Panasonic telecom glossary

Analog: The term comes from the word "analogous" which means "similar to". This means that the transmitted signal remains unchanged, or not digitized, as it passes through an electronic system. An analog communication system is one in which the signal is transmitted and received in its original form. In telecommunications, the voice spoken into the handset is converted into an electrical signal (sine wave). That signal remains unchanged as it passes from telephone to telephone (internal call) or telephone to CO (outside call).

Digital: The term used to describe the conversion of information into a binary code. A digital communication system is one where the signal is encoded into a digital bit stream. In telecommunications, the voice spoken into the handset is converted either in the telephone or the control unit into a series of pulses, which represent the audio level and frequency.

Hybrid: A Hybrid key system can use single line telephones (SLT) in addition to an electronic proprietary telephone.

Digital Super Hybrid: A Digital Super Hybrid key system can use single line telephones (SLT) in addition to an electronic proprietary telephone. In addition it may contain features found only on a digital system.

Add-On Modules: Expand system capabilities by adding features or capacity for more lines or phones.

Universal Ports: Universal Ports can accept a standard phone, an analog proprietary phone, or a digital proprietary phone.

HFAB: Hands Free Answer Back. Allows a speakerphone user to talk to an internal caller without lifting the handset. Also used to monitor a room.

SLT: Single Line Telephone. A standard analog phone.

APITS: Analog Proprietary Integrated Telephone System. APITS usually refers to an analog 7000 or newer series telephone, and to a type of  low-speed "integration" for connecting a Voice Processing System to a phone system.

DPITS: Digital Proprietary Integrated Telephone System. DPITS usually refers to a digital 7200 or newer series telephone  and to a type of  high-speed "integration" for connecting a Voice Processing System to a phone system...

Control Unit: This is the heart, or brain, of a telephone system. This unit is usually installed in the telephone room or a ventilated closet. It connects your phones to the outside world, and provides features such as hold, intercom and memory-dialing, Sometimes called a KSU ("Key Service Unit")

DISA: Direct Inward System Access. Allows callers from the outside to access specific system features and phones as if they were an internal phone  user.

CO Lines: Central Office Telephone Lines -- circuits between your phone system and the outside world.

PBX: Private Branch Exchange. This is a small version of the phone company's larger switching system, and is used to connect internal phones to each other for intercom calls, and to connect to the outside world.. Traditional PBXs used single-line-phones. Recent "hybrid" PBX systems can also use multi-line phones, like key systems do.

Key System: A type of phone system with multi-line phones with buttons ("keys") that you press to select a phone line to make or answer a call.

XDP: eXtra Device Port. The XDP expands the number of telephones available in the system by allowing a Digital Proprietary Phone (Dpits) and a Single Line Telephone (SLT) to be connected to the same telephone jack but use different extension (intercom) numbers.

FWD/DND: Forward/Do Not Disturb. Allows users to forward their phone calls to other phones on the system, voice mail or an outside line. Do Not Disturb is used to stop ringing.

OHCA: Off Hook Call Announce allows you to speak to someone who is already using his or her phone through the speaker in the other person's phone. It's often used to tell someone that another caller is waiting.

(above material is based on definitions provided by Panasonic)