Monday, May 21, 2001		Bits & Bytes

OLTP (On-Line Transaction Processing): Also known as transaction processing, OLTP is a type of computer processing in which the computer responds immediately to the user’s requests. Each request is considered a transaction. Automatic teller machines for banks are an example of transaction processing.

Batch processing: The opposite of transaction processing, batch processing means executing a series of non-interactive jobs all at one time. The term originated in the days when users entered programs on punch cards. They would give a batch of these programmed cards to the system operator, who would feed them into the computer.

BWTP (Business Web transaction processing): Compared to OLTP, which describes an individual’s business activities on the Internet, BWTP defines how businesses interact and coordinate their services over the Web.

Backbone provider: A backbone provider supplies access to high-speed transmission lines that connect users to the Internet. These lines comprise the backbone of the Internet. Different from an ISP, which provides users access to the Internet, a backbone provider supplies the ISPs with access to the lines, such as T1 or T3 lines, that connect ISPs to each other, allowing the ISPs to offer their customers Internet access at high speeds.