User's Manual

GLOSSARY
182 VX 675 REFERENCE GUIDE
PC Abbreviation for personal computer. Usually, PC
refers to an IBM-compatible personal computer.
Peripheral terminal In a computer system, any
equipment that provides the processing unit with
outside communication. Typical peripheral devices
for a POS terminal include PINpads and check
readers.
Port An opening or connection that provides
electrical or physical access to a system or circuit.
Also, a connection point with associated control
circuitry that allows I/O devices to be connected to
the internal bus of a microprocessor.
POS terminal A terminal used at the point of sale,
which is usually at a merchant site where a customer
pays for goods or services received. Information
concerning the sale can be entered into the terminal
and transmitted to a remote host computer for
verification and processing.
Power pack A unit for transforming and converting
electrical power from one AC voltage level to another
AC voltage level, or from AC to DC, for electronic
devices.
Prompt A short message, sent from a process to a
user, indicating that the process expects the user to
input data. For example, a prompt appears on the
terminal display asking the user to enter specific
information. See Messages.
Protocol An agreement that governs the
procedures used to exchange information between
cooperating entities. For example, protocols govern
the format and timing of messages exchanged
between devices in a communication system, such
as between a terminal and a host computer.
PTID Permanent terminal ID. An optional identifier
that can be permanently assigned to a VeriFone
terminal at the factory, upon customer request. The
PTID is an eight digit number, consisting of a two
digit manufacturer’s ID (12 for VeriFone), followed by
a six digit terminal ID. If no PTID is assigned to the
unit then, the default value 12000000 is used.
RAM Random-access memory. The type of
memory in which storage locations are addressable
and can therefore be accessed in any order. In the
VX 675 terminal, the mDRAM is used to run
applications.
Application files and data are stored in the non-
volatile flash memory system. By default, files
downloaded to the terminal are stored in the I: drive
of the target file group(s). See Flash memory.
Remote host computer A host computer
connected to a VX 675 service dongle to download
files or data, or to process transactions. The
opposite of remote is local.
Scroll To move all or part of the information
displayed on a screen up or down, left or right, to
allow new information to appear. For the VX 675,
text that does not fit entirely within the display area
can be scrolled to the left or right using the pound (#)
and asterisk (*) keys.
Search key Also called key. In the VX 675, a short
character string used by an application to identify a
keyed file record stored in CONFIG.SYS file(s). For
example, *ZA or *OT. A keyed file record consist of
two parts: a search key to identify the record, and the
variable data stored in the record. See also Keyed
file record and CONFIG.SYS file.
Serial port A connection point through which
digital information is transferred one digital bit at a
time. Same as serial interface. The VX 675 terminal
has one serial port, available at the multiport
connector. The main serial port on a download
computer is usually assigned the terminal ID, COM1.
Signature file A digital file with the filename
extension *.p7s generated in an industry-standard
format by the file signing tool, FILESIGN.EXE. The
output of the file signing tool is a signature file in an
industry-standard format.
mDRAM See RAM.
Subroutine A software routine that can be part of
another routine. When a main routine calls a
subroutine, program control is transferred to the
subroutine. When the subroutine is completed,
control reverts to the instruction in the main routine
immediately following the subroutine call.
Swipe The action of sliding a magnetic stripe card
through a terminal card reader. The VX 675 card
reader has a bi-directional swipe direction. The user
must hold the card so that the magnetic stripe is
faces in and towards the keyboard.