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ACD
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Stands for Automatic Call Distributor. A device or system that distributes incoming calls to a specific group of terminals that agents use. It is often part of a computer telephony integration (CTI) system.
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API
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Stands for Application Programming Interface. A standard set of functions, procedures, methods or classes that an operating system, library or service provides to support requests made by computer programs.
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Asterisk
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Open source PBX, telephony engine, and telephony applications toolkit.
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Asterisk dial plan
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A dial plan establishes the expected number and pattern of digits for a telephone number. This includes country codes, access codes, area codes and all combinations of digits dialled. For instance, the North American PSTN uses a 10-digit dial plan that includes a 3-digit area code and a 7-digit telephone number.
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Asterisk Hardware
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Computer and telecommunications components designed for use with Asterisk
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Asterisk IP-PBX
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An open source communications platform based on the Internet Protocol (IP) that provides a private branch exchange (PBX), commonly known as a telephone switchboard
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BRI
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Stands for Basic Rate Interface. It is an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) service designed for individuals and small businesses and consists of two 64 kbit/s B channels for voice and user data and one 16 kbit/s D channel for control, signalling and networking.
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Channel Bank
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A device that performs multiplexing or demultiplexing of a group of communications channels into one channel of higher bandwidth or higher digital bit rate.
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CODEC
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Short for Coder/Decoder. A software library that contains the algorithms necessary to convert an analogue signal to and from a digital one (e.g. G.711 G.729 GSM)
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Context
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A dial plan is composed of one or more extension contexts. Each extension context is itself simply a collection of extensions. Each extension context in a dial plan has a unique name associated with it. The use of contexts can be used to implement a number of important features, such as security, routing, authentication and call back.
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Digital receptionist
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Also known as an auto attendant, allows callers to be automatically transferred to an extension without the intervention of a receptionist. Most digital receptionists offer a menu system and allow a caller to reach a live operator by dialing a number.
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Digium
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The company that is the creator and primary developer of Asterisk.
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Encode
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The process of converting an analogue signal into a digital signal that can be manipulated easily by a computer.
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FreePBX
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A graphical user interface (GUI) product for Asterisk that enables administrators to view, edit, and change various aspects of Asterisk via a web browser.
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FXO
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Stands for Foreign Exchange Office. A device usually found on the customer end that is powered by the channel and can interface into the telephone company's network.
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FXS
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Stands for Foreign Exchange Station. A device usually located on the telehpony company's end that generates ringing voltage, provides battery power, sends a dial tone, understands when the phone goes on-hook or off-hook, and sends and receives voice signals.
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G.711
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An uncompressed codec that samples a 64kbps channel at 8 bits per sample using pulse code modulation. The Two variants of G.711 are known formally as uLaw and aLaw.
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G.729
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The G.729 codec is an industry standard which allows for combining more calls in limited bandwidth to utilize IP voice in more cost effective ways. While a typical call consumes 64Kbps of voice bandwidth, G.729 reduces the call to 8Kbps.
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GSM
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A compressed speech codec that uses a rate of 13 kbps.
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H.323
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A VOIP protocol that was deployed early and is widely adopted.
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IAX
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Stands for Inter-Asterisk eXchange. A VOIP protocol designed to be much more NAT friendly. IAX currently only transports audio.
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iPBX, IPBX, IP-PBX
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A Private branch exchange (PBX) designed to deliver voice over a data network using Internet Protocol (IP) and interoperate with the normal Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
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ISDN
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Stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. A digital telephone system network which integrates speech and data on the same lines.
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IVR
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Stands for Interactive Voice Response. An automated voice system that allows callers to navigate a phone system and be directed to the correct extension by pressing a series of numbers on a touch-tone phone.
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Linux
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Open sourced based, multi-user operating system similar to Unix for servers, desktops and laptops.
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Multiplexing
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The process where several analogue message signals or digital data streams are merged into one signal over a shared medium.
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Open source
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An approach to the design, development, and distribution of software, offering practical accessibility to a software's source code.
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PBX
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Stands for Private Branch Exchange. A telephone exchange that serves a particular business or office, as opposed to one that a common carrier or telephone company operates for the general public.
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PCI
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The Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) is used to attach peripheral devices to a computer motherboard.
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PCIe
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The Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) card is an updated version of PCI.
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PRI
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Stands for Primary Rate Interface . It is an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) service designed for larger organisations that runs over an E1 line and consists of thirty 64 kbit/s B channels for voice and user data and one 16 kbit/s D channel for control, signalling and networking.
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PSTN
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Stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. Originally a public-wide network of fixed-line analogue telephone systems, the PSTN is now almost entirely digital and includes mobile as well as fixed telephones.
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SIP
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Stands for Session Initiation Protocol. A signalling protocol, widely used for controlling multimedia communication sessions such as voice and video calls over IP (Internet Protocol).
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Soft Phone
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A software program used for making telephone calls over IP (Internet Protocol)on a computer. The program is designed to function like a traditional phone.
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VoIP
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Stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. A general method for transporting voice over an IP network such as the Internet.
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