ntly. Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA): An architectural framework for configuring three independent security functions in a consistent manner. Authentication provides the method of identifying users, authorization provides the method for remote access control and accounting provides the method for collecting and sending security server information to be used for billing, auditing and reporting. Alarm correlation: A process or function by which network alarms are examined and related in order to determine the root cause of a network problem or failure. Application Program Interfaces (APIs): Software interfaces embedded in OSS packages that expose the package's functionality to other systems. Other systems can "call" on the various functions an API makes available in order to request data, initiate tasks or perform other functions. Application Service Provider (ASP): An IIC whose primary focus is to offer application-based services. The applications they provide can range anywhere The Ultimate Guide to Building and Delivering OSS/BSS from common desktop and horizontal business applications to industry-specific applications, such as LEC interconnect gateways. Assign and design: Common term for the engineering tasks and processes used to create or activate services on a network. Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM): An advanced, dynamic switching technology that combines elements of hard- and soft-switch concepts and can be used in a range of network configurations, from local area to global. ATM technology has the ability to transmit data at high-speed over optical networks with the flexibility to construct permanent or temporary paths, or virtual circuits, across a network. ATM technology is also noted for its sophisticated quality of service capabilities. Authentication server: A server, generally associated with access to network or Internet resources, that handles security authorizations as users log on and off. Auto-discovery: An intelligent capability often embedded in network equipment and/or 