E-Discovery Glossary

Q

QBIC (Query By Image Content) An IBM search system for stored images that allows the user to sketch an image, and then search the image files to find those which most closely match. The user can specify color and texture – such as "sandy beaches" or "clouds."

Quality Control (QC) Steps taken to ensure that results of a given task, product or service are of sufficiently high quality; the operational techniques and activities that are used to fulfill requirements for quality. In document handling and management processes, this includes image quality (resolution, skew, speckle, legibility, etc.), and data quality (correct information in appropriate fields, validated data for dates, addresses, names/issues lists, etc.).

Quarter Inch Cartridge (QIC) Digital recording tape, 2000 feet long, with an uncompressed capacity of 5 GB.

Query A request for specific information from a database or other ESI.

Queue A sequence of items such as packets or print jobs waiting to be processed. For example, a print queue holds files that are waiting to be printed.

Quick Peek A production whereby documents and/or ESI are made available to the opposing party before being reviewed for privilege, confidentiality or privacy, requiring stringent guidelines and restrictions to prevent waiver.

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RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Discs) A method of storing data on servers that usually combines multiple hard drives into one logical unit thereby increasing capacity, reliability and backup capability. RAID systems may vary in levels of redundancy, with no redundancy being a single, nonmirrored disc as level 0, two discs that mirror each other as level 1, on up, with level 5 being one of the most common. RAID systems are more complicated to copy and restore.

RAM (Random Access Memory) Hardware inside a computer that retains memory on a shortterm basis and stores information while the computer is in use. It is the "working memory" of the computer into which the operating system, startup applications and drivers are loaded when a computer is turned on, or where a program subsequently started up is loaded, and where thereafter, these applications are executed. RAM can be read or written in any section with one instruction sequence. It helps to have more of this "working space" installed when running advanced operating systems and applications. RAM content is erased each time a computer is turned off. See Dynamic Random Access Memory DRAM.

Raster/Rasterized (Raster or Bitmap Drawing) A method of representing an image with a grid (or "map") of dots. Typical raster file formats are GIF, JPEG, TIFF, PCX, BMP, etc. and typically have jagged edges.

Record Information, regardless of medium or format that has value to an organization.

Record Custodian A record custodian is an individual responsible for the physical storage and protection of records throughout their retention period. In the context of electronic records, custodianship may not be a direct part of the records management function in all organizations. For example, some organizations may place this responsibility within their Information Technology Department, or they may assign responsibility for retaining and preserving records with individual employees.

Record Lifecycle The time period from which a record is created until it is disposed.

Record Owner The record owner is the subject matter expert on the contents of the record and is responsible for the lifecycle management of the record. This may be, but is not necessarily, the author of the record.

Record Series A description of a particular set of records within a file plan. Each category has retention and disposition data associated with it, applied to all record folders and records within the category. (DOD 5015)

Record Submitter The Record Submitter is the person who enters a record in an application or system. This may be, but is not necessarily, the author or the record owner.

Records Archive See Repository for Electronic Records.

Records Hold See Legal Hold.

Records Management Records Management is the planning, controlling, directing, organizing, training, promoting, and other managerial activities involving the lifecycle of information, including creation, maintenance (use, storage, retrieval), and disposition, regardless of media.

Records Manager The records manager is responsible for the implementation of a records management program in keeping with the policies and procedures that govern that program, including the identification, classification, handling and disposition of the organization´s records throughout their retention life. The physical storage and protection of records may be a component of this individual´s functions, but it may also be delegated to someone else. See Records Custodian.

Records Retention Period, Retention Period The length of time a given records series must be kept, expressed as either a time period (e.g., four years), an event or action (e.g., audit), or a combination (e.g., six months after audit).

Records Retention Schedule A plan for the management of records listing types of records and how long they should be kept; the purpose is to provide continuing authority to dispose of or transfer records to historical archives.

Records Store See Repository for Electronic Records.

Recover, Recovery See Restore.

Redaction A portion of an image or document is intentionally concealed to prevent disclosure of specific portions. Often done to conceal and protect privileged portions or avoid production of irrelevant portions that may contain highly confidential, sensitive or proprietary information.

Refresh Rate The number of times per second a display (such as on a CRT or TV) is updated.

Region (of an image) An area of an image file that is selected for specialized processing. Also called a "zone."

Registration Lining up a forms image to determine which fields are where. Also, entering pages into a scanner such that they are correctly read.

Relative Path An implied path.

Remote Access The ability to access and use digital information from a location offsite from where the information is physically located. For example, to use a computer, modem, and some remote access software to connect to a network from a distant location.

Render Images To take a native format electronic file and convert it to an image that appears as the original format file as if printed to paper.

Report Formatted output of a system providing specific information.

Repository for Electronic Records Repository for Electronic Records is a direct access device on which the electronic records and associated metadata are stored. (DoD 5015) Sometimes called a "records store" or "records archive."

Residual Data Residual Data (sometimes referred to as "Ambient Data") refers to data that is not active on a computer system. Residual data includes (1) data found on media free space; (2) data found in file slack space; and (3) data within files that has functionally been deleted in that it is not visible using the application with which the file was created, without use of undelete or special data recovery techniques. May contain copies of deleted files, Internet files and file fragments.

Resolution Refers to the sharpness and clarity of an image. The term is most often used to describe monitors, printers, and graphic images. See DPI.

Restore To transfer data from a backup medium (such as tapes) to an online system, often for the purpose of recovery from a problem, failure, or disaster. Restoration of archival media is the transfer of data from an archival store to an online system for the purposes of processing (such as query, analysis, extraction, or disposition of that data). Archival restoration of systems may require not only data restoration but also replication of the original hardware and software operating environment. Restoration of systems is often called "recovery."

Retention Schedule See Records Retention Schedule.

Reverse Engineering The process of analyzing a system to identify its intricacies and their interrelationships, and create depictions of the system in another form or at a higher level. Reverse engineering is usually undertaken in order to redesign the system for better maintainability or to produce a copy of a system without utilizing the design from which it was originally produced. For example, one might take the executable code of a computer program, run it to study how it behaved with different input, and then attempt to write a program that behaved the same or better.

Review The culling process produces a dataset of potentially responsive documents that are then examined and evaluated for a final selection of relevant and/or responsive documents and assertion of privilege, confidentiality, etc., as appropriate. See also OnLine Review.

Rewriteable Technology Storage devices where the data may be written more than once " typically hard drives, floppies and optical discs.

RFC822 Standard that specifies a syntax for text messages that are sent among computer users, within the framework of email.

RGB (Red, Green and Blue) The three primary colors in the additive color family which create all the computer color video signals for a computer´s color terminal.

Rip The procedure used to extract ESI files from container files, such as to unbundle email collections into individual emails, during the ediscovery process while preserving metadata, authenticity and ownership.

RIM Records and information management.

RLE (Run Length Encoded) Compressed image format; supports only 256 colors; most effective on images with large areas of black or white.

ROM (Read Only Memory) Random memory that can be read but not written or changed. Also, hardware, usually a chip, within a computer containing programming necessary for starting up the computer, and essential system programs that neither the user nor the computer can alter or erase. Information in the computer´s ROM is permanently maintained even when the computer is turned off.

Root Directory The top level in a hierarchical file system. For example on a PC, the root directory of your hard drive, usually C:, contains all the secondlevel subdirectories on that drive.

Rotary Camera In microfilming, the papers are read "on the fly" with a camera that is synchronized to the motion.

Router A device that forwards data packets along networks. A router is connected to at least two networks, commonly two LANs or WANs or a LAN and its ISPs network. Routers are located at gateways, the places where two or more networks connect.

RTF (Rich Text Format) A file format that allows exchange of text files between different word processors in different operating systems.