Forensic Glossary

AFENTIS Forensics is the UK’s leading investigation practice, providing sophisticated analysis of computers, telecommunication evidence/tracking, cell site analysis, e-Discovery, indecent imagery (Operation Ore), and audio-visual exhibit assessments. Certified analysts are available to assist in drug enquiries, toxicology assessments, DNA profiling, fingerprint comparisons, firearm or ballistic studies, and the evaluation of questioned documents. Forensic glossary of terms and definitions:

1.5 – WAY PAGING
Refers to guaranteed message receipt or advanced messaging, ensuring subscribers receive messages sent when they’re out of range, but users cannot send text pages. Two-way paging allows users to send and receive.

1.7 – WAY PAGING
A paging service that offers more than guaranteed messaging but not as much as full two-way paging. The subscriber has limited response messaging, such as canned messages, rather than the ability to create responses.

1G
According to conventional technical and forensic glossary, this is the first generation of mobile wireless that utilizes analog air interface technology.

2.5G
Interim step building up to 3G involving overlay of higher-capacity data transmission capability to existing 2G digital wireless networks.

2G
Second generation of mobile wireless, which utilizes various digital protocols, including GSM, CDMA, TDMA, iDEN, and PDC.

711
The nationwide number to reach the telecommunications relay service (TRS). TRS enables telephone conversations between people with speech or hearing disabilities and people without speech or hearing disabilities.

802.11
IEEE standards for wireless LANs with specs for 1mbps, 2mbps, 11mbps, and 24mbps.

A AND B PCS BLOCKS
The first two PCS licenses that were auctioned by the FCC in March 1995. Each contains 30 MHz of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band and is based on MTA geographic partitions.

A BLOCK
In early 1981, the FCC announced that it would approve two licenses in each wireless market: a non-wireline company (which became known as the “A” side carrier), and a wireline company (the “B” side carrier).

A-KEY
A secret number issued to a cellular phone that is used in conjunction with a subscriber’s shared secret data information for authentication.

A/B SWITCH
A feature found on cellular telephones permitting the user (when roaming away from home) to select either the “A” (non-wireline) carrier or the “B” (wireline) carrier.

ACCESS FEE
A special fee that local telephone companies are allowed to charge all telephone customers for the right to connect with the local phone network. Cellular subscribers pay this fee along with a 3 percent federal telephone excise tax.

ACCESS LINE
A telephone line reaching from the telephone company central office to a point on a private premise. Usually equates to one customer line.

ADDRESS
The term address is used in several ways.

An Internet address or Internet Protocol (IP) address is a unique computer (host) location on the Internet.
A Web page address is expressed as the defining directory path to the file on a particular server.
A Web page address is also called a Uniform Resource Locator, or URL.
An e-mail address is the location of an e-mail user (expressed by the user’s e-mail name followed by an “at” sign (@) followed by the user’s server domain name).

ADJACENT CHANNEL INTERFERENCE
Signal impairment to one frequency due to presence of another signal on a nearby frequency.

ADVANCED INTELLIGENT NETWORK (AIN)
A system that allows a wireless user to make and receive phone calls while roaming in areas outside the user’s “home” network. AINs enable service providers to define, test and introduce new multimedia messaging, PCS and cell routing.

ADVANCED MOBILE PHONE SERVICE (AMPS)
An analog cellular radio standard that serves as the foundation for the U.S. cellular industry. AMPS represents the first generation of wireless networks.

AFFILIATE
Companies that assist carriers with building a wireless network. The affiliate may use the primary carrier’s brand name, network operations, customer service or other facilities.

AIR INTERFERENCE
The standard operating system of a wireless network. Technologies include AMPS, TDMA, CDMA and GSM.

AIRTIME
Actual time spent talking on the cellular telephone. Most carriers bill customers based on how many minutes of airtime they use each month. Airtime charges during peak periods of the day vary from about 20 cents to more than 40 cents per minute, depending on the service plan selected. Most carriers offer reduced rates for off-peak usage.

ALPHANUMERIC
A message or other type of readout containing both letters (“alphas”) and numbers (“numerics”). In cellular, “alphanumeric memory dial” is a special type of dial-from-memory option that displays both the name of the individual and that individual’s phone number on the cellular phone handset. The name also can be recalled by using the letters on the phone keypad. By contrast, standard memory dial recalls numbers from number-only locations.

AMERICAN MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (AMTA)
A Washington, D.C.-based trade group representing specialized mobile radio operators.

AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ANSI)
A private, non-profit organization that oversees the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. The Institute’s mission is to enhance both the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment systems, and safeguarding their integrity.

ANALOG
A signaling method that uses continuous changes in the amplitude or frequency of a radio transmission to convey information. It relies on a continuous (rather than pulsed as in digital) electrical signal that varies in amplitude or frequency in response to changes of sound, light, position, etc., impressed on a transducer in the sending device; opposite of digital.

ANTENNA
A wire or set of wires used to send and receive radio waves.

APPLICATION-SPECIFIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT (ASIC)
An integrated circuit tailored for a particular piece of electronic equipment.

ARCHIVE FILE
A file that contains other files (usually compressed files). It is used to store files that are not used often or files that may be downloaded from a file library by Internet users.

ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC-SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS OFFICIALS-INTERNATIONAL (APCO)
Trade group headquartered in South Daytona, Fla., representing law enforcement, fire, emergency services and other public-safety agency dispatchers and communications employees.

ATTENUATION
The loss of signal energy due to absorption, reflection, or diffusion during transmission.

AUTHENTICATION
The verification process to assure that a wireless device and its user are compatible with and authorized to access a wireless network. This process is accomplished through transmission of identifying data at the time of connection. Used for fraud prevention.

AUTOMATIC VEHICLE LOCATION (AVL)
Combining a location-sensing device (such as a GPS receiver) with a wireless communications link to provide a home office or dispatcher with the location of a vehicle or mobile asset (such as a trailer or heavy machinery).

AVERAGE REVENUE PER UNIT (ARPU)
Measures the average monthly revenue generated for each customer unit, such as a cellular phone or pager, that a carrier has in operation.

B BLOCK
In early 1981, the FCC announced that it would approve two licenses in each market- a non-wireline company (which became known as the “A” side carrier), and a wireline company (the “B” side carrier).

B CARRIER
Most areas of the US have two cellular carriers, each of which operates on a different frequency band. One is designated the “A” carrier and the other is designated the “B” carrier. In some markets there may be only one carrier which may be “A” or “B”.

BACKUP
A copy taken of information held on a computer in case something goes wrong with the original copy.

BANDWIDTH
The capacity of a telecom line to carry signals. A greater bandwidth indicates the ability to transmit a greater amount of data over a given period of time.

BASE STATION
The central radio transmitter/receiver that maintains communications with mobile radiotelephone sets within a given range (typically a cell site).

BASE STATION CONTROLLER (BSC)
The part of the wireless system’s infrastructure that controls one or multiple cell sites’ radio signals, thus reducing the load on the switch. Performs radio signal management functions for base transceiver stations, managing functions such as frequency assignment and handoff.

BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION (BTS)
The name for the antenna and radio equipment necessary to provide wireless service in an area. Also called a base station or cell site.

BASIC TRADING AREA (BTA)
A geographic region defined by a group of counties that surround a city, which is the area’s basic trading center. The boundaries of each BTA were formulated by Rand McNally & Co. and are used by the FCC determine service areas for PCS wireless licenses. The entire US and some of its territories is divided into 493 non-overlapping BTAs.

BENT PIPE TECHNOLOGY
Satellite technology to transmit calls from one point on Earth to a satellite and back down to another point.

BIG LEO
Low-earth orbit satellite systems that will offer voice and data services, including Iridium and Globalstar.

BIOS
Basic Input Output System. A program stored on the motherboard that controls interaction between the various components of the computer.

BLUETOOTH
Wireless personal area network (PAN) standard that enables data connections between electronic devices such as desktop computers, wireless phones, electronic organizers and printers in the 2.4 GHz range at 720kbps within a 30-foot range. Bluetooth depends on mobile devices equipped with a chip for sending and receiving information.

BOOT
To start a computer, more frequently used as “re-boot”.

BOOT DISK
Refers to a disk that contains the files needed to start an operating system.

BROADBAND
A high bandwith internet connection e.g. ADSL or cable.

BROADBAND PCS
Personal communications services created in the A- through F-Block auctions and used for voice and data. Broadband PCS is allocated 140 MHz of spectrum with 20 MHz currently unassigned. Frequency blocks A, B, and C were each assigned 30 MHz of spectrum, while frequency blocks D, E, and F were each assigned 10 MHz of spectrum.

BUFFER
An area of memory used to speed up access to devices.
It is used for temporary storage of the data read from or waiting to be sent to a device such as a hard disk, CD-ROM, printer or tape drive.

BULLETIN BOARD SERVICE (BBS)
A BBS is like an electronic corkboard. It is a computer system equipped for network access that serves as an information and message-passing centre for remote users. BBSs are generally focused on special interests, such as science fiction, movies, Windows software, or Macintosh systems. Some are free, some are fee-based access and some are a combination.

BUNDLING
Grouping various telecommunications services — wireline and/or wireless — as a package to increase the appeal to potential customers and reduce advertising, marketing and other expenses associated with delivering multiple services. For example, a bundled package could include long distance, cellular, Internet and paging services.

BYTE
In most computer systems, a byte is a unit of data consisting of 8 bits. A byte can represent a single character, such as a letter, a digit, or a punctuation mark.

C BLOCK
The third PCS license that was auctioned by the FCC in May 1996. Each contains 30 MHz of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band and is based on BTA geographic partitions. The licenses were reserved for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

CACHE
A cache (pronounced CASH) is a place to store something more or less temporarily. Pages you browse to are stored in your web browser’s cache directory on your hard disk. When you return to a page you have recently browsed to, the browser can retrieve the page from the cache rather than the original server, saving you time and the network the burden of some additional traffic. Two common types of cache are cache memory and a disk cache.

CACHEBACK (2)
See Netanalysis

CALL BARRING
Enables you to restrict or bar certain or all types of calls to and from your mobile phone, i.e. outgoing calls, outgoing international calls, incoming calls. Barring is activated with a personal code.

CALL DIVERT
Enables you to divert incoming calls to another phone or answering service.

CALL DIVERT
Enables you to put a caller on hold while a second call is answered or made.

CALL RESTRICTION
Enables you to restrict or bar certain or all types of calls to and from your mobile phone, i.e. outgoing calls, outgoing international calls, incoming calls.

CALL TRANSFER
Enables you to transfer a caller to another number.

CALL WAITING
If your line is busy, callers are asked to wait while you are alerted to their incoming call.

CALLER ID
An enhanced feature that displays a caller’s phone number on the wireless handset receiving the call. Many systems are adding the caller’s name to the caller ID.

CALLING PLAN
A rate plan selected by subscribers when they start up cellular service, usually consisting of a base rate for system access and a per-minute rate for usage. Service plans are designed to provide the most cost-effective rates for different types and amounts of usage by the cellular subscriber.

CAP CODE
A pager’s unique electronic identification number.

CDF
Channel Data Format: a system used to prepare information for Web-casting.

CDMA2000
A 3G technology that is an evolutionary outgrowth of cdmaOne. It offers operators who have deployed a 2G cdmaOne system a seamless migration path to 3G. cdma2000 supports the 2G network aspect of all existing operators regardless of technology (cdmaOne IS-136 TDMA, or GSM). This standard is also known by its ITU name IMT-CDMA Multi-Carrier (1X/3X). cdma2000 has been divided into 2 phases. The first phase capabilities are defined in a standard known as 1X, which introduces 144 kbps packet data in a mobile environment and speeds beyond this in a fixed environment. cdma2000 phase two, known as 3X, incorporates the capabilities of 1X. It also supports all channel sizes (5 MHz, 10 MHz, etc.), provides circuit and packet data rates up to 2 Mbps, incorporates advance multimedia capabilities, and includes a framework for advanced 3G voice services and vocoders, including voice over packet and circuit data.

CDMAONE
The name used by the CDMA Development Group (CDG) for CDMA networks (IS-95) using 2nd-generation digital technology.

CD-R
Compact Disk – Recordable. A disk to which data can be written but not erased.

CD-ROM
Compact Disk – Read Only Memory or Media. In computers, CD-ROM technology is a format and system for recording, storing, and retrieving electronic information on a compact disk that is read using laser optics rather than magnetic means.

CD-RW
Compact Disk – ReWritable. A disk to which data can be written and erased.

CELL
The basic geographic unit of a cellular system. Also, the basis for the generic industry term: “cellular.” A city or county is divided into smaller “cells,” each of which is equipped with a low-powered radio transmitter/receiver. The cells can vary in size depending upon terrain, capacity demands, etc. By controlling the transmission power, the radio frequencies assigned to one cell can be limited to the boundaries of that cell. When a wireless phone moves from one cell toward another, a computer at the Mobile Telephone Switching Office (MTSO) monitors the movement and at the proper time, transfers or hands off the phone call to the new cell and another radio frequency. The handoff is performed so quickly that it is not noticeable to the callers.

CELL PHONE
A wireless telephone that sends and receives messages using radiofrequency energy in the 800-900 megahertz portion of the radiofrequency (RF) spectrum.

CELL SITE
The location where the wireless antenna and network communications equipment is placed. A cell site consists of a transmitter/receiver, antenna tower, transmission radios and radio controllers. A cell site is operated by a Wireless Service Provider (WSP).

CELL SPLITTING
The process of creating more coverage and capacity in a wireless system by having more than one cell site cover a particular amount of geography. Each cell site covers a smaller area, with lower power MHz and thus offers the ability to reuse frequencies more times in a larger geographic coverage area, such as a city or MTA.

CELLULAR
A wireless telephone network that connects radio frequencies from a mobile phone to a system of multiple cell sites, each consisting of an antenna and a base station, to a mobile telephone switching office, and ultimately to the public wireline telephone system. Called ‘cellular’ because the system uses many base stations to divide a service area into multiple ‘cells’. Cellular calls are transferred from base station to base station as a user travels from cell to cell.

CELLULAR BASE STATION
The transmission and reception equipment, including the base station antenna, which connects a cellular phone to the network. Also called a cell site.

CELLULAR DIGITAL PACKET DATA (CDPD)
An enhanced packet overlay on analog cell phone networks used to transmit and receive data. This technology allows data files to be broken into a number of packets and sent along idle channels of existing cellular voice networks. CDPD provides 19.2 Kbps and is deployed by AT&T among several other carriers.

CELLULAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET ASSOCIATION (CTIA)
A trade group representing cellular, PCS and enhanced specialized mobile radio carriers. Customer Proprietary Network Information (CPNI): The carrier’s data about a specific customer’s service and usage. The FCC governs the usage of CPNI. Generally, information about a customer’s account is considered proprietary until the customer authorizes its use.

CHANNEL
An electrical, electromagnetic, or optical path for communication between two points.

CHURN
In any industry, a measure of the number of customers who leave or switch to another service provider, usually stated as a percentage.

CIRCUIT SWITCH DATA (CSD)
Allows a user to use their wireless handset as a modem for laptops, PDAs and other electronic devices via infrared ports or designated data cables. CSD also allows a user to access Wireless Internet via their wireless handset (handset must be WAP compatible).

CLASSLINK
A program of the CTIA Foundation providing wireless phones to schools for teacher use and student Internet access.

CLONE/CLONING
A wireless phone programmed with stolen or duplicated electronic serial and mobile identification numbers. The Wireless Telephone Protection Act of 1998 outlawed cloning. The Act prohibits knowingly using, producing, trafficking in, having control or custody of, or possessing hardware or software knowing that it has been configured to insert or modify telecommunication identifying information associated with or contained in a telecommunications instrument so that such instrument may be used to obtain telecommunications service without authorization.

CMOS
Complementary Metal-Oxide Semi-Conductor. It commonly holds the BIOS preference of the computer through power off with the aid of a battery.

CPU
Central Processing Unit. The most powerful chip in the computer. Located inside a computer, it is the “brain” that performs all arithmetic, logic and control functions.

CODE DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS (CDMA)
An air interface technology that was developed by the U.S. military and commercialized by the U.S. company Qualcomm. CDMA assigns a code to all speech bits, sends a scrambled transmission of the encoded speech over the air and reassembles the speech to its original form at the other end. CDMA supports SMS with a message length of 120 characters. With CDMA, each conversation is digitized and then tagged with a code. The mobile phone receives a signal to locate that particular code and it then deciphers the conversation off the airwaves. It codes each conversation expanding it 128 times, making it easy to decipher at the receiving end.

COLLOCATION
Placement of multiple antennas at a common physical site to reduce environmental impact and real estate costs and speed zoning approvals and network deployment.

COMMERCIAL MOBILE RADIO SERVICE (CMRS)
An FCC designation for any carrier or licensee whose wireless network is connected to the public switched telephone network and/or is operated for profit.

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ACT (CALEA)
A 1994 law granting law enforcement agencies the ability to wiretap new digital networks and requiring wireless and wireline carriers to enable surveillance equipment use in digital networks.

COMPETETIVE LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIER (CLEC)
Any telephone company that offers service in a specific area. Now that the industry has been deregulated, several companies may offer service in a single area. New ones entering a market are Competitive Local Exchange Carriers. The original telephone company at the time of deregulation is known as the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (See also “ILEC”).

CONTENT SERVICES
Paging service, beyond telephone number alerts, that include news and sports headlines, personalized stock quotes, driving directions, restaurant reviews and information contained on Internet sites.

CONTROL CHANNEL
A logic channel carrying network information rather than the actual voice or data messages transmitted over the network.

COVERAGE
Refers to the region within which a paging receiver can reliably receive the transmission of the paging signals.

CRACKER
A computer expert who uses his or her skill to break into computer systems by circumventing security measures (cracking). The term was coined to provide an alternative to using the word ‘hacker’ to mean this, although the common usage remains more popular.

CRC
Cyclic Redundancy Check. A common technique for detecting data transmission errors.

CROSSTALK
Interference in a wireless communications system from other conversations in nearby cells using the same channel.

CRYPTOGRAPHY
The process of securing private information that is sent through public networks, by encrypting it in a way that makes it unreadable to anyone except the person or persons holding the mathematical key/knowledge to decrypt the information.

CUSTOMER ACQUISITION COST
The average cost to a carrier of signing up an individual subscriber. Some of the factors included in the cost are handset subsidies, marketing, advertising and promotions.

D AND E PCS BLOCKS
The fourth and fifth PCS licenses that were auctioned by the FCC in January 1997. Each contains MHz of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band and is based on BTA geographical partitions. The licenses were reserved for smaller businesses and entrepreneurs.

DATABASE
Structured collection of data that can be accessed in many ways. Common database programs are: Dbase, Paradox, Access. Uses: various including – address links, invoicing information, etc.

DECIBEL (dB)
A unit of measure used to express relative difference in power or intensity of sound.

DELETED FILES
If a subject knows there are incriminating files on the computer, he or she may delete them in an effort to eliminate evidence. Many computer users think that this actually eliminates the information. However, depending on how the files are deleted, in many instances a forensic examiner is able to recover all or part of the original data.

DENIAL OF SERVICE ATTACKS (DOS)
Denial of Service Attacks are attempts to make a computer resource unavailable to its intended users. e.g. a web site is flooded with requests, which ties up the system and denies access to legitimate users.

DIGITAL
A method of encoding information using a binary code of 0s and 1s from electrical pulses. Because digital signals are made up only of binary streams, less information is needed to transmit a message. Digital encoding therefore increases the capacity of a given radio frequency. Furthermore, only digitized information can be transported through a noisy channel without degradation. Digital technology reproduces sound exactly, and can even filter out background and electronic “noise.” Even if corruption occurs, as long as the one zero patterns are recognizable, the original information content can be perfectly replicated at the receiving end. Most new wireless phones and networks use digital technology.

DIGITAL CELLULAR SYSTEM (DCS 1800)
A global system for mobile communications-based PCS network used outside of the U.S.

DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSOR (DSP)
A microprocessor that digitizes analog signals.

DIGITAL SIGNATURE
Use of cryptography to provide authentication of the associated input, or message.

DISAGGREGATION
The splitting of a spectrum license into two or more licenses of fewer frequencies.

DISK CACHE
A portion of memory set aside for temporarily holding information read from a disk.

DONGLE
A term for a small external hardware device that connects to a computer to authenticate a piece of software; e.g. proof that a computer actually has a licence for the software being used.

DOWNLINK
The portion of a telecommunications path from a satellite to the ground. Also referred to as the reverse link.

DRIVE TEST
A method of taking signal strength measurements in a cellular coverage area.

DUAL BAND
A feature on some wireless phones that allows the handset to operate using either the 800 MHz cellular or the 1900 MHz PCS frequencies.

DUAL MODE
A feature on some wireless phones that allows the handset to operate on both analog and digital networks.

DVD
Digital Versatile Disk. Similar in appearance to a compact disk, but can store larger amounts of data.

ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY
Waves of electrical and magnetic energy moving together through space. Also called electromagnetic radiation.

ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD
An area containing electromagnetic energy (electromagnetic radiation).

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
Waves of electrical and magnetic energy moving together through space. Also called electromagnetic energy.

ELECTROGNETIC SPECTRUM
The forensic glossary definition would be the collection of all electromagnetic energy arranged according to frequency and wavelength.

ELECTRONIC SERIAL NUMBER (ESN)
The unique identification number embedded in a wireless phone by the manufacturer. Each time a call is placed, the ESN is automatically transmitted to the base station so the wireless carrier’s mobile switching office can check the call’s validity. The ESN cannot easily be altered in the field. The ESN differs from the mobile identification number, which is the wireless carrier’s identifier for a phone in the network. MINs and ESNs can be electronically checked to help prevent fraud.

ENCRYPTION
The process of scrambling, or encoding, information in an effort to guarantee that only the intended recipient can read the information.

E-MAIL HEADER
E-mails come in two parts – the body and the header. Normal header information gives the recipient details of time, date, sender and subject. All e-mails also come with (usually hidden) extended headers – information that is added by email programs and transmitting devices – which shows more information about the sender that is in many circumstances traceable to an individual computer on the Internet.

ENHANCED 911 (E911)
911 service becomes E911 when automatic number identification and automatic location information from a wireless phone is provided to the 911 operator. Reimbursement, or cost recovery, is due to commercial providers of both recurring and nonrecurring costs associated with any services, operation, administration or maintenance of wireless E911 service. Costs include, but are not limited to, the costs of design, development, upgrades, equipment, software and other expenses associated with the implementation of wireless E911 service.

ENHANCED DATA FOR GSM EVOLUTION (EDGE)
The final evolution of data communications within the GSM standard. Based on 8PSK modulation, EDGE provides 3G packet data throughput on GSM networks, and uses a new modulation scheme to enable data throughput speeds of up to 384kbit/s using existing GSM infrastructure.

ENHANCED SPECIALISED MOBILE RADIO (ESMR)
Digital SMR networks that provide dispatch, voice, and messaging and data services.

ENCASE
A forensic software used by Police and other examiners to analyze electronic data. See www.guidancesoftware.com

EUROPEAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ETSI)
A standards-setting body in Europe. Also the standards body responsible for GSM.

F PCS BLOCK
The final PCS license that was auctioned by the FCC in January 1997. Each contains 10 MHz of spectrum in the 1900 MHz band and is based on BTA geographic partitions. The licenses were reserved for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
The federal government agency located in Washington, D.C. responsible for regulating telecommunications in the United States, including commercial and private wireless spectrum management.

FIBER OPTIC
Using fine, transparent lines for the transmission of data, digitally encoded into pulses of light. In terms of telephone conversations, a 1/2″ copper cable can transmit about 25 conversations analog, whereas a 1/2″ fiber optic line can transmit 193,536 conversations digitally.

FIREFOX
An alternative web browser to Internet Explorer and Safari

FIREWIRE
Originally developed by Apple, this is an increasingly popular and very fast external bus for transferring data between devices; also known as IEEE 1394 for the name of the standard it engendered.

FLASH MEMORY
A component used for memory that can retain information without power.

FOLIAGE ATTENUATION
Reductions in signal strength or quality due to signal absorption by trees or foliage obstructions in the signal’s line-of-sight path. For example, 800 MHz systems are seldom deployed in forested areas. Pine needles — nearly the same length as 800 MHz antennas — can negatively affect signal reception in that band.

FRAME RELAY
Wideband, packet-based interface used to transmit bursts of data over a wide-area network. Seldom used for voice.

FREE SPACE
File clusters that are not currently used for the storage of ‘live’ files, but which may contain data which has been ‘deleted’ by the operating system. In such cases, whole or part files may be recoverable unless the user has used specialist disk cleaning software.

FREQUENCY
The number of oscillations, or vibrations, of radio waves per unit of time, usually expressed in either cycles-per-second or Hertz (Hz).

FREQUENCY MODULATION (FM)
A signaling method that varies the carrier frequency in proportion to the amplitude of the modulating signal.

FREQUENCY REUSE
The ability to use the same frequencies repeatedly across a cellular system, made possible by the basic design approach for cellular. Since each cell is designed to use radio frequencies only within its boundaries, the same frequencies can be reused in other cells not far away with little potential for interference. The reuse of frequencies is what enables a cellular system to handle a huge number of calls with a limited number of channels.

FLOPPY DISK
These are disks that hold information magnetically. They come in two main types 3.5 inch and 5.25 inch.
The 5.25 inch disks are flexible and easily damaged, the 3.5 inch disks are in a stiff case. Both are square and flat. Older machines may use larger or smaller sizes of disk.

GATEWAY
Node that connect two different networks.

GATEWAY GPRS SUPPORT NODE (GGSN)
Interface between the GPRS wireless data network and other networks such as the Internet or private networks.

GENERAL PACKET RADIO SERVICE (GPRS)
A GSM data transmission technique that does not set up a continuous channel from a portable terminal for the transmission and reception of data, but transmits and receives data in packets. GPRS is used to boost wireless data transmission over GSM networks. GPRS can achieve 171.2 kilobits per second (kbps), which is about three times as fast as the data transmission speeds possible over today’s fixed telecommunications networks and ten times as fast as current GSM networks. Unlike existing digital wireless Net connections, no dial-up modem is necessary.

GIGABYTE (GB)
1 Gigabyte = 1024 Megabytes. A gigabyte is a measure of memory capacity and is roughly one thousand megabytes or a billion bytes. It is pronounced Gig-a-bite (with hard Gs).

GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)
A system of 24 satellites for identifying earth locations, launched by the U.S. By triangulation of signals from three of the satellites, a receiving unit can pinpoint its current location anywhere on earth to within a few meters. Lets those on the ground, on the water or in the air determines their position with extreme accuracy using GPS receivers.

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS (GSM)
GSM is a digital cellular phone technology based on TDMA that is the predominant system Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and in parts of America and Canada. First introduced in 1991, the GSM standard has been deployed at three different frequency bands: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz. GSM 1900 is primarily deployed in North America. Named after its frequency band around 900 MHz, GSM-900 has provided the basis for several other networks using GSM technology. GSM uses narrowband TDMA which allows eight simultaneous calls on the same radio frequency. Along with CDMA and TDMA it represents the second generation of wireless networks.

GLOBALSTAR
Second major LEO-based global communications system; initially created for voice, it was launched in late 1999.

GSM 1800
Also known as DCS 1800 or PCN, GSM 1800 is a digital network working on a frequency of 1800 MHz. It is used in Europe, Asia-Pacific and Australia.

GSM 1900
Also known as PCS 1900, GSM 1900 is a digital network working on a frequency of 1900 MHz. It is used in the US and Canada and is scheduled for parts of Latin America and Africa.

GSM 900
The world’s most widely used digital network and now operating in over 100 countries around the world, particularly in Europe and Asia Pacific. GSM HOSTED SMS TELESERVICE (GHOST)
A tunneling protocol that allows a GSM SMS to be embedded in a teleservice that can be transmitted over the air interface of a TDMA based network.
HACKER
Persons who are experts with computer systems and software and enjoy pushing the limits of software or hardware. To the public and the media, they can be good or bad. Some hackers come up with good ideas this way and share their ideas with others to make computing more efficient. However, some hackers intentionally use their expertise for malicious purposes, (e.g. to circumvent security and commit computer crimes) and are known as ‘black hat’ hackers. Also see Cracker.

HALF-RATE
A variant of GSM, Half-Rate doubles system capacity by more efficient speech coding.

HANDHELD DEVICE MARKUP LANGUAGE (HDML)
A specialized version of HTML designed to enable wireless pagers, cell phones and other handheld devices to obtain information from Web pages. HDML was developed by Phone.com (formerly Unwired Planet) before the WAP specification was standardized. It is a subset of WAP with some features, not included in WAP. AT&T Wireless launched the first HDML-based service in 1996.

HANDOFF
The process by which the Mobile Telephone Switching Office passes a cellular phone conversation from one radio frequency in one cell to another radio frequency in another. The handoff is performed so quickly that users usually never notice.

HANDS-FREE
An important safety feature that’s included with most of today’s mobile phones. It permits drivers to use their cellular phone without lifting or holding the hand-set to their ear.

HANDSET SUBSIDY
Frequently, a wireless company will sell a phone (handset) below cost, with the hope of making up the loss later on customer usage fees. The amount of loss per handset is called the handset subsidy.

HARD DISK
The hard disk is usually inside the PC. It stores information in the same way as floppy disks but can hold far more of it.

HARDWARE
The physical parts of a computer. If it can be picked up it is hardware as opposed to software.

HERTZ (Hz)
A unit of measurement of one cycle per second when one radio wave passes one point in one second of time. Named in honor of Heinrich Hertz, the physicist who developed the theory of radio waves.

HIGH-SPEED CIRCUIT SWITCHED DATA (HSCSD)
The final evolution of circuit switched data within the GSM environment. HSCSD enables the transmission of data over a GSM link at speeds of up to 57.6kbit/s. This is achieved by concatenating consecutive GSM timeslots, each of, which is capable of supporting 14.4kbit/s. Up to four GSM timeslots are needed for the transmission of HSCSD.

HOME LOCATION REGISTER (HLR)
A forensic glossary explanation would be the database residing in a local wireless network that contains service profiles and checks the identity of a local subscriber.

HOST MACHINE
For the purpose of this document, a host machine is one which is used to accept a target hard drive for the purpose of forensically processing.

HUB
A central connection for all the computers in a network, which is usually Ethernet-based. Information sent to the hub can flow to any other computer on the network.

I-MODE
NTT DoCoMo’s mobile Internet access, launched in February 1999. I-mode is an alternative to WAP, though it is only implemented in Japan. It offers Internet access and email service. While WAP uses HDML, I-mode relies on Compact HTML (C-HTML). Both languages are a simple version of HTML, for use on mobile phones. Today more than 7000 sites are I-mode compatible and offer a wide range of services over mobile phones: mobile banking, ticket reservation, cartoons downloading, etc.

IMAGING
Imaging is the process used to obtain all of the data present on a storage media (e.g. hard disk), whether it is active data or data in free space, in such a way as to allow it to be examined as if it were the original data.

IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identifier.
A unique 15-digit number that serves as the serial number of a GSM handset.

IMSI
International Mobile Subscriber Identity.
A globally unique code number that identifies a Global System for Mobiles (GSM) handset subscriber to the network.

INCUMBENT LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIER (ILEC)
The historic local phone service provider in a market, often a former Bell company. Distinct from competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs), new market entrants.

INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE NETWORK (ITN)
Companies not affiliated with the local telephone companies.

INDUSTRIAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (ITA)
A Washington, D.C. trade group serving private wireless licensees such as airlines and oil companies.

INFRARED DATA ASSOCIATION (IrDA)
A membership organization founded in 1993 and dedicated to developing standards for wireless, infrared transmission systems between computers. With IrDA ports, a laptop or PDA can exchange data with a desktop computer or use a printer without a cable connection. Like a TV remote control, IrDA requires line-of-sight transmission. IrDA products began to appear in 1995.

INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CARD ID (ICCID)
19 or 20-digit serial number of the SIM card.

INTEGRATED DIGITAL ENHANCED NETWORK (iDEN)
A wireless communications technology from Motorola that provides support for voice, data, short messages (SMS) and dispatch radio (two-way radio) in one phone. Operating in the 800MHz and 1.5GHz bands and based on TDMA, iDEN uses Motorola’s VSELP (Vector Sum Excited Linear Predictors) vocoder for voice compression and QAM modulation to deliver 64 Kbps over a 25KHz channel. Each 25KHz channel can be divided six times to transmit any mix of voice, data, dispatch or text message. Used by various carriers around the globe, Nextel Communications provides nationwide coverage in the U.S.

INTELLIGENT ROAMING DATABASE (IRDB)
A list of acceptable and unacceptable networks for a phone to roam with stored either on a SIM card or in the phone.

INTERACTIVE MESSAGING
Short Message Service that allows users to send alphanumeric messages from their wireless handset to other wireless handsets or to email addresses. Interactive Messaging also allows the user to receive emails and web messages from the internet.

INTERCONNECTION
The connecting of one network with another, e.g. a cellular carrier’s wireless network with the local exchange.

INTERIM STANDARD (IS)
A designation of the Telecommunications Industry Association –usually followed by a number–that refers to an accepted industry protocol; e.g., IS-95, IS-136, IS-54.

INTERNATIONAL MOBILE EQUIPMENT IDENTIFIER (IMEI)
A unique 15-digit number that serves as the serial number of the GSM handset. The IMEI appears on the label located on the back of the phone. The IMEI is automatically transmitted by the phone when the network asks for it. A network operator might request the IMEI to determine if a device is in disrepair, stolen or to gather statistics on fraud or faults.

INTERNATIONAL MOBILE SUBSCRIBER IDENTIFIER (IMSI)
A unique 15-digit number which designates the subscriber. This number is used for provisioning in network elements.

INTERNATIONAL MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATION (IMTA)
A trade group serving specialized mobile radio and public access mobile radio carriers around the world.

INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION (ITU)
An agency of the United Nations, headquartered in Geneva that furthers the development of telecommunications services worldwide and oversees global allocation of spectrum for future uses.

INTEROPERABILITY
The ability of a network to operate with other networks, such as two systems based on different protocols or technologies.

IONIZING RADIATION
Very high energy electromagnetic radiation that strips electrons away from their normal locations in atoms and molecules.

INTERNET RELAY CHAT
A virtual meeting place where people from all over the world can meet and talk about a diversity of human interests, ideas and issues. Participants are able to take part in group discussions on one of the many thousands of IRC channels, or just talk in private to family or friends, wherever they are in the world.

IRIDIUM
First LEO-based global communications system backed by Motorola. Built primarily for voice transmissions, it was launched in 1998 and went into Chapter 11 in 1999.

IS-136
The latest generation of the digital standard TDMA technology.

IS-41
The network standard that allows all switches to exchange information about subscribers.

IS-54
The first generation of the digital standard TDMA technology.

IS-661
North American standard for 1.9 GHz wireless spread spectrum radio-frequency access technology based on a composite of CDMA and TDMA technologies To reduce infrastructure costs and allow higher data speeds than mainstream GSM or TDMA platforms.

IS-95
The standard for CDMA.

ISP
Internet Service Provider. A company that sells access to the Internet via telephone or cable line to your home or office. This will normally be free – where the user pays for the telephone charge of a local call – or by subscription – where a set monthly fee is paid and the calls are either free or at a minimal cost.

JAPANESE TOTAL ACCESS COMMUNICATION (JTAC)
Like the European TACS, JTAC is the Japanese analog cellular system.

JAZ DISK
A high capacity proprietary removable hard disk system from a company named Iomega.

KAZAA
A file sharing software (peer to peer) that allows users to share the contents of their computers over the internet.

KILOBYTE (KB)
1 Kilobyte = 1024 bytes.

LAND LINE
Traditional wired phone service. Voice, video and data transmission technology that relies on wires. Also called wireline.

LINUX
An operating system popular with enthusiasts and used by some businesses.

LIMEWIRE
See kazaa as they are very similar

LITHIUM-ION BATTERY (Li-Ion)
Lighter weight battery than earlier types, having relatively longer cycle life and generally do not suffer from memory effect.

LOCAL CALLING AREA
The geographical area that a customer may call without incurring toll charges.

LOCAL MULTIPOINT DISTRIBUTION SERVICE (LMDS)
Located in the 28 GHz and 31 GHz bands, LMDS is a broadband radio service designed to provide two-way transmission of voice, high-speed data and video (wireless cable TV).

LOCAL NUMBER PORTABILITY (LNP)
The ability of subscribers to switch local or wireless carriers and still retain the same phone number, as they can now with long-distance carriers. Wireless carriers do not have to offer LNP until March 2002 and seek further postponement of this deadline.

LOCAL SERVICE FOOTPRINT
The geographical area that a customer may call without incurring toll charges, also known as “local service area,” or “local calling area.”

LOCAL-STATE GOVERNMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (LSGAC)
An FCC-established group that is working on an antenna-siting solution. The LSGAC will advise carriers and communities on antenna siting.

LOW EARTH ORBIT
A term used to describe the orbital altitude range (500 to 2000 km above the surface of the Earth) of certain communications satellites.

MACRO VIRUS
A virus attached to instructions (called macros) which are executed automatically when a document is opened.

MAGNETIC MEDIA
A disk, tape, cartridge, diskette or cassette that is used to store data magnetically.

MAJOR TRADING AREA (MTA)
Usually composed of several contiguous basic trading areas. A service area designed by Rand McNally and adopted by the FCC. There are 51 MTAs in the United States.

MALWARE (Spyware)
Short for malicious software, a program or file that is designed to specifically damage or disrupt a system, such as a virus, worm, or a Trojan horse. Symptoms include pop ups and internet browser hijacking.

MD5 HASH
An algorithm created in 1991 by Professor Ronald Rivest that is used to create digital fingerprints of storage media, such as a computer hard drive. When this algorithm is applied to a hard drive, it creates a unique value. Changing the data on the disk in any way will change the MD5 value.

MEGABYTE (MB)
1 Megabyte = 1024 Kilobytes.

MEMORY
Often used as a shorter synonym for random access memory (RAM). Memory is the electronic holding place for instructions and data that a computer’s microprocessor can reach quickly. RAM is located on one or more microchips installed in a computer.

MEMORY EFFECT
The life of a battery may be gradually shortened if it is recharged before it is completely discharged. Memory effect most commonly occurs with Nickel Cadmium batteries are less of a problem with Nickel Hydride batteries and even less with Lithium Ion batteries.

METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA)
One of 306 geographic regions, primarily urban areas, in the United States that are used as license areas in the cellular frequency band. Originally, two wireless operators were licensed in each MSA.

MICROCELL
A cell having a very small coverage area, which could be as small as one floor of an office building, one part of an airline terminal, or one corner of a busy intersection. These cells are typically used when coverage and/or capacity is strained and the use of a normal sized cell would cause interference or would be impractical to install. These cells transmit with extremely low power outputs.

MICROWAVES
A subset of radio waves that have frequencies ranging from around 300 million waves per second (300 MHz) to three billion waves per second (3 GHz).

MIDDLEWARE
The “mix-and-match” communications software that acts as a universal translator between diverse radio frequency technologies and protocols. Middleware resides on a remote client and a communications server, located between the client and the applications server. The software eases computing and communicating with corporate information and encourages applications development, making wireless data more attractive to corporate customers.

MOBILE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (MIN)
Uniquely identifies a mobile unit within a wireless carrier’s network. The MIN often can be dialed from other wireless or wireline networks. The number differs from the electronic serial number (ESN), which is the unit number assigned by a phone manufacturer. MINs and ESNs can be checked electronically to help prevent fraud.

MOBILE SATALLITE SERVICE
Powerful communications transmission service provided by satellites. A single satellite can provide coverage to the whole United States.

MOBILE TELEPHONE SWTCHING OFFICE (MTSO)
The central switch that controls the entire operation of a cellular system. It is a sophisticated computer that monitors all cellular calls, tracks the location of all cellular-equipped vehicles traveling in the system, arranges handoffs, keeps track of billing information, etc.

MODEM
Modulator / Demodulator. A device that connects a computer to a data transmission line (typically a telephone line). Most people use modems that transfer data at speeds ranging from 1200 bits per second (bps) to 56 Kbps. There are also modems providing higher speeds and supporting other media. These are used for special purposes – for example to connect a large local network to its network provider over a leased line.

MODEM POOLS
Forensic glossary: Racks of modems used to deliver reliable cellular data communications.

MONITOR
A device on which the computer displays information.

MOUSE
Device that, when moved, relays speed and direction to the computer, usually moving a desktop pointer on the screen.

MS-DOS
Microsoft Disk Operating System. Operating system marketed by Microsoft. This was once the most common operating system in use on desktop PCs, which automatically loads into the computer memory in the act of switching the computer on. Often only referred to as DOS.

MULTIPATH PROPAGATION
Signal distortion when a signal is reflected from nearby surfaces on its way to a receiver.

MULTIPLEXING
When multiple phone calls are carried in the same frequency band at the same time. In wireless, major multiplexing methods include TDMA and CDMA.

MUTUAL COMPENSATION
The concept that carriers must pay when they terminate traffic on the networks of carriers with which they are interconnected.

MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE APPLICATIONS
Two or more applications for the same spectrum use rights.

NARROWBAND ADVANCED MOBILE PHONE SYSTEM (NAMPS)
Combines cellular voice processing with digital signaling, increasing the capacity of AMPS systems and adding functionality.

NARROWBAND PCS
The next generation of paging networks, including two-way, acknowledgment and “wireless answering machine” paging.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBERING ASSOCIATION (NENA)
NENA’s mission is to foster the technological advancement, availability and implementation of a universal emergency telephone number system.

NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA)
The federal government’s executive branch advisory committee for telecommunications.

NETANALYSIS
A software that facilitates the viewing of internet history files.

NETWORK
Any system that was designed to provide one or more access paths for communication between users at different geographic locations. Communication networks may be designed for voice, text, data, fax and video. They may feature limited access (private networks) or open access (public networks), and will rely upon whatever analog or digital switching and transmission technologies are appropriate.

NICKEL CADMIUM BATTERY (NiCd)
A rechargeable battery that typically lasts for 700 charge and discharge cycles. If not completely discharged before recharging, the NiCd battery can suffer from memory effect that may reduce the life of the battery. Non-Ionizing Radiation: Levels of electromagnetic radiation that is too low to strip electrons away from their normal locations in atoms and molecules.

NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE BATTERY (NiMH)
A rechargeable battery that is capable of holding more power that a NiCd battery and suffers much less from memory effect. It is also typically more expensive than a NiCd battery.

NORDIC MOBILE TELEPHONE (NMT)
An older analog cellular protocol used in Europe and elsewhere.

NORTH AMERICAN CELLULAR NETWORK (NACN)
An organization of cellular providers that facilitates cellular calls across the country to be linked for seamless roaming.

NORTH AMERICAN NUMBERING COUNCIL (NANC)
The FCC advisory group formerly responsible for administering the North American Numbering Plan that oversees assignment of area codes, central office codes and other numbering issues in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and part of the Caribbean. NANC administration responsibility was transferred to Lockheed Martin.

NUMBER ASSIGNMENT MODULE (NAM)
The NAM is the electronic memory in the cellular phone that stores the telephone number and an electronic serial number. Phones with dual- or multi-NAM features offer users the option of registering the phone with a local number in more than one market.

NUMBER POOLING
Increasingly popular tactic for conserving phone numbers. Numbers are returned by all carriers to a central authority, which puts them in a pool, from which carriers receive numbers in lots of 1,000, not 10,000 as was originally done. Smaller lots of numbers reduce their cost and maximize the availability of new numbers to meet public demand.

NUMBER PORTABILITY
A term used to describe the capability of individuals, businesses and organizations to retain their existing telephone number(s) –– and the same quality of service –– when switching to a new local service provider.

OFF-PEAK
Periods of time during which carriers offer discounted airtime charges. Each carrier designates its own off-peak hours, usually after normal business hours during the week, and weekends.

OMNIBUS BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT OF 1993 (OBRA 93)
The first legislation authorizing the FCC to auction spectrum.
OPERATORS HARMONISATION GROUP (OHG)
A worldwide organization of operators and manufacturers dedicated to achieving a uniform standard for third-generation wireless systems.

OPERATING SYSTEM
This software is usually loaded into the computer memory upon switching the machine on and is a prerequisite for the operation of any other software. Examples include the Microsoft Windows family of operating systems (including 3.x, NT, 2000, XP and Vista) and UNIX operating systems and their variants like Linux, HP-UX, Solaris and Apple’s Mac OSX and BSD.

ORB
A high capacity removable hard disk system. ORB drives use magnetoresistive (MR) read/write head technology.

OVER-THE-AIR SERVICE PROVISIONING (OTASP)
The ability of carriers to add new types of services to a customer’s handset by using the wireless network instead of requiring the customer to bring the phone to a carrier’s location for reprogramming.

OVERLAY AREA CODE
A solution to the scarcity of new phone numbers, overlays involve issuance of new 10-digit phone numbers for use alongside an area’s existing seven-digit numbers, which have a different area code.

P2P Manager
A software that interrogates peer to peer installations

PARTITIONING
Dividing a spectrum license into two or more geographic areas.

PASSWORD
A word, phrase or combination of keystrokes used as a security measure to limit access to computers or software.

PCMCIA CARDS
Similar in size to credit cards, but thicker. These cards are inserted into slots in a Laptop or Palmtop computer and provide many functions not normally available to the machine (modems, adapters, hard disks, etc.)

PCS PHONE
A wireless telephone that uses radiofrequency signals in the 1850-1990 megahertz (MHz) portion of the radiofrequency (RF) spectrum. PCS stands for portable communication system.

PEAK
Highest-usage period of the business day when a cellular system carries the most calling traffic.

PENETRATION
The total number of subscribers for a carrier divided by the population that it serves expressed as a percentage.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (PCIA)
A trade group representing PCS, SMR, private radio and other wireless users and carriers.

PERSONAL COMMUNICATION SERVICE (PCS)
A second-generation digital voice, messaging and data cell phone system in the 2GHz range. PCS is supported mostly by GSM. PCS systems use a different radio frequency (1.9 GHz band) than cellular phones and generally use all digital technology for transmission and reception. “Digital PCS” is a redundancy, as all PCS are digital, but the phrase is used in marketing to distinguish PCS from cellular.

PERSONAL COMPUTER (PC)
A term commonly used to describe IBM & compatible computers. The term can describe any computer useable by one person at a time.

PERSONAL DIGITAL CELLULAR (PDC)
The Japanese cellular standard.

PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN)
A code used by a mobile telephone number in conjunction with an SIM card to complete a call.

PERSONAL ORGANISER or PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT (PDA)
These are pocket-sized machines usually holding phone and address lists and diaries. They often also contain other information. Modern PDAs take many forms and may best be described as a convergent device capable of carrying out the functions of a multitude of devices.

PIN UNBLOCKING KEY (PUK)
If a GSM or GAIT subscriber enters the wrong PIN three times in a row, then the wireless mobile phone is locked until the PUK is entered.

PIRATE SOFTWARE
Software that has been illegally copied.

PROJECT 25
A joint government/industry standard setting effort to develop technical standards for the next generation of two-way communications equipment.

PORT
The word port has three meanings:

Where information goes into or out of a computer, e.g. the serial port on a personal computer is where a modem would be connected. In the TCP and UDP protocols used in computer networking, a port is a number present in the header of a data packet. Ports are typically used to map data to a particular process running on a computer. For example, port 25 is commonly associated with SMTP, port 80 with HTTP and port 443 with HTTPS. It also refers to translating a piece of software to bring it from one type of computer system to another, e.g. to translate a window programme so that it will run on a Macintosh.

PUBLIC DOMAIN SOFTWARE
Any program that is not copyrighted.

PUBLIC SWITCHED TELEPHONE NETWORK (PSTN)
Traditional landline network that mobile wireless systems connect with to complete calls.

PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION (PUC)
The state regulatory body charged with regulating utilities, including telecommunications.

PUBLIC-SAFETY ANSWERING POINT (PSAP)
The dispatch office that receives 911 calls from the public. A PSAP may be local fire or police department, an ambulance service or a regional office covering all services.

PULL SMS
The ability to request services (e.g. ringtones or games) from a wireless handset via Wireless Internet. The service requested is sent back to the handset via SMS.

PUSH SMS
The ability to request services (e.g. ringtones or games) from a wireless handset via sending a preset SMS code to a predetermined number. The service requested is sent back to the handset via SMS.

QUERY
To search or ask. In particular, to request information in a search engine, index directory or database.

RADIATION
The emission and transmission of energy through space or through a material medium.

RADIO FREQUENCY (RF)
The spectrum of electromagnetic energy between audio and light: 500 KHz to 300 GHz.

RADIO WAVES
Electromagnetic energy (forensic glossary) with frequencies in the 3000 hertz (3 kHz) to 300 billion Hertz (300 GHz) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

RADIO-FREQUENCY FINGERPRINTING
A process that identifies a cellular phone by the unique “fingerprint” that characterizes its signal transmission. RF fingerprinting is one process used to prevent cloning fraud, because a cloned phone will not have the same fingerprint as the legal phone with the same electronic identification numbers.

RAM
Random Access Memory is a computer’s short-term memory. It provides working space for the PC to work with data at high speeds. Information stored in the RAM is lost when the PC is turned off (‘volatile data’).

RATE CENTER
The geographic area used by local exchange carriers to set rate boundaries for billing and for issuing phone numbers.

REMOVABLE MEDIA
Items e.g. floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, cartridges, tapes that store data and can be easily removed.

REMOVABLE MEDIA CARDS
Small-sized data storage media which are more commonly found in other digital devices such as cameras, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) and music players. They can also be used for the storage of normal data files, which can be accessed and written to by computers.

There are a number of these including –

Smartmedia Card SD Expansion Card
Ultra Compact Flash Compact Flash
Multimedia Card Memory Stick

The cards are non-volatile – they retain their data when power to their device is stopped – and they can be exchanged between devices.

REPEATER
Device that receives a radio signal, amplifies it and retransmits it in a new direction. Used in wireless networks to extend the range of base station signals, expanding coverage more economically than building additional base stations. Repeaters typically are used for buildings, tunnels or difficult terrain.

ROAMING
The ability to use your cellular phone outside your usual service area – when traveling outside of the “home” service area defined by a service provider. Higher per-minute rates are usually charged for calls made or received while roaming. Long distance rates and a daily access fee may also apply.

ROAMING AGREEMENT
An agreement between two or more wireless telephone companies outlining the terms and conditions under which the participating companies will provide wireless service to each others subscribers. Roaming agreements commonly are used where no one company can offer complete national and international coverage.

ROUND-UP CALLS/BILLING
When calls are billed by the minute, any call that uses a portion of a minute is rounded up and billed for the whole minute. For example, if you make a call that lasts 3 minutes and 2 seconds, you are billed for a 4-minute call.

S-BAND
The frequency spectrum near 2 GHz used for land based microwave and some mobile satellite communications.

SERVICE CHARGE
The amount customers pay each month to receive wireless service. This amount is fixed, and to be paid monthly regardless of how much or how little customers use their wireless phones.

SERVICE PLAN
The rate plan you select when choosing a wireless phone service. A service plan typically consists of a monthly base rate for access to the system and a fixed amount of minutes per month. Service plans are designed to provide the most cost-effective rates for different types and amounts of usage by the cellular subscriber.

SHAREWARE
Software that is distributed free on a trial basis with the understanding that, if it is used beyond the trial period, the user will pay. Some shareware versions are programmed with a built-in expiration date.

SHORT MESSSAGE SERVICE (SMS)
The transmission of short alphanumeric text-messages to and from a mobile phone, fax machine and/or IP address. Messages must be no longer than 160 alphanumeric characters and contain no images or graphics. Once a message is sent, it is received by a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), which must then get it to the appropriate mobile device.

SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE CENTER (SMSC)
The hardware device submitting the messages. Currently, SMSC devices support binary formats.

SIM
Subscriber Identity Module. A Smart Card which is inserted into a cellular phone, identifying the user account to the network and providing storage for data.

SIMPLE NETWORK PAGING PROTOCOL (SNPP)
A sequence of commands and replies where pages are delivered to individual paging terminals. The most obvious benefit is the elimination of the need for modems and phone lines to produce alphanumeric pages, and the ease of delivery of pages to terminals in other cities or countries.

SIMULCAST
A signaling technique that broadcasts the same signal over multiple sites in a network.

SLACK SPACE
The area of disk between the end of live data, and the end of its allocated area on disk. A common form of Slack Space is found between the end of a live file and the end of its allocated disk cluster; this is more specifically referred to as ‘File Slack’ or ‘Cluster Slack’.

SLEEP MODE
Designed to conserve battery life, this mode automatically turns off a terminal after it has been unused for a specified period of time. The unit is reactivated when the keypad is touched.

SMART ANTENNA
An antenna system that focuses its beam on a desired signal to reduce interference. A wireless network employs smart antennas at its base stations in an effort to reduce the number of dropped calls, improve call quality and improve channel capacity.

SMARTCARD
Plastic cards, typically with an electronic chip embedded, that contain electronic value tokens. Such value is disposable at both physical retail outlets and on-line shopping locations.

SMART PHONE
A class of wireless phone handsets with many features, and often a keyboard. What makes the phone “smart” is its ability to handle data, not only voice calls.

SOFT HANDOFF
When two base stations — one in the cell site where the phone is located and the other in the cell site to which the conversation is being passed – both hold onto the call until the handoff is completed. The first cell site does not cut off the conversation until it receives information that the second is maintaining the call.

SOFT KEY
A key below the phone’s main display panel that performs special functions.

SOFTWARE
The pre-written programs designed to assist in the performance of a specific task, such as network management, web development, file management, word processing, accounting or inventory management.

SPACE DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS (SDMA)
A variation of TDMA and CDMA that potentially will be used in high-bandwidth, third-generation wireless products.

SPECIALISED MOBILE RADIO (SMR)
Dispatch service (“walkie-talkie-type” service used by taxis, delivery trucks, etc.). SMR providers in the United States operate in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz frequency bands.

SPECIFIC ABSORBTION RATE (SAR)
A measure of the rate at which RF energy is absorbed by the body.

SPECTRUM
The range of electromagnetic radio frequencies used in the transmission of sound, data and television.

SPECTRUM ALLOCATION
Federal government assignment of a range of frequencies for a category of use or uses. For example, the FCC allocated the 1900 MHz band for personal communications services. Allocation, accomplished in FCC proceedings, tracks new technology development. However, the FCC can shift existing allocations to respond to changes in spectrum demand.

SPECTRUM ASSIGNMENT
Federal government authorization for use of specific frequencies or frequency pairs within a given allocation, at specific geographic locations.

SPECTRUM CAP
A limit to the allocated spectrum designated for a specific service.

SPREAD SPECTRUM
Initially devised for military use, this radio transmission technology “spreads” information over greater bandwidth than necessary to resist jamming and other interference.

STANDBY TIME
The amount of time you can leave your fully charged cellular portable or transportable phone turned on before the phone will completely discharge the batteries. See Talk Time.

STRATOSPHERIC PLATFORM
Blimp-like platform for wireless telephone service in urban areas.

STRONGEST SIGNAL
The concept that a wireless 911 call should be routed to the cell site with the strongest link to the phone, regardless of which carrier holds the caller as a customer. A shortcoming is that strength of the call’s setup link isn’t always equal to that of the link the cell assigns for voice traffic because the latter can be weaker.

SUBSCRIBER FRAUD
Securing wireless service with intent to avoid payment. This is different from bad debt, which occurs when a known person or company has a payment obligation overdue and the debt cannot be collected.

SUBSCRIBER PROFILING
Compiling subscriber usage information (such as frequency of calls, locations called to or from and monthly airtime usage), to identify potentially fraudulent use or to identify customers likely to terminate service. This information can also be used to target customers when marketing a carrier’s product and service offerings.

SWITCH
A typically a small, flat box with 4 to 8 Ethernet ports.
These ports can connect to computers, cable or DSL modems, and other switches. A switch directs network communications between specific systems on the network as opposed to broadcasting information to all networked connections.

SYSTEM UNIT
Usually the largest part of a PC, the system unit is a box that contains the major components. It usually has the drives at the front and the ports for connecting the keyboard, mouse, printer and other devices at the back.

TALK TIME
The length of time you can talk on your portable or transportable cellular phone without recharging the battery. The battery capacity of a cellular portable or transportable is usually expressed in terms of so many minutes of talk time or so many hours of standby time. When you’re talking, the phone draws additional power from the battery. See Standby Time.

TAPE
A long strip of magnetic coated plastic. Usually held in cartridges (looking similar to video, audio or camcorder tapes), but can also be held on spools (like reel to reel audio tape). Used to record computer data, usually a backup of the information on the computer.

TD-CDMA
A 3G proposal combining elements of TDMA and CDMA.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The transmission of words, sounds, or images, usually over great distances, in the form of electromagnetic energy, for example by telegraph, telephone, radio, or television.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (TIA)
The United States’ telecommunications standards making body.

TELEMATICS
The integration of wireless communications, vehicle monitoring systems and location devices.

TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT (TCU)
The embedded vehicle control unit that communicates with the automobile controls, GPS satellite and customer service center to provide Telematics features to a driver

TELEPHONE NETWORK
The system of wires, fiber-optic cables, satellites, and transmission towers that transmit telephone messages from caller to receiver.

TELEPHONE TRANSMISSION TOWER
A telephone base station located on top of a tall, free-standing structure.

TELEPHONY
Originally meaning voice (analog) communication by telephone (land line), this term has come to encompass virtually all telecommunications, because virtually all telecommunications can be done over or while connected to a telephone line.

TERMINATION CHARGES
Fees that wireless telephone companies pay to complete calls on wireline phone networks or vice versa.

THIRD GENERATION (3G)
A new wireless standard promising increased capacity and high-speed data applications up to two megabits. Third generation wireless employ wideband frequency carriers and a CDMA air interface. Networks must be able to transmit wireless data at 144 kilobits per second at mobile user speeds. Implemented in Europe as UMTS and CDMA2000 in North America, its goals are high-quality multimedia and advanced global roaming (in house, cellular, satellite, etc.).

TIME DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS (TDMA)
A method of digital wireless communications transmission allowing a large number of users to access a single radio-frequency channel without interference. Each user is given a unique time slot within each channel. SMS Mobile Originate has now gone live on several TDMA networks around the world including Telecom New Zealand, Midwest Wireless USA, Algar Telecom Brazil and Cellcom Israel. Other TDMA network operators such as AT&T Wireless in the U.S. have launched SMS nationally.

TOTAL ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM (TACS)
European analog cellular.

TRANSCIEVER
Equipment to handle the broadcast and reception of radio signals with network or subscriber equipment.

TRI-BAND
A network infrastructure or wireless phone designed to operate in three frequency bands: 800 MHz, 900 MHz and 1800MHz.

TRI-MODE
Phones that work on three modes GSM, TDMA and analog.

TRIANGULATION
The process of pinning down a caller’s location using three or more radio receivers, a compass and a map.

TROJAN HORSE
A computer program that hides or disguises another program. The victim starts what he or she thinks is a safe program and instead willingly accepts something also designed to do harm to the system on which it runs.

TRUNKING
Spectrum-efficient technology that establishes a queue to handle demand for voice or data channels.

UNIVERSAL MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (UMTS)
The goal of UMTS is to enable networks that offer true global roaming and can support a wide range of voice, data and multimedia services. A new-generation technology for rapidly moving data and multimedia over wireless devices. The European implementation of the 3G wireless phone system, UMTS provides service in the 2GHz band and offers global roaming and personalized features; designed as an evolutionary system for GSM network operators, multimedia data rates offered by UMTS are: vehicular – 144 kbit/s; pedestrian 384 kbit/s; in-building 2Mb/s.

UNIVERSAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS CONSORTIUM (UWCC)
An industry group supporting TDMA and WIN technology.

UNIX
A very popular operating system. Used mainly on larger, multi-user systems.

UPLINK
The portion of a telecommunications path from the ground to the satellite, also referred to as the forward link.

USB STORAGE DEVICES
Small storage devices accessed using a computer’s USB ports, that allow the storage of large volumes of data files and which can be easily removed, transported – and concealed. They are about the size of a car key or highlighter pen, and can even be worn around the neck on a lanyard. They now come in many forms and may look like something entirely different such as a watch or a Swiss Army knife.

USIM
An enhancement of the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card designed to be used in Third Generation (3G) networks.

UWC-136
A third-generation wireless standard proposal based on TDMA technology that was developed by the Universal Wireless Communications Consortium and is one of the 3G candidates submitted to the International Telecommunication Union by the United States. UWC-136 represents an evolutionary path for both the old analog Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) and the second-generation TIA/EIA-136 technologies, which were designed specifically for compatibility with AMPS. UWC-136 radio transmission technology proposes a low-cost incremental, evolutionary deployment path for both AMPS and TIA/EIA operators. The technology is tolerant of the frequency band in which it is deployed: 500 MHz to 2.5 GHz.

VIDEO BACKER
A program that allows computer data to be backed up to standard video. When viewed, the data is presented as a series of dots and dashes.

VIRUS
A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer without permission (and often without knowledge) of the user. A virus can only spread from one computer to another when its host is taken to the uninfected computer, for instance by a user sending it over a network or carrying it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, or USB drive. Additionally, viruses can spread to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer. Some are harmless (messages on the screen etc.), whilst others are destructive (e.g. Loss or corruption of information).

VISITOR LOCATION REGISTER (VLR)
A network database that holds information about roaming wireless customers.

VMWARE
A software that allows physical computers to be viewed as a file. This file can then be viewed from any computer running VM Ware software. www.vmware.com

VOICE ACTIVATION
A convenient safety feature that allows a subscriber to dial a phone by voice instead of physically punching in the numbers.

VOICE RECOGNITION
The capability for cellular phones, PCs and other communications devices to be activated or controlled by voice commands.

VIRTUAL STORAGE
A ‘third party’ storage facility on the internet, enabling data to be stored and retrieved from any browser. Examples include Xdrive and Freeway.com.

WAVELENGTH
The distance covered by one cycle of a wave.

WIDEBAND CDMA (WCDMA)
A 3G mobile services platform, based on modern, layered network-protocol structure, similar to the protocol structure used in GSM networks. WCDMA has been designed for high-speed data services and more particularly, internet-based packet-data offering up to 2Mbps in stationary or office environments, and up to 384Kbps in wide area or mobile environments. The third generation radio standard that will offer voice, data, motion-video and other multimedia capabilities, and increases data transmission rates in GSM systems by using CDMA instead of TDMA. WCDMA has become the Direct Sequence (DS) mode in the ITU’s 3G specification, which includes the 1X Multi-Carrier mode (1X MC) and 3X Multi-Carrier mode (3X MC). 1X MC (formerly known as cdma2000) and 3X MC comprise the 3G upgrade path for carriers already using CDMA (cdmaOne).

WIDEBAND PACKET CDMA (WPCDMA)
A technical proposal from Golden Bridge Technology that wraps WCDMA and cdma2000 into one standard.

WINDOWS
Operating system marketed by Microsoft. In use on desktop PCs, the system automatically loads into the computer’s memory in the act of switching the computer on. MS-DOS, Windows, Windows 3.0, Windows 95, Windows 98, Office XP, Windows XP, Windows NT, Windows Vista and Windows Server are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

WIRELESS APPLICATION PROTOCOL (WAP)
An open standard for communication between handsets and the Internet. WAP is a wireless communications environment for delivering web data to wireless terminals with minimal screen display. An initiative started by Unwired Planet, Motorola, Nokia and Ericsson to develop a standard for wireless content delivery on the next generation of mobile communicators. WAP strips all but graphics for display on small screens, such as mobile phones. A mini-browser is an integral part of WAP enabled phones. WAP enabled phones first appeared in Europe at the end of 1999.

WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES (WCS)
The variety of services available using frequencies in the 2.3 GHz band for general fixed wireless use.

WIRELESS INSTANT MESSAGES (WIM)
Bridges the gap between wired and wireless networks. A strict forensic glossary reference would be that WIM seamlessly allows a desktop user to instantly send a message to a handset.

WIRELESS INTERNET NETWORK (WIN)
The architecture needed to match the capabilities of the wireline intelligent network. In addition to transparent roaming, selective call screening, short message service and pre-paid billing are features that a WIN can provide.

WIRELESS MARKUP LANGUAGE/SCRIPT (WML/WMLScript)
The languages used to create WAP pages. WML is similar to the way HTML is used to create web pages and WMLScript is based on JavaScript. Both are adapted and optimized for a wireless environment (compression to save bandwidth).

WIRELESS TELEPHONE BASE STATION
The combination of antennas and electronic equipment used to receive and transmit wireless telephone signals. Sometimes called a base station.

WIRELESS TRANSPORT LAYER SECURITY (WTLS)
The security layer of the WAP which provides privacy, data integrity and authentication for WAP services. WTLS, designed specifically for the wireless environment, is needed for the client and server to be authenticated in order for wireless transactions to remain secure and also because the connection needs to be encrypted. For example, a user making a transaction with a bank over a wireless device needs to know that the connection is secure and private and not subject to a security breach during transfer. WTLS is needed because mobile networks do not provide complete end-to-end security.

WIRELINE
Traditional telephone technology that relies upon wires. Also called land line.

WORD PROCESSOR
Used for typing letters, reports and documents. Common Word Processing programs: Wordstar, Wordperfect and MS-Word.

WORM
Like a virus but is capable of moving from computer to computer over a network without being carried by another program and without the need for any human interaction to do so.

WIRELESS NETWORK CARD
An expansion card present in a computer that allows cordless connection between that computer and other devices on a computer network. This replaces the traditional network cables. The card communicates by radio signals to other devices present on the network.

ZIP DRIVE/DISK
A proprietary 3.5-inch removable disk drive produced by Iomega. The drive is bundled with software that can catalogue disks and lock files for security.

ZIP
A popular data compression format. Files that have been compressed with the ZIP format are called ZIP files and usually end with a .ZIP extension.