A series of five grades of unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cabling defined by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) and its telecom subgroup, the
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). Categories 3 and 5 are the UTP grades most commonly used in local-area networks. See Category 3 and Category
5.
EIDE (Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics)
A computer interface for storage devices, such as internal hard disk drives. EIDE supports larger capacities than standard Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) and allows for more peripherals to be attached, providing some incremental flexibility and expandability. See IDE.
EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol)
A proprietary interior gateway protocol (IGP) from Cisco Systems — an enhanced version of Cisco's Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (IGRP). See IGP and IGRP.
EIRP (effective isotropic radiated power)
A measure of the radiated power of radio frequency transmissions.
EIS (executive information system)
An application program specifically designed for use by the corporate executive. Presentation of material is often structured after the "board briefing book" concept. The EIS acts as a high-level interface to a database of company information. It automates analysis and reporting, and typically has a user-friendly graphical interface.
EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture)
An enhanced version of the Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) system bus used in early IBM-compatible PCs. EISA was developed as an industry alternative to Micro Channel Architecture, the 32-bit bus IBM developed for its PS/2 line of PCs and
promoted as the successor to ISA. Micro Channel lost out to EISA as the de facto standard in the market, primarily because, unlike Micro Channel, it offered backward compatibility to ISA. EISA has since been superseded by Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) as the PC market standard. See PCI.
EJB (Enterprise JavaBeans)
A specification for building server-side, transactional Java-based components. It was developed by Sun Microsystems in collaboration with IBM, Netscape, Oracle and other vendors. See Java.
e-learning
Network-enabled learning that relies on digital content, experienced through a technology interface. Collaboration is a desirable feature but not a requirement. E- learning can be a subset of distributed learning. See distributed learning.
electrically erasable programmable ROM (see EEPROM) electrochemical deposition (see ECD)
electromagnetic interference (see EMI) electromagnetic spectrum
The entire range of wavelengths or frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, extending from gamma rays to radio frequency (RF) waves and including visible light. See RF.
electronic batch record (see EBR) electronic bill presentment (see EBP)
electronic bill presentment and payment (see EBPP) electronic business (see e-business)
Electronic Business XML (see ebXML) electronic cash (see e-cash)
electronic catalog (see e-catalog) electronic-channel CRM (see e-CRM) electronic check presentment (see ECP) electronic commerce (see e-commerce)
electronic communications network (see ECN) electronic data interchange (see EDI)
Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transportation (see EDIFACT)
electronic data processing (see EDP) electronic design automation (see EDA) electronic finance (see e-finance)
electronic form (see e-form)
electronic funds transfer (see EFT) Electronic Industries Alliance (see EIA)
Electronic Industries Association of Japan (see EIAJ) electronic mail (see e-mail)
electronic market (see e-market)
electronic marketplace (see e-marketplace)
electronic marketplace manager (e-marketplace manager) electronic medical record (see EMR)
electronic merchandising (see e-merchandising) electronic messaging
The sending and receiving of messages and, increasingly, data through a network. Like paper messaging, it is accomplished through a number of tasks, including composition, assembly, addressing, posting, sorting, routing and delivery.
Electronic Messaging Association (see EMA) Electronic Payments Association (see NACHA) electronic point of sale (see EPOS)
electronic purse (see e-purse) electronic signature
A traceable e-mail or a biometric identifier applied to a message. The identifier may be based on digitized handwriting or another biometric feature (such as a
fingerprint). The electronic signature cannot be removed and applied to other documents to forge a signature.
electronics manufacturing service (see EMS) electronic software distribution (see ESD) electronic tag (see e-tag)
electronic whiteboard
Technology (also called "whiteboarding") that uses a large, touch-sensitive screen attached to a PC to help convey information during videoconferences and other types of network-enhanced meetings. Words and images drawn on the whiteboard (often using a specially designed, inkless pen) can be shared over a network with remote attendees. Often, the PC's display output can also be viewed on the whiteboard screen, and controlled by touching a pointing device to the menu options and icons.
elliptic curve cryptography (see ECC) EMA (Electronic Messaging Association)
An organization that develops standards and policies for electronic-messaging systems, such as e-mail and voice mail. EMA is now a forum of the Open Group.
e-mail (electronic mail)
Any communication service that permits the electronic transmission and storage of text messages and attached or enclosed files. Some e-mail systems are limited to communication between end users on the same network; others have gateways that allow end users to send messages to other designated computer systems or
worldwide over the Internet. Once sent, e-mail messages are stored in electronic mailboxes until the recipient retrieves them. Most Internet service providers also provide e-mail services.
e-mail response management system (see ERMS) e-mall
A Web site that maintains catalogs from multiple suppliers. E-malls often charge a fee for tenancy or membership, and may take title to the goods themselves.
e-market
A category or segment of business conducted over the Internet. Online book selling, for example, might be described as an e-market (in which the competitors include Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com). This term should not be confused with "e- marketplace," which refers to online buying environments that aggregate products or services from multiple suppliers. See e-marketplace.
e-market maker (see EMM) e-marketplace
A Web site that provides an online buying environment where customers can select from multiple suppliers' products or services. E-marketplaces aggregate supplier content and often provide decision support tools to enable buyers to make informed decisions. E-marketplaces include sites focused on consumer buyers (for example, auction sites such as eBay) and business-to-business sites focused on specific industry segments (such as PlasticsNet).
e-marketplace manager (see EMM) EMC Data Manager (see EDM)
e-merchandising
The merchandising function optimized for Web-based retailing. E-merchandising goes beyond building and updating an electronic catalog; it also includes Web-optimized product selection, sales forecasting and inventory control.
EMI (electromagnetic interference)
The energy given off by electronic circuits and picked up by other circuits. Based on the type of device and operating frequency, EMI can be reduced by shielding.
emitter-coupled logic (see ECL) EMM (e-market maker)
An intermediary (also known as an "e-marketplace manager") that develops a business-to-business (B2B) e-marketplace of buyers and sellers within an industry, geographic region or affinity group (see e-marketplace). EMMs enter supply chains introducing new efficiencies and new ways of selling and purchasing products and services. They provide content, value-added services and often e-commerce capabilities.
emoticon
A text rendition of a face viewed sideways, created from punctuation marks. Emoticons are often used in e-mails and message board postings to denote an emotion.
EMPAC (Enterprise Maintenance Planning and Control)
An enterprise asset management (EAM) product from Indus International. See EAM.
EMPI (enterprise master person index)
A critical prerequisite for sharing information on patients and health plan members within an integrated delivery system (IDS). EMPIs (also known as "enterprise master patient indexes") uniquely identify patients and members, and cross-reference their identification numbers to link information in disparate systems. See IDS.
employee relationship management (see ERM) employee self-service (see ESS)
EMR (electronic medical record)
A system used to compile computerized patient healthcare information. EMRs generally deal with information only in the form of document images or text formatted for output to a printer or video display. They do not ordinarily handle discrete data of the type typically stored in a database management system.
EMS (electronics manufacturing service)
A company the manufactures electronic components, and provides related services, on a contract basis for a vendor of computer or other electronics products. These firms are also known as contract equipment manufacturers, although the term EMS is now more commonly used to acknowledge the additional services such firms provide in areas such as procurement, inventory management, distribution and logistics.
EMS (Enhanced Messaging Service)
A messaging standard developed by the 3G Partnership Project (3GPP). EMS — supported by a vendor group led by Alcatel, Ericsson, Motorola and Siemens — uses features defined in the Short Message Service (SMS) specification to enhance the user experience when sending messages. With EMS, software added to the mobile phone enables standard SMS parameter fields (such as the "user data header") to be used to send binary-encoded and concatenated messages. Thus, a suitably capable device can display enriched content such as text enhancements (including italics and underlining), sounds, and static or animated images. See 3GPP and SMS.
EMS (equipment management system)
A subsystem of a warehouse management system (WMS). An EMS controls automated material-handling equipment such as carousels, in-line scales and conveyors. It is designed to provide a standardized interface between a WMS and automated material-handling equipment. See WMS.
EMU (economic and monetary union)
The European process of standardizing on a single currency (i.e., the euro). See EU
(European Union). emulate
To imitate one system with another, so that the imitating system accepts the same data, executes the same computer programs and achieves the same results as the imitated one.
Emulator High-Level Language Application Program Interface (see EHLLAPI)
EMV (Europay-MasterCard-Visa)
An emerging general payment standard for smart cards.
encapsulation
The process of combining data and functions in the object-oriented (OO)
programming paradigm. Encapsulation dictates that an object can identify— but not let other objects use — its methods and data. The purpose of encapsulation is to ensure that other objects cannot make changes to the original object without its knowledge. Another benefit is that legacy software can function like any other object in an OO environment.
encryption
The process of systematically encoding a bit stream before transmission so that an unauthorized party cannot decipher it.
end node
A network node that only sends and receives information, and cannot route and forward information to another node.
end user
An individual who uses a computer to perform a business or personal activity. Technical personnel are generally not considered end users when they are programming or operating the computer for technical purposes, though they are when they perform other tasks.
engineering change
A revision to a parts list, bill of material, engineering drawing or engineering part model authorized by the engineering department. Changes are usually identified by a control number and are made for safety, cost reduction or functionality reasons. Also called an ECO (engineering change order) or ECN (engineering change notice).
engineering change notice (see engineering change) engineering change order (see engineering change) engineer-to-order (see ETO)
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM (or Global) Evolution (see EDGE) Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (see EIDE)
Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (see EIGRP) Enhanced Messaging Service (see EMS)
enhanced phone
A voice-centric device that is designed to deliver data content via network-based delivery mechanisms, such as Wireless Application Protocol, and that offers only minimal offline capability, such as contact management.
enhanced specialized mobile radio (see ESMR) ENS (enterprise nervous system)
Gartner's term for the intelligent network that provides unifying connectivity among people, application systems and devices in different locations and business units across a virtual enterprise. The emerging ENS is based on the traditional enterprise network, but it is an evolution of that network, providing value-added functions that elevate the role of the network beyond that of plain communication. Whereas a conventional network simply aims to transfer data between sending application systems and explicitly defined destinations, an ENS offloads work from the application systems because it:
• Offers enhanced quality-of-service for communication • Transforms messages
• Redirects messages as appropriate, using logical business rules • May track and control business processes
enterprise
Any large, autonomous, private- or public-sector organization that uses information technology. Enterprises include not only corporations, but also large, noncorporate entities such as governments, nonprofit groups and higher-education institutions. The term is often used to distinguish large IT user organizations from IT vendors, or from small and midsize businesses. It is also used to distinguish technology that spans, supports or applies to the overall organization from that which is relevant only to an organizational subunit, such as a department.
enterprise application outsourcing (see EAO) enterprise application development (see E-AD) enterprise application integration (see EAI) enterprise application
A software product designed to integrate computer systems that run all phases of an enterprise's operations to facilitate cooperation and coordination of work across the enterprise. The intent is to integrate core business processes (such as sales,
accounting, finance, human resources, inventory and manufacturing). The ideal enterprise system could control all major business processes in real time via a single software architecture. Enterprise software is expanding its scope to link the
enterprise with suppliers, business partners and customers.
enterprise application software (see EAS) enterprise asset management (see EAM)
enterprise business intelligence suite (see EBIS) enterprise-class
A term referring to the ability of an application or system to handle complex processes and services of the type required by a large enterprise.
enterprise computer-aided software engineering (see E-CASE) Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum (see ECTF)
enterprise console
A key component of an event management system, comprising applications'
component maps, autodiscovery mechanisms and agents that send information to a manager. See event management system.
Enterprise Data Access (see EDA)
Enterprise Data Access/Structured Query Language (see EDA/SQL) enterprise data model (see EDM)
Enterprise Desktop Manager (see EDM) enterprise integration architecture (see EIA)
enterprise information portal (see enterprise portal) Enterprise JavaBeans (see EJB)
Enterprise Maintenance Planning and Control (see EMPAC) enterprise master person index (see EMPI)
enterprise performance management (see EPM) enterprise portal
Internet technologies that provide windows into enterprise information, applications and processes. Enterprise portals go by many names, including corporate portals, business portals and enterprise information portals. There are two types: horizontal enterprise portals (HEPs) and vertical enterprise portals (VEPs). See portal, HEP and VEP.
enterprise resource planning (see ERP) enterprise resource planning II (see ERP II) enterprise scheduling system (see ESS) enterprise service bus (see ESB)
Enterprise Storage Platform (see ESP) Enterprise Storage Server (see ESS)
Enterprise Systems Architecture (see ESA) Enterprise Systems Connection (see ESCON) enterprise total cost of ownership (see ETCO) enterprise user administration (see EUA) Enterprise Volume Manager (see EVM) entity relationship
The logical relationship of data elements in a data model.
entity relationship diagram
A diagram used in data modeling to illustrate the logical relationships among various entities represented by data.
environmental, safety & health (see ES&H) EOQ (economic order quantity)
A simple model used in inventory management to determine the best quantity for a given order placement.
EOTD (Enhanced Observed Time Difference)
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute's location service standard. Location is calculated at a central computer using the time difference between the arrival of signals from the handset and from the location measurement unit. See
location service.
EPIC (Explicitly Parallel Instruction Computing)
An effort by Intel and Hewlett-Packard to create an open terminology that the
industry would use to represent the latest iteration of wide-word technology. It is the core technology used for IA-64.
EPM (enterprise performance management)
The process of monitoring performance indicators across the enterprise, with the goal of improving overall business performance. An EPM system integrates and analyzes data from many sources, including, but not limited to, e-commerce systems, front-office and back-office applications, data warehouses and external data sources. Advanced EPM systems can support many performance methodologies such as the balanced scorecard.
EPOS (electronic point of sale)
A category of systems used by retailers to capture sales and other transactional data at the point of sale, either via manual entry into a network-connected workstation or via automatic capture through bar-code scanners or electronic cash registers.
e-procurement
A set of applications and business-to-business information management processes that support the purchase of goods and services over the Internet.
EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory)
Memory chips that are programmed after manufacture, and that may be erased and reprogrammed at a later date.
e-purse (electronic purse)
An application that allows value (such as e-cash) to be loaded into a smart card or handheld device that then can be used to make purchases. A device or card can hold multiple e-purse applications designed for specific uses (for example, an e-purse on a student card or device could be restricted to purchases at a bookstore).
equalization
A communications term referring to the use of frequencies to compensate for attenuation (signal loss) or time variations (delay) in a transmitted signal.
equipment asset management (see EAM) equipment management system (see EMS)
erasable programmable read-only memory (see EPROM) ERC (European Radiocommunications Committee)
An organization that brings together the radio regulatory administrations of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications' (CEPT's) 44 member
countries. The ERC's primary task is to develop radio communications policies and to coordinate frequency, regulatory and technical matters in this field. See CEPT.
e-retailing
Erlang
In telecommunications, a unit of traffic intensity. One Erlang is the intensity at which one traffic path would be continuously occupied. Related terms include:
• Erlang B: A traffic-engineering formula used when traffic is random and there is no queuing. It assumes that blocked callers either automatically use another route or blocked calls disappear entirely.
• Erlang C: A traffic engineering formula used when traffic is random and queuing is provided. It assumes that all callers will wait indefinitely until a line becomes available.
ERM (employee relationship management)
A business discipline that focuses on optimizing the employee's total employment experience — including both the human and technology aspects of that experience. ERM includes manager and employee interactions, the formal business tasks required manage employee relationships, and the technology used to manage the employee experience. Thus, ERM is most closely aligned with the human capital management (HCM) focus area of workforce management. See HCM.
ERMES (European Radio Message System)
A European paging standard, initially developed by the Paging Systems Technical Committee of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. Enhancements offered by ERMES over previous paging systems include cross-country roaming and significant capacity improvements.
ERMS (e-mail response management system)
A customer service and support (CSS) software feature for handling and managing e-mail from customers. It integrates e-mail and Web forms into the incoming call flow to ensure that these inquiries and transactions are handled on a timely basis. See CSS.
ERP (enterprise resource planning)
Business strategies and enabling software that integrate manufacturing, financial and distribution functions to dynamically balance and optimize enterprise resources. ERP software suites include integrated manufacturing, distribution and financial
applications. ERP can enable enterprises to optimize their business processes and analysis capabilities for improved speed and efficiency.
ERP II (enterprise resource planning II)
An application and deployment strategy that expands from traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality to achieve integration of an enterprise's key internal and external collaborative, operational and financial processes. ERP II starts as an application strategy, setting a vision for the integration of all enterprise- centric, commerce-oriented business processes, without requiring a single-vendor strategy. As a deployment strategy, ERP II enables enterprises to determine the degree of single-vendor-centricity needed to fulfill enterprise process requirements and — through native integration capabilities — to include best-of-breed components from multiple vendors. ERP II includes capabilities specific to the enterprise, as well as the ability to connect the enterprise to key business partners directly or through a private e-marketplace. The process domain of ERP II includes all collaborative, operational and financial processes that have the enterprise at the center. See ERP and e-marketplace.
error control
An arrangement that detects the presence of errors in transmitted data. In some systems, refinements are added that correct the detected errors, either by operations on the received data or by retransmission from the source.
error-correcting code (see ECC) error rate
In communications, the number of bits, elements, characters or blocks incorrectly received, expressed as a fraction or ratio of the total number transmitted; in data storage, the ratio of lost bits per total bits written to the storage medium.
ERS (evaluated receipt settlement)
The process for paying for goods on receipt, rather than upon invoicing (sometimes referred to as "two-way matching").
ES&H (environmental, safety and health)
A category of software applications dealing with regulatory compliance — for example, compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or Occupational Health and Safety Administration requirements.
ESA (Enterprise Systems Architecture)
A 31-bit mainframe architecture introduced by IBM in the 1980s, employed in mainframe hardware such as the ESA/370 and ESA/390, and in operating systems such as Multiple Virtual Storage/ESA (MVS/ESA), Virtual Storage Extended/ESA (VSE/ESA) and Virtual Machine/ESA (VM/ESA). In 2000, IBM introduced a 64-bit successor to ESA called z/Architecture. See MVS, VSE, VM and z/Architecture.
ESB (enterprise service bus)
A streamlined, distributed integration middleware infrastructure that combines Extensible Markup Language (XML) and Web services support, basic transformation,