The Cable Center

This glossary of cable and telecommunications terms is intended to enhance your understanding of this dynamic industry. We are able to present this information with the generous help of CableLabs - consult their website for the most up-to-date information about cable technology.

0 - 9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Object carousel
An object carousel is a repetitively broadcast file system.

Object Identification (OID)
A sequence of integers used to traverse an SNMP managed object tree to find a specific managed object.

OCAP 1.0 implementation
The OCAP 1.0 implementation is the actual software that provides support for the defined OCAP 1.0 on a host receiver.

OCAP API
OCAP API refers to one of the Java APIs standardized as part of the OCAP 1.0 Specification. For the OCAP 1.0 implementation, the OCAP APIs include the DVB-J APIs that have been modifed and/or extended by this specification.

Off the air
Reception of a TV signal that has been broadcast through the air.

Off-Net Call
A communication connecting a PacketCable subscriber to a user on the PSTN.

Office of Telecommunications Policy (OTP)
Division of the staff of the Executive Office of the President that advises the Executive Branch on communications policy, studies policy questions, and develops legislative proposals.

Ohm
The standard unit of resistance, reactance and impedance. A resistant of 1 ohm will conduct 1 ampere of current when a voltage of 1 volt is placed across it.

On-demand Service
A type of telecommunication service in which the communication path is established almost immediately in response to a user request brought about by means of a user-network signaling.

On-Net Call
A communication placed by one customer to another customer entirely on the PacketCable Network.

One-way Hash
A hash function that has an insignificant number of collisions upon output.

One-Way System
The ability to receive TV programming through the broadband network. Customers wanting to order movies and other services must use traditional methods to do so rather than using the two-directional interactive capabilities offered through the Two-Way System. As the physical plant is upgraded, one-way systems will be replaced by two-way systems.

OpenCable™
OpenCable is an initiative led by CableLabs on behalf of its members, seeking to set a common set of requirements for interoperable digital set-top boxes, television receivers and other advanced digital devices manufactured by multiple vendors. These devices would be capable of delivering digital video, data and interactive services to a television set. See also CableCARD, OCAP.

OpenCable™ Application Platform (OCAP)
The OpenCable Application Platform is a software interface specification that completely defines the OpenCable host software interface that executes OpenCable portable, interactive applications and services. OCAP is a separate effort from the Advanced Television Enhancement Forum (ATVEF) content specification, but OCAP does call for support and extension of ATVEF as a part of the PE requirements.

OpenCable™ Device
An OpenCable device is an OpenCable-compliant digital set-top converter or cable ready digital television receiver, allowing reception of existing cable television channels and providing the user interface for future, interactive applications.

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)
A framework of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for communication between different systems made by different vendors, in which the communications process is organized into seven different categories that are placed in a layered sequence based on their relationship to the user. Each layer uses the layer immediately below it and provides a service to the layer above. Layers 7 through 4 deal with end-to-end communication between the message source and destination, and layers 3 through 1 deal with network functions.

Operating System (OS)
The software that manages hardware and resources on a computer. Applications use the operating system to make requests for services and interact with the computer’s devices. Or the software that controls the underlying hardware, performs the most basic functions for managing the resources of the hardware, and provides services to other software such as applications.

Operation Systems Support (OSS)
The back office software used for configuration, performance, fault, accounting and security management.

Optical Fiber
An extremely thin, flexible thread of pure glass, able to carry one thousand times the information possible with traditional copper wire.

Optical Overload
A condition of high input current that causes pulse width distortion at the output of the TIA.

Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI)
A 3-octet Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) assigned identifier that OUI can be used to generate universal local area network (LAN) media access control (MAC) addresses and Protocol Identifiers per ANSI/IEEE Std 802 for use in Local and Metropolitan Area Network applications.

Out-of-Band Channel (OOB)
An out-of-band channel is the combination of the forward and reverse out-of-band communications channels. The OOB channel provides an IP-based communication channel between the network and the digital set-top converter.

Out-Of-Band-Forward-Data-Channel (OOB-FDC)
The portion of the cable RF range that is used to deliver system or service information to a receiver. Its frequency range is generally 70-130 Mz.

Out-Of-Band-Reverse-Data-Channel (OOB-RDC)
The portion of the cable RF range that is used to deliver data from the home receiver to the headend. Its frequency range is 5-40 Mz.

Overbuilder
A company that overbuilds an incumbent telecommunications operator and offers customers a competitive alternative, generally with highly advanced fiber-optic networks. See also CLEC.

Overlapping Markets
A case where a TV stations Predicted Grade B Contour is overlapped by the Predicted Grade B Contour of a television station located in a different market.