n may refer to a hardware configuration or a software configuration. configure To describe to the system the devices and optional features installed on the system and describe their utilization. Glossary connect time connect time The amount of time that a circuit, typically in a circuit-switched environment, is in use. connectionless network A network that treats each packet or datagram as a separate entity that contains the source and destination address. Connectionless services can drop packets or deliver them out of sequence, based on encountering various network conditions, such as con- gestion or outages. connection-oriented network A network in which the connection setup is performed before information transfer occurs. The path is conceived at the outset, and after the path is determined, all the subsequent information follows the same path to the destination. In a connection-oriented net- work, there can be some delay up front, while the connection is being set up, but because the path is predetermined, there is no delay at intermediate nodes after the connection is set up. connectivity A term used to describe the physical interconnections of multiple devices/ computers/networks employing similar or different technology and/or architecture together to accomplish effective communication between and among connected members involving data exchange and/or resource sharing. contactless identification A technology in which a smart card has an antenna embedded inside it, enabling communication with a card reader without physical contact. The chip on the smart card stores data and programs that are protected by advanced security features. Contactless smart cards are passed near an antenna, or reader, to carry out a transaction. content delivery network A network with delivery services that are structured specifically for a client and are focused on streaming audio, video, and media, as well as the supporting e-commerce applications. contention A method of line control in which the terminals request permission to t