Industry Video Teleconferencing Profile - VTC001
B.3. Definitions, B.3. Definitions Concl.
B.4. Abbreviations and acronyms.
Definitions of terms used in this Annex shall be as specified in FED-STD-1037B. Those definitions unique to this Annex and not defined in FED-STD-1037B, are provided in this paragraph.
Audio: The voice or sound portion of a teleconference.
Camera: In television, an electronic device using an optical system and a light-sensitive pickup tube or chip to convert visual signals into electrical impulses.
Classified: Any information that has been determined to require protection against unauthorized disclosure to avoid harm to U.S. national security. The classifications TOP SECRET, SECRET, and CONFIDENTIAL are used to designate such information, referred to as "classified information".
Compression: See data compression, FED-STD-1037B, definition 1.
Cryptographic resynchronization: The VTU having the capability to automatically send a signal for resynchronization to the cryptographic device whenever resynchronization is needed.
Data communications port: A port used to transfer information between functional units by means of data transmission, according to a protocol.
Data port: See data communications port.
Data rate: In digital data communications, the rate at which data (bits in this case) is transmitted, usually expressed in bits per second.
DB-25S: A standardized 25-pin connector used in EIA-232-D and EIA-530 data communications.
Desktop and individual workstation: An input/output display device with local computer power that allows an individual to perform some computational work and/or data-base access from a local or remote location. This device may also have videophone and/or VTC capabilities.
EIA-232-D (formerly RS-232-D): A serial interface standard for transmission of unbalanced signals between a variety of computer, media, and multimedia peripherals. EIA-232-D transmits at a maximum of 19.2 kbit/s for up to a distance of about 50 feet and uses a 25-pin connector.
B.3 Definitions, continued.
EIA-422 (formerly RS-422): A serial electrical interface standard for transmission of balanced and unbalanced signals between a variety of higher-end computer, media, and multimedia peripherals. EIA-422 allows a maximum data rate of 10 Mbit/s.
EIA-449 (formerly RS-449): A serial mechanical interface standard for transmission of balanced and unbalanced signals between a variety of higher-end computer, media, and multimedia peripherals. EIA-449 allows a maximum data rate of 10 Mbit/s and uses a 37- or 9-pin connector.
EIA-530: A replacement for EIA-449 that uses a DB-25 (EIA-232-D) connector instead of a 37-pin connector, while keeping the most important electrical signals intact. EIA-530 is to be used in conjunction with EIA-422-A.
Electric Industries Association: A U.S. commercial standards organization. The acronym EIA precedes a numerical designation, such as EIA-232-D, which replaces the now obsolete RS (Recommended Standard) designation, for example, RS-232-D.
Embedded encryption: Encryption integrated into the VTU box.
High-resolution graphics: Graphics captured and displayed at a higher resolution than the NTSC standard (EIA-170-A).
Huffman Coding: An entropy coding technique to compress data in which frequent events are represented by short codes, and rare events are represented by long codes. Used in Group 3 facsimile and JPEG.
Inverse multiplexer: A device used to create a single, higher-speed network data channel by combining, separating, and synchronizing multiple, independent 56- or 64-kbit/s network data channels. Also known as an aggregator.
ISDN: See FED-STD-1037B, Integrated Services Digital Network. Note: Access channels include a basic rate (two 64-kbit/s "B" channels + one 16-kbit/s "D" channel) and a primary rate (twenty-three 64-kbit/s "B" channels and one 64-kbit/s "D" channel).
Mandatory feature: If a given feature is mandatory in this Profile, then once the Profile is adopted, the feature must be included in all future military VTC procurements, unless a waiver is obtained.
Multipoint: A telecommunications system that permits three or more locations to intercommunicate in a conference call.
B.3 Definitions, continued.
Network: See FED-STD-1037B. In this Profile, network infers the system of cables, microwave links, and switching centers that allow the transmission of data, as opposed to the terminal equipment (such as CODECs and I/O devices) connected to the cables.
Network interface equipment: The equipment connected between the network and the VTU. Such examples of this equipment include (a) the channel service unit (CSU), (b) the data service unit (DSU), and the (c) terminal adapters.
NITF: National Imagery Transmission Format. The format for secondary imagery transmission defined in the NITFS.
NITFS: National Imagery Transmission Format Standard. A set of military standards described in MIL-HDBK-1300, for secondary imagery dissemination.
Nondevelopmental item (NDI). NDIs are items procured from immediately available stock, with no development costs.
Optional feature: If a feature is optional in this Profile, the user must decide to purchase the Profile feature or not. If purchased, this feature shall meet the specifications in the
Profile. (Anyone wanting to be exempt from this rule shall first obtain a waiver.) The purpose is to improve interoperability, without forcing users to buy unnecessary features. The Profile does not prevent the user from buying a particular feature implemented in a nonstandard way. However, if both standard and nonstandard modes are purchased, the feature must be easily switched back to the standard mode.
For example, if a high-resolution, still imagery mode is an optional feature in this Profile, it would be the user's decision to purchase the Profile high-resolution, still-image-mode or not. If purchased, the version shall meet the Profile specifications for the high-resolution, still image mode. This will allow for interoperability of high-resolution, still images among those users purchasing this Profile feature. If the procuring agency desires, it can also buy a nonstandard version of the high-resolution, still image mode, as long as the equipment can be easily switched back to the standard high-resolution, still image mode. For "mandatory optional" see B.7.1.3.
p: An integer that can range from 1 to 30. It relates to VTUs that operate at nominal bit rates of integer multiples of 64000 bits per second (bit/s), where the integer is p. For unrestricted channels, such as provided by ISDN, each increment of data rate may actually be 64000 bit/s, but in restricted channels, each increment may be only 56000 bit/s.
Recommended standard: A prefix to EIA standards, such as RS-232-D. This designation is now obsolete; it has been replaced by the prefix EIA, for example, EIA-232-D.
B.3 Definitions, continued.
Resolution: See FED-STD-1037B, definition 3. For video equipment, often measured in terms of pels.
Teleconferencing: The use of teleconferencing to conduct a seminar.
TEMPEST-approved: See FED-STD-1037B. A TEMPEST-approved device that meets stringent requirements. The electromagnetic waves it emits have been reduced through shielding or other techniques to a point where it would be extremely difficult for a hostile force to gather information from the electromagnetic waves and disclose the classified information being transmitted.
Type 1: A classified or controlled cryptographic equipment, assembly, component, or item endorsed by the National Security Agency (NSA) for securing telecommunications and automated information systems for the protection of classified or sensitive U.S. Government information exempted by the Warner Amendment for use by the U.S. Government and its contractors, and subject to restrictions in accordance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulation.
Type 2: An unclassified cryptographic equipment, assembly, component, or item endorsed by the National Security Agency for use in telecommunications and automated information systems for the protection of unclassified but sensitive information. Type 2 equipment is exempted by the Warner Amendment. Type 2 is available to U.S. Government departments, agencies, sponsored elements of state and local government, sponsored U.S. Government contractors, and sponsored private sector entities. It is subject to restrictions in accordance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulation.
Type 3: An unclassified cryptographic equipment, assembly, component, or item that implements an unclassified algorithm registered with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) as a FIPS for use in protecting unclassified sensitive, or commercial, information. This definition does not include Warner-Amendment-exempt equipment.
Unclassified: Information that is not classified.
Unclassified sensitive: A designation for information that is not classified, but needs to be protected from unauthorized disclosure. Examples of types of information that fall under this category are For Official Use Only (FOUO), proprietary, contractor sensitive, limited distribution, and personal in nature.
Videophone: A VTC terminal where most of the equipment is integrated into a single desktop unit.
Video CODEC: See CODEC (in paragraph 3 of main body of the Profile).
Video teleconferencing unit (VTU): VTC equipment that performs the following functions: coding/decoding of audio and video; and multiplexing of video, audio, data, and control signals, system control, and end-to-end signaling. It does not include I/O devices, embedded and non-embedded cryptographic devices, network interface equipment, end-to-network signaling, network connections, or the network itself. NOTE: The scope of this Profile is broader than the scope of the VTU because the scope of the Profile includes cryptographic devices and other items that the VTU does not include.
Warner Amendment: Title 10, United States Code, Section 2315, "Law inapplicable to the procurement of automatic data processing equipment and services for certain defense purposes." Enacted as Public Law 97-86, 1 December 1981. The Warner Amendment amends Section 111 of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of automatic data processing equipment (currently defined to include telecommunications services and equipment) if the function, operation, or use of the equipment or services:
(1) involves intelligence activities;
(2) involves cryptologic activities related to national security;
(3) involves the command and control (C2) of military forces;
(4) involves equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or weapons system; or
(5) subject to (6) is critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions.
(6) subpart (5) does not include procurement of automatic data processing equipment or services to be used for routine administrative and business applications, including payroll, finance, logistics, and personnel management applications.
The Warner Amendment has the effect of exempting the above DOD applications from the mandatory-use provisions for FTS-2000. See DOD Directive 4640.14 for detailed instructions for Warner exemption determinations.
Warner-exempt: A telecommunications requirement that meets the stipulations as stated in the Warner Amendment, which thereby exempts that requirement from the mandatory-use provisions of FTS-2000.