C 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| Numerical Listing| C The programming language created by Dennis Ritchie of the former Bell Laboratories in 1972, when he and Ken Thompson worked on the Unix operating system design. It was based on Thompson’s B language and has found widespread use on personal computers. C++ An extension to the C language defined by Bjarne Stroustrop at Bell Laboratories in 1986. As a superset of C (another language, developed at Bell Laboratories by Dennis Ritchie in 1972), it provides additional features for data abstraction and object-oriented programming. C/SI (Client/Server Interface) An interface published by Sybase and delivered with release 4.0 of its SQL Server product. Open Client, which resides on the client, is an application programming interface that allows applications or third-party products to access SQL Server or Open Server. Open Server is a set of protocols that allows communications with other servers, and can provide gateways to critical data that is not managed by the native SQL server. CAD (Computer-Aided Design) CAD systems are high-speed workstations or personal computers that use specialized software and input devices such as graphic tablets and scanners for specialized use in architectural, electrical and mechanical design. With few exceptions, CAD systems rely extensively on graphics. CADAM (Computer Graphics Augmented Design and Manufacturing System) A licensed program by IBM consisting of three-dimensional construction, modification, analysis, and display (geometrical representation), including hidden-line removal, parts selection, partial interference checking and other support capabilities. CADD (Computer Aided Drafting and Design) Interactive graphic programs that automate the methodologies of drafting and design layouts. A few programs are successful enough so that it is difficult to justify designing the layouts manually; application examples include integrated circuits and printed circuit boards. CAE (Computer-Aided Engineering) An area of automated manufacturing and design technology for building end products that had its roots in finite element methods, but today it includes all types of performance systems, e.g., heat transfer, structural, electromagnetic, aeronautics, and acoustic analysis. Major improvements have been in the architecture, mechanical, electronic, and electrical engineering disciplines. TOP OF PAGE CALS (Computer-Aided Logistic Support) A joint project of industry and the Department of Defense to exchange technical support information in digital form. CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) The manufacturing of goods controlled and automated via computer and robot. Frequently used in conjunction with computer-aided design. CAP (Competitive Access Provider) A U.S. provider of bypass services. CAPE Application-Specific Elements Technological components that are necessary for a specific application area. Application-specific elements are grouped into three vertical application markets — mechanical design, process plant design and electronics design — which account for the majority of industrial design activity. CAPE Base Elements The seven generic elements that represent the technological foundation and underpinning of the CAPE systems architecture including hardware independence, software architecture, framework incorporation, application integration, data exchange, data management and enterprise pricing policies. CAPE (Concurrent Art-to-Product Engineering) CAPE represents the third wave of design. It requires a wide variety of synergistic applications to work together. They include visualization, rapid prototyping, analysis, materials selection, machining and cost estimation. Key to CAPE are applications frameworks, data management and product geometry exchanges, so that any person that is involved in product design and approval can participate in the process. Cartridge In optical technology, an enclosure, generally of plastic, in which an optical medium is kept for protection; also called a "cassette." Some vendors captivate their media in the cartridges (this mode is called "spin in"), providing a window for the light beams; others remove the medium from the cartridge inside the drive. TOP OF PAGE Cascade Control A control strategy that uses the output of one controller as the setpoint for another. CASE Analysis and Design Tools Graphical, interactive tools for the analysis and design phases of application software development. CASE (Computer-Aided Software Engineering) CASE is an umbrella term for a collection of tools and techniques which are said by their distributors to promise revolutionary gains in analyst and programmer productivity. The two prominent delivered technologies are application generators and PC-based workstations that provide graphics-oriented automation of the front end of the development process. CASE Tools for Client/Server Applications Software development tools (higher level than Remote Procedure Call compilers) specifically oriented toward the design and implementation of client/server applications. CATV (Community Antenna Television) The original name for cable TV, which used a single antenna at the highest location in the community. CBDS (Connectionless Broadband Data Service) A European metropolitan-area networking term similar in many respects to Switched Multimegabit Data Service. CBR (Case-Based Reasoning) CBR is an artificial intelligence problem solving technique that catalogs experience into "cases" and correlates the current problem to an experience. CBR is used in many areas, including pattern recognition, diagnosis, troubleshooting and planning. These systems are easy to maintain in comparison to rule-based expert systems. CBR (Content-based Retrieval) Search methodology for retrieving information based on words or phrases in the text. TOP OF PAGE CBR (Continuous Bit Rate) One of five Qualities of Service in an ATM network, continuous bit rate service defines the ability and technologies required to handle traffic that comes in a continuous stream (e.g. voice) CCD (Charge Coupled Device) A semiconductor device capable of both photodetection and memory, which converts light to electronic impulses. One- and two-dimensional CCD arrays are used in scanners to perform the first stage in converting an image into digital data. They are particularly attractive because they can step the signals from each detector across the array in response to a clock signal, permitting each scan line to be read through a single electrical connection. CCITT Abbreviation of the French name for the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee. In March 1993, the name was changed to the International Telecommunications Union Telecommunications Standards Sector (ITU-TSS). The ITU is a specialized Agency of the United Nations based in Geneva and coordinates and fosters cooperation in the use of international telecommunications systems. CCITT Group III (also ITU Group III) The original standard for compression and decompression for facsimile. CCITT Group IV (also ITU Group IV) The optimized standard for black and white office documents. Neither Group III nor Group IV handles color. Both are required to reduce bandwidth and storage demand. CD (Compact Disc) The trademarked name for the laser read digital audio disk, 12 cm. in diameter, developed jointly by Philips and Sony. CD-R (Compact disk-recordable) A standard and technology that enables users to write on and read from a compact disc. This new technology is compatible with existing CDs and CD players. TOP OF PAGE CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) A version of the standard compact disc intended to store general-purpose digital data; provides 556-Mbyte user capacity at 10-13 corrected bit error rate compared to 635 Mbyte at 10-9 for the standard CD. CDA (Compound Document Architecture) Digital Equipment Corp.’s proprietary method for describing and interchanging data, which may include rich text, synthetic graphics, scanned images, voice, relational and spreadsheet-like tables and full-motion video. CDD/Plus (Command Data Dictionary/Plus) Digital Equipment Corp.’s active, distributed data dictionary system that provides a single logical repository for data definitions and descriptions. CDDI (Copper Distributed Data Interface) Proposal for a standard to run the Fiber Distributed Data Interface on unshielded twisted pair wiring. CDE (Common Desktop Environment) The first user interface specification (based on Motif) from the Common Open Software Environment group, a consortium of major vendors dedicated to standardizing Unix. CDLA (Computer Dealers and Lessors Association) A trade association of North American-based computer dealers and lessors. The principal purpose of the organization is to promote professional integrity among its members. It also promotes alternate instruments for computer financing. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) A user access technique based on the simultaneous transmission and reception of several messages, each of which has a coded identity to distinguish it from the other messages. TOP OF PAGE CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) Transmission of digital data over a cellular network; with it, data moves at 19.2 Kbps over ever-changing unused intervals in the voice channels. CEC (Central Electronic Complex) A single Multiple Virtual Storage image supported by multiple processors. CEC is the term generically used to refer to the central processing unit, and includes the power unit, service unit, console and other units, but not any peripherals. Cell A block of fixed length identified by a label at Layer 1 of the Open Systems Interconnection reference model. It is the fundamental building block of asynchronous transfer mode and B-ISDN (Broadband-Integrated Services Digital Network). The agreement on 48-byte plus 5-byte header sizes was a major international breakthrough for ATM. Cell Controller A supervisory computer used to sequence and coordinate multiple machines and operations. Cell Relay A transmission mode that utilizes fixed length cells as the bearer mechanism, as with asynchronous transfer mode, which uses 48 bytes of payload plus 5 overhead bytes as the standard cell size. Central Office The telephone company’s centralized switching facility, where subscriber loops terminate. The central office handles a specific geographic area, identified by the first three digits (NXX) of the local telephone number. Centralized Dispatching Organization of the dispatching function into one central location. This often involves the use of data collection devices for communication between the centralized dispatching function, which usually reports to the production control department, and the shop manufacturing departments. TOP OF PAGE Centrex A telephone company service offering that uses a central-office switch to provide premises switching capability similar to that of a private branch exchange. It can be located in a central office or on a large customer’s premises. (CFI)Computer-Aided Design Framework Initiative A nonprofit organization formed to developed framework standards to facilitate the integration of CAD tools, particularly in the electronics design arena. Character-Oriented Generally refers to a type of information display in which the information is limited to that which may be displayed in a fixed array of rows with a fixed number of positions per row. Character-oriented displays have very poor graphics capabilities. The most popular character-oriented terminals are IBM’s 3270 family and Digital Equipment Corp.’s VT family. CI (Computer Interconnect ) The local-area network used in a VAXcluster. CICS (Customer Information Control System) An IBM subsystem (transaction processing monitor) for implementing transaction-processing applications. CICS is IBM’s strategic general-purpose subsystem for implementing transaction-processing applications. CICS invokes customer-written application programs in response to transactions entered at teleprocessing terminals and provides the services needed by those applications to retrieve and update data in files and respond to the terminal that invoked them. CIDR (Classless Interdomain Routing) This is the successor to current class oriented domains for Internet routing and allows for better allocations of Internet addresses. CIM (Computer Integrated Manufacturing) The integration of manufacturing operations by integrating people systems, information systems and manufacturing systems. The goal of such systems is to combine electronically the systems and functions necessary to manufacture products more effectively. TOP OF PAGE CIM Series/400 A product introduced by IBM in October 1990 as the first series of products that meet IBM’s CIM architecture. It was designed with the AS/400 midrange computer as the core engine and includes software designed to tie together engineering, business and control systems by linking PS/2s, AS/400s and RS/6000s. CIR (Committed Information Rate) In a frame relay network, the minimum speed maintained between nodes. CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer) A computer in which individual instructions may perform many operations and take many cycles to execute, in contrast with reduced instruction set computer. Examples include IBM System/370, Digital Equipment Corp. VAX, Motorola 68020 and Intel 80386. CIT (Computer Integrated Telephone) Computer Integrated Telephone is Digital Equipment Corp.’s program that provides a framework for integrating voice and data in an applications environment. The telephone and terminal on the desktop are synchronized so that the arriving call appears on the terminal’s screen and the data can be efficiently exchanged within an organization. CIT supports inbound and outbound telecommunications applications. For inbound calls, the application will recognize the caller’s originating phone number through automatic number identification and/or the dialed number through Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS). It will then match the information to database records and automatically deliver the call and the data to a call center or agent. In an outbound application, dialing can be automated, thus increasing the number of connected calls. CL/1 A client/server database access product developed by Network Innovations, a subsidiary of Apple Computer. TOP OF PAGE Client A client is a system or a program that requests the activity of one or more other systems or programs, called servers, to accomplish specific tasks. In a client/server environment, the workstation is usually the client. Client/Server The splitting of an application into tasks performed on separate computers, one of which is a programmable workstation (e.g., a PC). Closed Loop MRP (Closed Loop Material Requirements Planning) A system built around MRP that also includes production planning, master production schedule, and capacity requirements planning. Once the planning phase is complete and the plans have been accepted as realistic and attainable, the execution functions come into play. These include the shop floor control functions of input/output measurement, detailed scheduling and dispatching, plus anticipated delay reports from both the shop and vendors, purchasing follow-up and control, among others. The term "closed loop" implies that not only is each of these elements included in the overall system, but also that there is feedback from the execution functions so the planning can be kept valid at all times. Clustering The capability to define resources on one or more interconnected midrange systems as transparently available to users and applications from within the specified group of loosely coupled midrange systems in a local- or metropolitan-area network. Examples include Digital Equipment Corp. VAXclusters, and the Locus Transparent Computing Facility. CMIP (Common Management Information Protocol) The Open Systems Interconnection protocol for the exchange of network management information. CMIS (Common Management Information Standard) An Open Systems Interconnection standard that defines the network monitoring and control function. TOP OF PAGE CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) A semiconductor technology that uses less power and generates less heat (enabling higher circuit density), but is typically slower than bipolar technologies. CMS (Conversational Monitor System) CMS is a single-user interactive operating system that was implemented for and together with the Virtual Machine environment. Its prime function has historically been software development. An emerging use within the departmental arena is to house production applications. The CMS file system is oriented toward small files rather than large, however, and CMS is not generally suitable for mission-critical applications. CNOS (Corporate Network Operating System) An evolved, service-rich network operating system (NOS) that provides the service underpinnings for local-area network-based middleware. Enterprise-satisfying NOS solutions fall along two lines. Infrastructure NOSs will continue to develop the directory, network management and wide-area network-support services to build the horizontal infrastructure. Application-support NOSs will tightly integrate with desktop operating systems, providing the best base for advanced work-group and collaborative applications, in a fashion that can be termed "shrink-wrapped client/server". CO (Central Office) The telephone company’s centralized switching facility, where subscriber loops terminate. The CO handles a specific geographic area, identified by the first three digits (NXX) of the local telephone number. COBOL Language A language compiler compliant, at the high level of required modules, with the American National Standards Institute X3.23-1985 standard. Codec (Coder/Decoder) Compression and decompression software and hardware. COLD (Computer Output to Laser Disk) Microfiche replacement system. COLD systems offer economies as a replacement medium when rapid and/or frequent access to archived documents is necessary. Typically, a 12-inch optical disk platter holds approximately 1.4 million 8.5-by-11-inch pages of information, equal to 7,000 fiche masters. TOP OF PAGE COM (Computer Output Microfilm) A system in which digital data is converted into an image on dry processed microfilm. Command Service A facility that provides a command language at an MS-DOS personal computer that results in command execution at the midrange system or the PC, and is generally compatible with the command language and services native to the midrange system. Compound Document Any document containing more than one data type, typically rich text, synthetic graphics and raster images. Computer Telephony Computer telephony adds computer intelligence to the making, receiving, and managing of telephone calls. Harry Newton coined the term in 1992. Computer telephony has two basic goals: to make making and receiving phone calls easier, i.e. to enhance one's personal productivity and second, to please corporate customers who call in or who are called for information, service, help, etc. Computer telephony encompasses six broad elements: Messaging. Voice, fax and electronic mail, fax blasters, fax servers and fax routers, paging and unified messaging (also called integrated messaging) and Internet Web-vectored phones, fax and video messaging. Real-time Connectivity. Inbound and outbound call handling, "predictive" and "preview" dialing, automated attendants, LAN / screen-based call routing, one number calling / "follow me" numbers, video, audio and text-based conferencing, "PBX in a PC," collaborative computing. Transaction Processing and Information Access via the Phone. Interactive voice response, audiotex, customer access to enterprise data, "giving data a voice," fax on demand and shopping on the World Wide Web. Adding Intelligence (and thus value) to Phone Calls. Screen pops of customer records coincident with inbound and outbound phone calls, mirrored Web page "pops," smart agents, skills-based call routing, virtual (geographically distributed) call centers, computer telephony groupware, intelligent help desks and "AIN" network-based computer telephony services. Core Technologies. Voice recognition, text-to-speech, digital signal processing, applications generators (of all varieties -- GUI to forms-based to script-based), VoiceView, DSVD, computer-based fax routing, USB (Universal Serial Bus), GeoPort, video and audio compression, call progress, dial pulse recognition, caller ID and ANI, digital network interfaces (T-1, E-1, ISDN BRI and PRI, SS7, frame relay and ATM), voice modems, client-server telephony, logical modem interfaces, multi-PC telephony synchronization and coordination software, the communicating PC, the Internet, the Web and the "Intranet." New Core Standards. The ITU-T's T.120 (document conferencing) and H.320 (video conferencing), Microsoft's TAPI -- an integral part of Windows 95 and NT, Novell's TSAPI -- a phone switch control NLM running under NetWare. Intel's USB and InstantON. Natural MicroSystems / Mitel's MVIP and H-MVIP. Dialogic has SCSA. And the industry has ECTF. Compression In the specific context of digital image representation, compression refers to the process of compacting the data based on the presence of large white or black areas in common business documents, printed pages, and engineering drawings. The International Telecommunications Union Telecommunications Standards Sector digital facsimile standards contain standard one and two dimensional compression/ decompression algorithms. Concentrator A device that merges many low-speed asynchronous channels into one (or more) high-speed, synchronous channel to achieve economies of data transmission. Concurrent Backup — Databases A system-level facility to allow a database to be backed up to another disk or to magnetic tape while the database is still open for application access. Concurrent Backup — Files A system-level facility to allow disk files to be backed up to another disk or to magnetic tape while the files are still open for application access. TOP OF PAGE Concurrent Database Restore A system-level facility to allow a database or portion thereof to be restored while the database is still open for application access. Concurrent Engineering (CE) A collaborative, team-based approach for designing products that combines multiple departments and disciplines into a project team. Connect via System/370 Channel as SNA Device A hardware connection to a System/370 channel emulating a Systems Network Architecture device (e.g., 3174) to accommodate high-speed and bulk data transfers where communication and Token Ring Network connects are not appropriate. Connectionless The interconnection model in which communication takes place without first establishing a connection. Consolidation Effect The reduction in the number of vendors that can afford to supply all of the hardware, operating system and middleware software necessary to compete effectively. Constraint Management The ability to define model topology in the form of geometric constraints such as parallelism or tangency. Continuous Improvement A manufacturing methodology used to improve overall quality by continuously increasing precision in part specification. Continuous Operations Those characteristics of a data processing system that reduce or eliminate the need for planned downtime, e.g., scheduled maintenance. One element of 24 x 7 operation. TOP OF PAGE Continuous Production A production system in which the productive units are organized and sequenced according to the steps to produce the product. The routing of the jobs is fixed and set ups are seldom changed. Conversion The process of preparing, capturing and indexing paper files to digital files. Convert Macintosh WP A translation facility that enables documents created at the Macintosh by third-party de facto standard word processing packages (e.g., MacWrite, Microsoft Word) to be sent to the midrange system for viewing and modification using the midrange system vendor’s standard word processor. Minor inconsistencies due to incompatible document format definitions are expected and acceptable. Cooperation NCR’s third-generation office information system and end-user computing initiative. Cooperative Processing The splitting of an application into tasks performed on separate computers. Physical connectivity can occur via a direct channel connection, a local-area network node, a peer-to-peer communication link or a master/slave link. The application software can exist in a distributed processing environment, but this is not a requirement. Coordination Mechanics A term coined by Coordination Technology’s founder, Anatole Holt. It generally refers to a class of work flow that is heuristic in nature, i.e., a higher form of work flow concentrating on human behavior. TOP OF PAGE COPICS (Communications Oriented Production Information and Control System) IBM’s mainframe material requirements planning product. Several versions are now supported, including COPICS-D (defense) and a version using IBM’s DB2. CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) A 300-vendor Object Management Group interoperability standard for object-oriented applications communicating over heterogeneous networks. Cost Center The smallest segment of an organization for which costs are collected. The criteria in defining cost centers are that the cost be significant and the area of responsibility be clearly defined. A cost center may not be identical to a work center. Normally, it would encompass more than one work center. Costed Bill of Material A form of bill of material that, besides providing the normal information such as components, quantity of each, and effectivity data, also extends the quantity of every component in the bill by the cost of the components. CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) Any apparatus — including telephone handsets, private branch exchange switching equipment, key and hybrid telephone systems and add-on devices — that is physically located on a customer’s property, as opposed to being housed in the telephone company’s central office or elsewhere in the network. CPI (Common Programming Interface) The Systems Application Architecture CPI is the collection of languages and services used by applications developers. The initial CPI is incomplete. Its prime goal is skills leverage rather than software portability. The basic technique for populating CPI is to extend the System/370 "Green Layer" to other architectures wherever that makes sense. TOP OF PAGE CPI-C (Common Programming Interface for Communications) A superset of IBM communications verbs containing bits of Advanced Program-to-Program Communications/Virtual Machine (APPC/VM), Transparent Services Access Facility (TSAF) and Server/Requestor Programming Interface (SRPI). It provides a high-level interface to APPC. CPM (Critical Path Method) The critical path is the series of activities and tasks in a project that do not have built-in slack time. Any task in the critical path that takes longer than expected lengthens the total time of the project. CPU (Central Processing Unit) The component of a computer system that controls the interpretation and execution of instructions. Critical Ratio A dispatching rule that calculates a priority index number by dividing the time to due date remaining by the expected elapsed time to finish the job. Typically ratios of less than 1.0 are behind, ratios greater than 1.0 are ahead, and a ratio of 1.0 is on schedule. CRP (Capacity Requirements Planning) The functions of establishing, measuring and adjusting limits or levels of capacity that are consistent with a production plan. The term capacity requirements planning in this context is the process of determining how much labor and machine resources are required to accomplish the tasks of production. Open shop orders, and planned orders in the material requirements planning system, are input to CRP, which "translates" these orders into hours of work by work center by time period. CRUD (Create, Retrieve, Update, Delete) Guidelines for defining how different people or communities within an organization deal with data elements owned by the organization. CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection) A local-area network access technique in which multiple stations connected to the same channel can sense transmission activity on that channel and defer the initiation of transmission while the channel is active. Sometimes called contention access. TOP OF PAGE CSP (Cross System Product) CSP is IBM’s strategic fourth-generation language. It presents self-contained development and execution environments that IBM has ported among all System/370 and System/390 environments, as well as the 8100 and PC. Enhancements have included library management, structured programming constructs and limited relational support. CSTA (Computer Supported Telephony Architecture) A European Computer Manufacturers Association standard for linking computers to telephone systems. CSU (Channel Service Unit) A device found on digital links that transfers data (a range from 56 Kbps to 1.5 Mbps) faster than a modem but does not permit dial-up functions. It also performs certain line-conditioning and equalization functions, and responds to loopback commands sent from a central office. A CSU is the link between digital lines from the central office and devices such as channel banks or data communications devices. CTLIB (Client Library) Sybase’s application programming interface set required for users to exploit the System10 version of its SQL Server database management system. CTP (Corporate Trade Payment) An electronic commerce standard format that was established in the early 1980s using bank-developed transaction sets. It can support up to 9,999 addenda records, but uses a fixed format and is being retired in 1996. It is a member of a class of formats designed to transit a banks’ clearinghouse networks, and offer varying amounts of payment information associated with the transfer of funds. Client enterprises can choose between having funds-transfer information travel with the payment data or having the payment data travel separately, typically through a value-added network. In the latter approach, data and value must be matched and reconciled by a client’s applications. CTX (Corporate Trade Exchange) An electronic commerce standard format that allows for inclusion of 9,999 "addenda" records in addition to the primary financial records (i.e., amount being moved, bank routing number and checking account number). It supports up to 80 bytes of ANSI data in each addendum. The banking system does not perform any edit checks on the addenda information. CUA (Common User Access) IBM’s attempt to set a common graphical user interface standard. CUA specifies conventions for the dialog between a user and the computer, but has not caught on as a broadly accepted market standard. Cumulative Lead Time The longest length of time involved to accomplish the activity in question. For any item planned through material requirements planning, it is found by reviewing each bill of material path below the item, and whichever path adds up to the greatest number defines cumulative material lead time. TOP OF PAGE Customized Network Management Tools to allow assignment of levels of network management functions and capabilities to selected nodes throughout the network. With this, the degree of centralization vs. decentralization of network management can be varied depending on the environment. Comments? Questions? Entire contents Copyright © 1997, 1998 by Gartner Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication in any form without prior written permission is forbidden. Please read the guidelines for customer use of GartnerGroup intellecual property.