Table Of ContentCommunications
Standard
Dictionary
Communications
Standard
Dictionary
Second Edition
Martin H. Weik, DSc.
Dynamic Systems, Inc.
Reston, Virginia
InriftI
VA N NOSTRAND REINHOLD
_____N ew York
~
Copyright ©1989 by Van Nostrand Reinhold
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1989
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 87-31582
ISBN-13: 978-1-4615-6674-8 e-JSBN-13: 978-1-4615-6672-4
DOl: 10.10007/978-1-4615-6672-4
All rights reserved. Certain portions of this work © 1982 by Van Nostrand Reinhold.,
No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced orusedin any
form or by any means-graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
taping, or information storage and retrieval systems-without permission of the publisher.
Published by Van Nostrand Reinhold
115 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10003
Van Nostrand Reinhold International Company Limited
11 New Fetter Lane
London EC4P 4EE, England
Van Nostrand Reinhold
480 La Trobe Street
Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
Macmillan of Canada
Division of Gage Publishing Limited
164 Commander Boulevard
Agincourt, Ontario MIS 3C7, Canada
15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Weik, Martin H.
Communications standard dictionary.
1. Telecommunication-Dictionaries. 2. Communication
-Dictionaries. I. Title.
TK5102.W437 1988 001.5'03'21 87-31582
ISBN-13: 978-1-4615-6674-8
To my wife, Helen,
for the love and encouragement she has given me during
the preparation of this volume.
Now the whole earth had one language and few words. And
the Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have
all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they
will do; and nothing that they propose to do will now be
impossible for them."
Genesis 11 :1,6
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
John 1:1
Preface
Communications * Standard Dictionary is a comprehensive compilation of terms
and definitions used in communications and related fields.
Communications is defined as the branch of science and technology concerned
with the process of representing, transferring, and interpreting the meaning as
signed to data by and among persons, places, or machines.
Communication is defined as the transfer of information between a source (trans
mitter, light source) and a sink (receiver, photodetector) over one or more chan
nels in accordance with a protocol, and in a manner suitable for interpretation or
comprehension by the receiver; or as a method or means of conveying informa
tion of any kind from one person or place to another.
In short, communications is a branch of science and technology, whereas com
munication pertains to the actual transfer of information. Thus, the word com
munication should be used as a modifier, as in communication center, communi
cation deception, and communication line, just as in the field of electronics one
speaks of electronic devices and electronic circuits.
Only data are actually transferred by a communication system, that is, physically
moved. But data are the representation of information. Therefore, it may be
said that information is moved by a communication system, with the proviso
that the sender and the receiver agree on the meaning assigned to the data. In a
properly designed communication system data integrity will be preserved. The
meaning will not be lost and errors will not be made during storage and trans
mission. However, it is the responsibility of the source user to enter the proper
data and the responsibility of the destination user to properly interpret the data.
• Italics indicates that the term is defined in this dictionary.
vii
viii Preface
SCOPE
This dictionary covers the terminology used in the following fields:
Acoustic communications Military communications
Aeronautical communications Navigation communications
Air-air communications Networking
Air-surface communications Optical communications
Analog communication systems Optics
Battlefield surveillance Personal computers
Communication devices Program management
Communication services Radar
Communication systems Radio
Communication theory Radionavigation
Computer engineering Satellite communications
Computer programming Sensing systems
Cybernetics Secure systems
Data conversion Sensors
Data processing Signaling
Data transmission Signal processing
Digital systems Software engineering
Display devices Space communications
Documentation Spread spectrum systems
Electromagnetic theory Strategic communications
Electronic warfare communications Surveillance
Encryption Switching systems
Fiber optics Tactical communications
Facsimile Telecommunications
Information management Telegraphy
Information retrieval Telemetering
Information storage Telephony
Information systems Television
Information theory Transmission security
Lightwave communications Video telephony
Local-area networks Visual communications
Microwave communications Wire communication systems
Coverage is also given to hundreds of subtopics, for example:
Antennas Computing systems
Broadcasting Control
Checking systems Database management
Circuits Data integirty
Coding Detection
Command guidance Direction finding
Preface ix
Emanation security Multiplexing
Error control Noise
Gating Office machines
Interactive systems Polarization
Interference Reception
Jamming Signal distortion
Layering Transmission
Modulation Word processing
SOURCES
The terms defined in this dictionary are those written and spoken by designers,
developers, manufacturers, vendors, users, managers, administrators, operators,
and maintainers of communication systems and components. They are also the
terms used by educators and standards organizations in the field of communica
tions.
The terms were taken primarily from the technical literature. Terms were also
taken from oral presentations and discussions. The definitions are based on tech
nical society, international, national, federal, military, industrial, carrier, and
communication system user standards. For those terms for which standardized
definitions could not be found, definItions were based on context, common
usage, and authoritative sources.
Since definitions contained in standards are usually highly precise, technical, and
professional, and often the result of compromise, explanations, examples, illus
trations, and cross-references were added. Certain editorial changes were made
to provide clarity, logical consistency, and uniformity of format.
ORGANIZATION
Entries are arranged in natural spoken English alphabetical word order. Spaces,
hyphens, slashes, and other forms of punctuation are ignored in the sequencing.
Every significant word in a multiple-word entry is also entered in the main list
ing, with a See reference to the multiple-word entry. For example, in the entry
for modulation, one would find the statement "See frequency modulation" fol
lowing the defmition of modulation. Synonyms are also entered in the main list
ing with a See reference to the preferred term. Definitions are always placed
with the preferred term in the case of synonyms.
Prepositional phrases have been converted to modified nouns to simplify cross
referencing, e.g., index of refraction is listed as refractive index with a cross
reference under index, international index of cooperation is listed under interna
tional cooperation index, grade of service is listed under service grade, and
x Preface
limits of interference is under interference limits. Also, in accordance with
international conventions, International Organization for Standardization is
abbreviated ISO, the International Time Bureau is abbreviated BIH, and Coor
dinated Universal Time is abbreviated UTC, et a1. Finally, if an abbreviation is
spelled out in italics, its definition will be found at the alphabetical position of
the spelled-out version.
USE
This dictionary is designed to be used in the manner of an encyclopedia. The
italicized words in a definition are also defined in the diCtionary. The stan_dard
defining phrase, explanatory remarks, examples, illustrations, cross-{€ferences,
and italicized terms enable the reader to obtain a thorough understanding 0 f the
concept for which the entry term is really only a label.
This dictionary can serve as a handy basic reference manual. It can readily be
used in the preparation of technical articles, oral presentations, contract specifi
cations, and other technical publications; for studying or teaching; or for hold
ing discussions in the field of communications. For example, it meets the
professional needs in the field of communications by presenting the meanings
given in standards. It satisfies the needs of communication system users for
effective interaction with yommunication systems by providing explanatory
remarks in addition to the defining phrase, and it meets the needs of students
and teachers by providing examples, illustrations, and cross-references to other
entries.
SECOND EDITION
Over 3600 terms and definitions have been added since the first edition. Many
new communication and communication-related areas have been added, includ
ing communication services, encryption, information retrieval, information
storage, local-area networks, personal computers, program management, sensing
systems, secure systems, sensors, software engineering, and surveillance. Over
170 figures, including 69 new photographs and most of the line drawings, have
been updated. Definitions have been added to hundreds of the first edition
entries, and others have been updated.
MARTIN H. WEIK, DSc.
Acknowledgments
The author extends his appreciation to all members of the staffs of the Defense
Communications Agency (DCA), the National Communications System (NCS),
the Military Communications-Electronics Board (MCEB), the Naval Research
Laboratory (NRL), the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR
SYSCOM), the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAV SEASYSCOM), and Dynamic
Systems, Incorporated (DSI), with whom he was associated during the many
years of preparation of the first and second editions of this dictionary.
Many technical discussions with Dr. George Hetland, Jr., and Mr. Jack Donovan,
NRL; Capt. Kirk E. Evans, SPAWARSYSCOM; and Mr. Lonnie D. Benson and
Mr. Leslie Tripp, DSI resulted in valuable contributions to this dictionary. The
editor gratefully appreciates the sharing of expertise and the many constructive
comments in the area of fiber optics made by Mr. James H. Davis, NA VSEA
SYSCOM, during his review of the manuscript.
Appreciation is also extended to the members of the American National Stan
dard Institute's Technical Committee X3K5, Vocabulary for Computing, Com
munications, and Information Processing, particularly for passing on expertise
during the 22 years the editor served as chairman.
Appreciation is especially extended to my wife, Helen Harrison Weik, PhD, for
her assistance in organizing material and her contributions in those areas of
communication systems related to the man-machine interface.
The author gratefully acknowledges the technical and editorial assistance given
by Alberta Gordon, Managing Editor afVan Nostrand Reinhold.
MARTIN H. WEIK, DSc.
xi
