Gateway

In telecommunication, the term gateway has the following meanings:

1. In a communications network, a network node equipped for interfacing with another network that uses different protocols.

Note 1: A gateway may contain devices such as protocol translators, impedance matching[?] devices, rate converters, fault isolators, or signal translators as necessary to provide system interoperability. It also requires that mutually acceptable administrative procedures be established between the two networks.

Note 2: A protocol translation/mapping gateway interconnects networks with different network protocol technologies by performing the required protocol conversions.

2. Loosely, a computer configured to perform the tasks of a gateway.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188