R Terms

RAID: Redundant Array of Independent Disks (also known as Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks): An array of disk drives that allows information to be written across many disks. This permits full data redundancy and full recovery from individual disk failure. The cost of a RAID is determined both by its capacity and its data transfer speed.

RBOC: Regional Bell Operating Company: The seven Regional Holding Companies established at divestiture from the Bell Telephone Company.

RDBMS: Relational Database Management Systems.

Reference Picture: Reference pictures are the nearest adjacent I- or P- pictures to the current picture in display order.

Reflections: A radio frequency echo effect, expressed as either voltage standing wave ratio SWR) or as return loss.

Recorder Buffer: A buffer in the system target decoder for storage of a reconstructed I-picture or a reconstructed P-picture.

Return Path: Interactive services require a path to return signals from the consumer. Return path can be a phone line, upstream RF spectrum in a cable system, or wireless.

RF: Radio Frequency: A frequency at which coherent electromagnetic radiation of energy is useful for communication purposes. The frequency spectrum above 30 kHz and below infrared.

RFI: (1) Radio frequency interference. (2)Request for information.

RFP: Request for proposal.

RFQ: Request for quote.

RHC: Regional Holding Company.

RS-232 Interface: A standard for serial data communications as defined by the Electronics Industries Association Standard RS-232.