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From: dave@westmark.westmark.com (Dave Levenson)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Why Are They Called 'Generics'?
Message-ID: <14671@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 15 Nov 90 04:59:26 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 819, Message 3 of 9


In article <14643@accuvax.nwu.edu>, jjwcmp@ultb.isc.rit.edu (Jeff
Wasilko) writes:

> As I was catching up on my Digest-reading, a thought occured to me --
> why are switch programs called 'generics'?

The term comes from the early history of electronic switching.

The switch required memory.  Three kinds of memory.  There is memory
which contains the parameters which are customized for every
installation.  This has subscriber class-of-service, call-routing
tables, and other such.  It is called "Translation" because it is the
tables that translate the dialed number into a physical route.
Translation is where the custom features are enabled or disabled.  It
is writeable only from the administrator's console.

The second kind of memory is called "status".  (Earlier, it was called
'call-store'.  It holds the details of the calls in progress right
now: the digits you've just dialed, the state of your switchhook, and
the map that indicates which trunks and links are idle, busy, or in
maintenance mode.  Status memory is where you look when you're
debugging a central office crash.  It is writeable by the operational
software and may be readable by the administrator.

The third kind of memory contains the operational software.  It is
identical in every installation -- the per-installation customization
is in translation memory.  Because it is always the same, it is called
generic.  It is ROM.  Bell Labs writes it!  (Or they did in the old
days.)


Dave Levenson			Internet: dave@westmark.com
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