Commercial Off-The-Shelf
Commercial Off-The-Shelf: Software, firmware, device, or component that is used in the United States by many different people or organizations for many…
Also known as: COTS
Definition
Software, firmware, device, or component that is used in the United States by many different people or organizations for many different applications other than certified voting systems and that is incorporated into the voting system with no manufacturer- or application-specific modification.
Alternative Definitions
- Definition 2
Hardware or software components that are widely available for purchase and can be integrated into special-purpose systems.
- Definition 3
In this report, COTS specifically refers to hardware that can be purchased commercially, such as an iPad or Android, and used as part of a voting system.
- Definition 4
(COTS) A software and/or hardware product that is commercially ready-made and availab le for sale, lease, or license to the general public.
- Definition 5
(COTS) Software, firmware, device, or component that is used in the United States by many different people or organizations for many different applications other than certified voting systems and that is incorporated into the voting system with no manufacturer- or application-specific modification.
- Definition 6
Software that is commercially available and not made by the vendor of an voting system, therefore not under the control of that vendor. For example, the Microsoft Windows operating system is such software and is often incorporated into voting machines. This type of software presents a challenge to the examination of voting systems since its source code is usually proprietary and not open to inspection. Abbreviated COTS. The 2007 VVSG observe that “the expansion of COTS as Commercial Off-The-Shel f is no longer helpful, since much of what satisfies the requirements is non-commercial software that is not available in stores.”
- Definition 7
Commercial Off-the-shelf