Adaptive Interface Link: A data communications ‘device’ (could be software) for joining otherwise incompatible computers. An adaptive interface link will ‘ping’ a target computer and analyses the speed and format of the response, trying to determine by trial and error a working protocol. Even after successful two-way communications have been established, an adaptive interface link will continue to refine the protocol … improving it, making it faster and more efficient.
Archive: A collection of snapshots of a database kept for historical or audit purposes. (See “Database” and “Snapshot”.)
Channel: Alternative name for a data or communications link. For example: when a channel is opened between the ship’s computer and a security camera, a data stream from the camera can be recorded onto a data spool. (See “Data Stream” and “Data Spool”.)
Command Sequence: Standard naval computer programs consist of compiled binary ‘primitives’ hard-wired into ROM cartridges, and higher-level ‘command sequences’ which call these primitives. As primitives are hard-wired, most programming that takes place onboard consists of altering the command sequences only.
Command Subprocessor: Part of a computer that processes a command sequence. For example, a computer with 4 subprocessors can execute 4 command sequences simultaneously. [The CPU number of a computer in CT Book 2 is the number of primary command subprocessors it has. Each workstation has its own secondary subprocessor.]
Database: A collection of related data files, internally cross-referenced. (See “Data File” and “Library”.)
Data Crystal: A data storage media using Zuchai crystals. They are reusable “write once, read once” devices.
Data File: A collection of related data from one or more data spools. (See “Data Spool”.)
Data Spool: A recorded stream of data in a computer system. Not to be confused with “data file”. A file is a collection of related data. That data may be part or all of one or more data spools. For example, each high-security area inboard a starship may have a record of all accesses (each area’s access record could be a data spool), and a file of an individual officer’s accesses would be a portion of each data spool. (See “Data Stream” and “Channel”.)
Data Stream: A stream or series of data. For example, a security camera will output a data stream. (See “Data Spool” and “Channel”.)
Data Tile: Standard issue read/write data storage media. A solid-state memory wafer encased in a plastic square. Many personnel have “music tiles” (a data tile containing music files) to insert into portable players.
Data Well: A repository or collection of libraries. Some, like the Naasirka Lakatoro Public Data Well (on Efate/Regina) can be immense (with billions of libraries). Others, like those found on squadron flagships, are relatively smaller. (See “Library”.)
Inquiry: Term meaning to request information from a database. Results are returned either as opened data files or as summaries of data files. (See “Database” and “Data File”.)
Library: A static (or seldomly changing) database. (See “Database” and “Library Data”.)
Library Data: A typical ship’s encyclopaedia.
Music Tile: See “Data Tile”.
Primitive: See “Command Sequence”.
Security Permission: Official term for a specific authorisation to enter a high-security area or access a secure computer terminal or workstation. A virtual key. A ship captain typically has all the Security Permissions relevant to his ship, subordinate officers will have subsets of these. As an officer acquires Security Permissions, they are usually downloaded onto his Ident Chip.
Snapshot: A copy of a database taken at a moment in time … a record of the data in that database at that time. Once made, snapshots do not change. (See “Archive” and “Database”.)
Tablet: A rugged portable display unit. Basically, a touch-sensitive flat screen (200mm x 275mm x 10mm) with an integral tile reader. (See “Data Tile”.)
Tile: See “Data Tile”.
Tile Reader: Usually part of another device, workstation, etc. Tile readers are used to access (read and write) data on a data tile. See “Data Tile”.
Example: A ship has a security camera watching each airlock. A “channel” is opened from the main computer to each security camera. Once opened a “data stream” is sent from the camera to the computer where it is stored as a “data spool”. Relevant sections of each data spool are then indexed as “data files” (one per individual). These data files are then in turn stored and indexed in a security “database”. Later, inquiries made to the security database by anyone with an appropriate “security permission” will return data files and/or summaries of data files.