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IEEE Standard Computer Dictionary A Compilation of IEEE Standard Computer Glossaries 610 Sponsor Standards Coordinating Committee of the IEEE Computer Society TEEE Standard Computer Dictionary: A Compilation of IEEE Standard Computer (Glossaries, identifies terms currently in use in the computer field. Standard definitions for those| terms are established. Keywords: Glossary; terminology: definitions; dictionay Library of Congress Catalog Number 90-086206 ISBN1.550970708 Copyright ©1900 by ‘The Institute of Electrical and Electronics 345 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017, USA [No pat ofthis document may be reproduced in any form, in an elecronie retrieval system o” otheruise lelthout the prior srten permission ofthe publisher IBEE Standards documents are developed within the Technical ‘Committees of the IBEE Societies and the Standards Coordinating ‘Committees of the IBEE Standards Board. Members of the committees serve voluntarily and without. compensation. They are not necessar- ily members of the Institute. The standards developed within IEEE represent a consensus of the broad expertise on the subject within the Institute as well as those activities outside of IEEE which have expressed an interest in participating in the development of the standard, Use of an IEE Standard is wholly voluntary. The existence of an IEEE Standard does not imply that there are no other ways to produce, test, measure, purchase, market, or provide other goods and services related to the scope of the IEEE Standard. Furthermore, the viewpoint ‘expressed at the time a standard is approved and issued is subject to change brought about through developments in the state of the art and comments received from users of the standard. Every IEEE Standard ig subjected to review at least once every five years for revision or reaffirmation. When a document is more than five years old, and has not been reaffirmed, it is reasonable to conclude that its contents, a though still of some value, do not wholly reflect the present state of the art, Users are cautioned to check to determine that they have the latest ‘dition of any IEEE Standard. Comments for revision of IEEE Standards are welcome from any interested party, regardless of membership affiliation with IEEE. ‘Suggestions for changes in documents should be in the form of a pro- posed change of text, together with appropriate supporting comments. Interpretations: Occasionally questions may arise regarding the meaning of portions of standards as they relate to specific applica- tions, When the need for interpretations is brought to the attention of IEEE, the Institute will initiate action to prepare appropriate re- sponses. Since IEEE Standards represent a consensus of all con- cerned interests, itis important to ensure that any interpretation has also received the concurrence of a balance of interests. For this reason IEEE and the members of its technical committees are not able to provide an instant response to interpretation requests except in those cases where the matter has previously received formal consideration. ‘Comments on standards and requests for interpretations should be addressed to: Secretary, IEEE Standards Board ‘SAB East 47th Street ‘New York, NY 10017 USA TEBE Standards documents are adopted by the Institute of Electrical] land Electronies Engineers without regard to whether their adoption Imay involve patents on articles, materials, or processes. Such adop- tion does not assume any liability to any patent owner, nor does it| Jassume any obligation whatever to parties adopting the standards ldocuments. Foreword. (This Boreword is ot a pert ofthe IEEE Standard Computer Dictionary: Compilation of IEEE Standard Computer Clostericn) ‘The computer field is continuing to expand. New terms are being generated and new meanings are being adopted for existing terms. The IEEE Computer Dictionary project. was undertaken to document this vocabulary. Its purpose is to identify terms currently in use in the computer field and to establish standard definitions for these terms. The dictionary is intended to serve as a useful reference for those in the computer field and for those who come into contact with computers either through their work or in their everyday lives. ‘The dictionary is being developed as a series of subjectarea glossaries, each approved and published as it is completed. This edition of the dictionary contains all terms and definitions from ‘the glossaries published to date. The IEEE designations and subject matter of these glossaries are as follows: IEE Std 1084 (610.1]-1986 Mathems ies of Computing Terminology IEE Std 6102-1987 Computer Applications Terminology IEE Std 6103-1989 ‘Modeling and Simulation Terminology TBE Std 6104-1990 Image Processing and Pattern Recognition Terminology IBEE Std 6105-1990 Data Management Terminology TBE Std 61012(729] 1990 Software Engineering Terminology ‘The remaining glossaries in the series are listed below. Future editions of the dictionary will contain terms and definitions from those glossaries that have been published at the time of dictionary compilation. Psi0s Computer Graphics Terminology 610.7 Computer Networking and Data Communications Terminology e108 Artificial Intelligence Terminology P6109 Computer Security and Privacy Terminology 610.10 Computer Hardware Terminology e101 ‘Theory of Computation Terminology Pe1013 Computer Languages Terminology Every effort has been made to use definitions from established standards in this dictionary. When existing standards were found to be incomplete, unclear, or inconsistent with other entries in the dictionary, however, new, revised, or composite definitions have been developed. At the time of publication of this document, the fellowing people form the steering committee of the Computer Dictionary working group: Anne Geraci Louise MeMonegal Dr. Fredrick Springsteel Freny Katki Bennett Meyer Paul Wilson Dr. John Lane Dr. Hugh Porteous Mary Yee Jane Radatz Other working group members who contributed to the subject glossaries were as follows: HL, Ronald Berlack Wiliam M. Dupras Seal ds Forman Ramell J. Abbott A Pras Ackerman HE Roaald Boriece Kathleen Briggs Homer €. Carney Katheripe Coleen Sods Foran Walter Rarpive Ronald Berlack Soran Chonolet Willem Dupre Daniel Garvin Shirley Glo Soler Sohn Goa HE. Ronald Berlace Kathlcon Briggs Sesan Chonoler ‘Semen Caleted ‘Seal Forman Shiney A" Gloss Selor Sack Got Viol Hans Gins Me Little sgl J. Abbott 1h Prank Ackerman Roger R:Beldwin H'Roneld Berleck 3. David Bese amen Bradley athloon ty Briggs Homer €. Carney Sorann Chonolet Far Deugharey Prank J Douglas Wiles P. Dupres 103 (10641086) John A. Goetz Vint tase 1021500 Gary R. Gladden ‘Soha B.Gocts| Vint Hose Richard Landry Gary 8, Lindsey Rall P. Mayer 103.1990 Michael Kong Gary Lindsey Philp Marriott Rossel Bibel ‘Thomas Perrot Donald Philips Charla Wales Vink Haas Robert Haralick Richard Laahy Philp Marntt Rollin Mayer ‘Thea Paviidoe ‘rrol Rosenfeld 105.1900 Grace Marmot ‘Anita Miree Willian Bathowse Dennin Nek, Rober Rastord Mary Resmovsen Roger Rohweder Legnard Seagren 1021000 (7201085), John D, Earls Mary Forcht Tucker Davia Gelporin ar Giten, Shiny A Glos Slee Sohn A. Gots David A: Gustaion irl Has Sarnes Ingram ‘ary S. Lindsay Rovere eben ‘Mice MeCaréy Poul Hoigzelmen Usogard W. Seagren Michael. Streit watlam B, Porgy Lvrence iW, Schon Unonard W, Seagren ‘Wayne Smith Elian Tonia Andrew Ht. Weigel WEMfartin Wong Pierre Pignal Max Schindler Leonard W. Seagren Sonja Shield Bary Stall Perma: Trujilo Leonard Seagree Sonja Petorean Shields ‘eck Sklansky Mant Suctur Fermin, Trujillo ‘Torry Weymouth Sonja Shields Fred Springsice) ‘hn Soke ‘Anatol Sure Wiliam Satelite David Usechak Charts Wales Sack Wentbrock Mary Yeo Dr. Joa Motor Geraldine Neihart esl Schmid Leonard W Seagren Stef Peterson Shields Kevia Sith Wyre Smith Paul U. Thompson [Andrew Ht Weigel WiMartin Wong Special representatives to the Computer Dictionary working group were: Frank Jay, Christopher J. Booth, Advisors, IEEE Standards Department Rollin Mayer, Liaison, Accredited Standards Committee XOK5

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