e-Discovery Core Glosssary: P
e-Discovery Core Glossary: Terminology
Below is a list of terminologies that are necessary for legal professionals involved with e-Discovery and Discovery litigation support.P………………………………………………………………………………………………….....
Packet A unit of data sent across a network that may contain identity and routing information. When a large block of data is to be sent over a network, it is broken up into several packets, sent, and then reassembled at the other end. The exact layout of an individual packet is determined by the protocol being used.
Page File/Paging File A file used to temporarily store code and data for programs that are currently running. This information is left in the swap file after the programs are terminated, and may be retrieved using forensic techniques.
Parsing Transforms input text into a data structure suitable for later processing, while capturing the implied hierarchy of the input. Data may be parsed from one source of ESI to another.
Path The hierarchical description of where a directory, folder, or file is located on a computer or network. In DOS and Windows systems, a path is a list of directories where the operating system looks for executable files if it is unable to find the file in the working directory. The list of directories can be specified with the PATH command. Path is also used to refer to a transmission channel, the path between two nodes of a network that a data communication follows, and the physical cabling that connects the nodes on a network.
Pattern Recognition Technology that searches ESI for like patterns and flags, and extracts the pertinent data, usually utilizing an algorithm. For instance, in looking for addresses, alpha characters followed by a comma and a space, followed by two capital alpha characters, followed by a space, followed by five or more digits, are usually the city, state and zip code.
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) A handheld computer for managing contacts, appointments and tasks. It typically includes a name and address database, calendar, to-do list and note taker, which are the functions in a personal information manager.
PDF (Portable Document Format) An imaging file format technology developed by Adobe Systems. PDF captures formatting information from a variety of applications in such a way that they can be viewed and printed as they were intended in their original application by practically any computer, on multiple platforms, regardless of the specific application in which the original was created. PDF files may be text searchable or image only. Adobe Reader, a free application distributed by Adobe Systems, is required to view a file in PDF format. Adobe Acrobat, an application marketed by Adobe Systems, is required to edit, capture text, or otherwise manipulate a file in PDF format.
Petrification Involves the conversion of native files into an image format that does not require use of the native applications.
Physical File Space When a file is created on a computer, a sufficient number of clusters (physical file space) are assigned to contain the file. If the file (logical file space) is not large enough to completely fill the assigned clusters (physical file space) then some unused space will exist within the physical file space. This unused space is referred to as file slack and can contain unused space, previously deleted/overwritten files or fragments thereof.
Preservation The process of ensuring retention and protection from destruction or deletion all potentially relevant evidence, including electronic metadata. See also Spoliation.
Preservation Notice (Document Hold Notice) A communication –memorandum- issued as a result of current or reasonably anticipated litigation, audit, government investigation or other such matter that suspends the normal disposition or processing of records. Legal holds may encompass procedures affecting data that is accessible as well as data that is not reasonably accessible.
Privilege Data Set The universe of documents identified as responsive and/or relevant, but withheld from production on the grounds of privilege, a log of which is usually required to notify of withheld documents and the grounds on which they were withheld (e.g., work product, attorney client privilege).
Processing Data In the context of this document, synonymous with Image Processing.
Production The process of delivering to another party, or making available for that party´s review, documents and/or ESI deemed responsive to a discovery request.
Production DeDuplication Removal of a document if multiple copies of that document reside within the same production set. For example, if two identical documents are both marked responsive, non-privileged, production deduplication ensures that only one of those documents is produced.
Production Number Often referred to as the "bates" number. A sequential number assigned to every page of a production for tracking and reference purposes. Production numbers are habitually used in conjunction with a suffix or prefix to identify the producing party, the litigation, or other relevant information.
Properties Fields of electronic information, or certain "metadata," associated with a record or document such as creation date, author, date modified, blind copy recipients and date received.
Protodigital Primitive or first generation digital, applied as an adjective to systems, software, "documents," or ways of thinking. The term was first used in music to refer to early computer synthesizers that attempted to mimic the sound of traditional musical instruments. In electronic discovery, this term is most often applied to systems or ways of thinking that on the surface appear to embrace digital technology, but attempt to equate ESI to paper records, ignoring the unique attributes of ESI.
PST A file used to store copies of messages, calendar events, and other items within Microsoft software such as Microsoft Exchange Client, Windows Messaging, and Microsoft Outlook.
« Back to News