the customer is from the telephone central office (unlike ADSL).

Isotropic Antenna - This is a hypothetical one-directional point-source antenna that serves as a reference for the measurement of antenna gain for engineering calculations.

ISP - This stands for Internet Service Providers and refers to any company supplying you internet access.

IT - see Information Technology.

ITU - International Telecommunications Union.

IVR - This stands for Interactive Voice Response and refers to interactive terminals that allow voice commands.

I-Way - see Information SuperHighway.