Bandwidth
The capacity of the transmission medium stated in bits per second or as a frequency. Or, the amount of data that can be transmitted in a fixed amount of time. For digital devices, the bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second(bps) or bytes per second. For analog devices, the bandwidth is expressed in cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz).
Back Light Compensation (BLC)
Electronically compensates for high background lighting to give detail which would normally be silhouetted.
Baud
A unit of measurement that denotes the number of bits that can be transmitted per second. For example, if a modem is rated at 9600 baud it is capable of transmitting data at a rate of 9600 bits per second.
Bifocal Lens
A lens system that has two different focal length lenses and images two identical or different scenes onto a single camera sensor. The two captured scenes appear as a split image on the monitor.
Binary
A numbering system with only two values: 0 (zero) and 1 (one).
Bit
Abbreviated with small "b". Binary Digit. The smallest unit of data in a computer.
Blanking
The process whereby the beam in a CRT is cut off during the retrace period.
BLC (Back Light Compensation)
Electronically compensates for high background lighting to give detail that would normally be silhouetted.
BNC
Bayonet Neil-Concelman or British Naval Connector. A connector widely used in the CCTV industry, usually for coaxial cable. Easy to install and reliable with little video signal loss. Pictures of BNC Connectors.
BPS
Bits Per Second is the unit used for measuring line speed, the number of information units transmitted per second.
Brightness Control
The manual bias control on a cathode ray tube or other display device that controls the average brightness and the contrast of a picture.
Browser
An application program that provides a way to look at and interact with all the information on the World Wide Web. Netscape and Microsoft Internet Explorer are the two browsers that vast majority uses.
Bus
When referring to a computer, the bus is a data connection between two or more devices, such as memory, video card, and scanner.
Byte
Abbreviated with capital "B". A unit of data that is eight bits long and is used by most computers to represent a character such as a letter, number or symbol.
Badge Reader
A reader used to read and interpret data encoded in an identification badge. See Card Reader.
Bar Code Card
An access control card with identification information encoded in Bar Code format.
Bar Code Reader
A reader capable of reading and interpreting cards using bar codes to encode data. Barium Ferrite Card - An access control card with identification information encoded in the card via magnetic material embedded in the card.
Battery Backup
A secondary energy source used to power devices in the event the primary energy source fails. Battery Backup typically provides power for a short period of time, allowing for immediate action, system protection, and system shutdown before the battery reaches a drained state.
Baud
The unit of data signal transmission speed, typically expressed in bits per second.
Biometrics
A general term for the verification of individuals using unique biological characteristics (i.e. fingerprints, hand geometry, voice analysis, the retinal pattern in the eye).
Biometric Access Control
Access control where the identification process is made through biometric parameters. See Access Control, Biometrics.
