Browse the glossary using this index

Special | 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 | ALL

Page:  1  2  3  4  (Next)
  ALL

B

Band

content Band Go back to BackboneSkip content Also known as: Frequency Band Band (Frequency Band) is a term used in telecommunications to refer to a range of frequencies authorised for specific purposes. Each band will be a continuous spectrum of frequencies, with upper and lower limits, and international use of these bands is regulated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) to prevent interference. For example, the medium wave band is approved for several purposes, the most well-known being its use for public service AM (Amplitude Modulation) radio broadcasts

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is a measure of the information carrying capacity of a communications channel, whether it be of the wired or wireless type. In analogue systems bandwidth is measured as a frequency in Hertz (Hz), and it is calculated as the difference between the highest and lowest frequencies of a band. The term bandwidth can apply to various types of equipment, e.g. audio, radio, video, etc., and in each case the bandwidth is calculated by subtracting the lower frequency limit of the band from its upper frequency limit. The range of frequencies that a particular signal will occupy can also be referred to as its bandwidth (as all signals inherently occupy a certain amount of bandwidth), or alternatively it may mean the range of frequencies that a piece of equipment will respond to. Furthermore, because the rate at which digital data flows through a system will depend on the bandwidth, this data rate can also be shown to be a measure of the system's bandwidth. In digital systems the bandwidth is usually described as the maximum transmission speed that a channel will support, and is measured as a data rate in bits per second (bps). If the bandwidth of a system is too narrow for a particular signal to pass through it, then there will be some distortion to that signal, or loss of its information content. Because bandwidth is closely related to the signal frequencies being transmitted, it gives an indication of the capacity of the system to cope with different signals. This means that a wide bandwidth will allow higher data rates, and conversely a narrow bandwidth will restrict the data rate. A voice signal requires only about a 3 kHz bandwidth, whereas a TV video signal needs about 6 MHz of bandwidth, because it contains much more information. Signals outside the band of interest are usually suppressed, in order to prevent interference to or from other equipment. Bandwidth has a general meaning of how much information can be carried in a given time period (usually a second). For example, a broadband link (i.e. one with a wide bandwidth) may be able to carry enough information to present moving video images. If one link or piece of equipment in a communication network has a much smaller bandwidth than the rest, then this will determine the data rate for the whole system

Base Station

Also known as: BS Base Station (BS) is a fixed radio station in the cellular network, which communicates with mobile telephones using radio waves. The Base Station will include transmitters, receivers, tower and antenna, and control equipment to interconnect with other base stations and the public switched network via landline or microwave links. A mobile telephone service consists of a network of many Base Stations, each of which covers one cell or geographical area within a total cellular service area. The Base Station communicates with the mobile phones within its given cell, and then transfers calls to other base stations and the fixed telephone network

Base Station Colour Code

Also known as: BCC Base Station Colour Code (BCC) is the code transmitted in the SB (Synchronisation Burst) of GSM systems. The BCC is used by the MS (Mobile Station) to distinguish between cells using the same frequencies, when the MS is deciding on which cell to select and to lock-on to. The BCC is also important during the receiving of the BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel), to identify the TSC (Training Sequence Code) to be used

Base Station Identity Code

Also known as: BSIC Base Station Identity Code (BSIC) is a 6 bit 'colour code' broadcast on the SCH (Synchronisation Channel) in GSM systems, which uniquely identifies the beacon frequency. The BSIC is broadcasted in order to identify the NCC (Network Colour Code) and the BCC (Base Station Colour Code) to the Mobile Stations in the area. Adjacent cells in the cellular system will have different 'colours' or BSICs

Base Station Subsystem

Also known as: BSS Base Station Subsystem / System (BSS) refers to a segment of a GSM system, comprising a Base Station Controller (BSC) and the one or more Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) that are associated with it. The Base Station Controller manages the Base Transceiver Stations, and at a higher level a Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) controls one or more of these Base Station Subsystems. The BSS is the interface between the Mobile Station (MS) and the Mobile Switching Centre (MSC).

Base Tranceiver Station

Also known as: BTS Base Transceiver Station (BTS) is a fixed radio station in the cellular network, which communicates with mobile telephones using radio waves. The Base Transceiver Station will include transmitters, receivers, tower and antenna, and control equipment to interconnect with other base transceiver stations and the public switched network via landline or microwave links. A mobile telephone service consists of a network of many Base Transceiver Stations, each of which covers one cell or geographical area within a total cellular service area. The Base Transceiver Station communicates with the mobile phones within its given cell, and then transfers calls to other base transceiver stations and the fixed telephone network. A BTS may also be called a Base Station (BS).

Battery

Also known as: Power Cell Battery is the normal power source used to operate a mobile phone. The battery capacity is usually measured in units of mAh (milliamps x hours), which is the electric current output that the battery can produce over a specified time. The higher the mAh rating of the battery the longer it will be able to power the phone. Mobile phone batteries are often available in "standard" or "extended" versions, the latter having a larger capacity to power the phone for a longer period of time. Several types of battery have been used in mobile phones, the main types being: Nickel Cadmium (NiCd), Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH), Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) and Lithium Polymer (Li-Po). NiCd and NiMH (to a lesser degree) suffer from memory effect. All batteries slowly lose their charge with time, even when unused. The rate at which batteries self-discharge will depend on their type, and it is found that an unused Li-Ion battery is the best at holding its charge, a NiMH battery the worst, and NiCd is somewhere in between

Battery Indicator

Battery indicator is either a visual or audible warning message that alert the user to the state of the battery. The phone may give out an audible "beeping" tone, or a "LoBat" message might appear on the display to indicate that the battery is running low. The warnings usually give the user sufficient time to recharge the battery before the phone stops working

Battery Meter

Battery meter is a visual indicator of the estimated amount of life remaining in the battery. Mobile phones usually combine a meter with an audible warning signal, to help the user to avoid dropping calls due to the battery running low before they have the chance to recharge


Page:  1  2  3  4  (Next)
  ALL