Nomadix Universal subscriber gateway User Manual page 239

U S
NIVERSAL UBSCRIBER
ECommerce
A business venture between a supplier and its customers using online services (for example, the Internet).
Both parties use online services to conduct business transactions. Transactions may include generating
orders, invoices, and payments, and submitting inquiries. Also known as Enterprise.
Enterprise
See ECommerce.
Ethernet
A Local Area Network (LAN) protocol developed by Xerox Corporation in cooperation with DEC and
Intel in 1976. Ethernet uses a bus or star topology and supports data transfer rates of 10 Mbps. The Ethernet
specification served as the basis for the IEEE 802.3 standard, which specifies the physical and lower
software layers. Ethernet is one of the most widely implemented LAN standards. A newer version of
Ethernet, called 100Base-T (or Fast Ethernet), supports data transfer rates of 100 Mbps. The latest version,
Gigabit Ethernet, supports data rates of 1 Gigabit (1,000 Mbps) per second. See also, Mbps.
Fast Ethernet
See Ethernet.
FCC
(Federal Communications Commission) US wireless regulatory authority.
Flash Memory
A special type of EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that can be erased
and reprogrammed in blocks instead of one byte at a time. Many modern PCs have their BIOS stored on a
flash memory chip so that it can easily be updated. Such a BIOS is sometimes called a flash BIOS. Flash
memory is also popular in modems because it enables the modem manufacturer to support new protocols as
they become standardized. The USG uses flash memory to store its operating system.
Forwarding Rate
The maximum rate at which 64K packets can be delivered to their destination. See also, Packet,
Switching Network, pps, and Throughput.
Fractional T-1
See T-1 Carrier.
FTP
(File Transfer Protocol) A standard protocol used for copying and moving files quickly, efficiently, and
securely across public and private networks. An FTP site is one where files are available for downloading
and uploading. FTP sites usually require a secure login (name and password) to gain access.
Gateway
Any device that provides a seamless connection between otherwise incompatible systems. For example, the
USG is a high speed subscriber (billing) gateway between the customer's network and the Internet. E-mail
is a more common example of where the need for a gateway device exists. Prodigy and America Online
have their own custom e-mail systems, and both require a gateway to the Internet to enable their e-mail
systems to communicate with the Internet's e-mail system. See also,
Gopher
A computer program, and an accompanying data transfer protocol, for reading information that has been
made available to the public on the Internet. Gopher is gradually being superseded by HTML.
Glossary of Terms
G ™
ATEWAY
Packet
Internet and Subscriber.
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