IBM AT 5170 Technical Reference page 451

bit. Synonym for binary digit
bits per second (bps). A unit of measurement representing the
number of discrete binary digits transmitted by a device in one
second.
"..-...., block. (1) A string of records, a string of words, or a character
string formed for technical or logic reasons to be treated as an
entity.
(2)
A set of things, such as words, characters, or digits,
treated as a unit.
block-check character (BCC). In cyclic redundancy checking, a
character that is transmitted by the sender after each message
block and is compared with a block-check character computed by
the receiver to determine if the transmission was successful.
boolean operation.
(1)
Any operation in w1tich each of the
operands and the result take one of two
valu~.
(2) An operation
that follows the rules of boolean algebra.
bootstrap. A technique or device designed to bring itself into a
desired state by means of its own action; for example, a machine
routine whose first few instructions are sufficient to bring the rest
of itself into the computer from an input device.
bps. Bits per second.
BSC.
Binary synchronous communications.
buffer.
(1)
An area of storage that is temporarily reserved for
use in performing an input
I
output operation, into which data is
read or from which data is written. Synonymous with 110 area.
(2)
A portion of storage for temporarily holding input or output
data.
bus. One or more conductors used for transmitting signals or
power.
byte.
(1)
A sequence of eight adjacent binary digits that are
operated upon as a unit.
(2)
A binary character operated upon as
a unit.
(3)
The representation of a character ..
Glossary-S