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Streaming
Media Glossary
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ADSL
- (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) Technology to carry
high-speed data over ordinary phone lines. It is up to 70 times as
fast as a 28.8 modem, and can be used concurrently with voice over
the same line. It is called "asymmetric" because
download speeds to the subscriber are faster than upload speeds
from the subscriber.
API - (Application Program
Interface) An interface between the operating system and
application programs that specifies how the two communicate with
each other.
Applet - An application that
is downloaded from a web page and executed by browser software.
Also, an HTML tag that defines an applet program.
Archive - A storage repository
for software, data, or other materials to be saved and preserved.
ASF - (Advanced Streaming
Format) An audio or video file encoded for use with Windows Media
Player.
ASP - A scripting environment
for Microsoft Internet Information Server in which you can combine
HTML, scripts and reusable ActiveX server components to create
dynamic web pages.
Aspect Ratio - The
relationship of the height and width of a video on a monitor.
Example: letterbox format is 16:9.
ATM - (Asynchronous Transfer
Mode) A packet switching model for fast long distance
communications that uses fixed packet size and allows for
intelligent decisions on routing, handling, prioritization, and
costing. This allows for special handling and routing for data
that must be reassembled quickly and accurately, such as live
Video.
Audio Directory - Directory
with specific settings to encode WAV or MP3 to Windows Media 4.1
audio files.
AVI - (Audio Video
Interleaved) A Microsoft video format containing multiple streams
of different types of data, such as audio and video. AVI files
will end with an .avi extension.
Backbone - A central network
connecting other networks together.
Bandwidth - In digital terms,
the capacity of a connection to transmit data, expressed as data
speed in bits per second (bps) or thousands of bits per second
(Kbps).
Bit Rate - The speed at which
binary content is streamed on a network, measured in kilobits per
second (kbps). It takes 8 bits to make up 1 byte which is the size
of one letter, number or symbol.
BNC, BNC connector - (BayoNet
Connector or Baby N Connector or Bayonet Neill-Concelman) A
twist-and-lock connector for coaxial cable, BNC connectors are
used for electronic equipment and LANs and permit frequencies into
the gigaHertz ranges.
Bps - Bytes per second.
bps - Bits per second.
Broadband - Describes a
high-speed network connection (T-1, DSL, cable modem) as opposed
to a dial-up connection.
Buffering - Buffering is
similar to the concept of "pre-filling". The stream of
data begins before the media file actually plays. This data goes
to local storage so that the incoming data always stays ahead of
the actual data being viewed. Occasionally, if there is
significant network congestion, a media file may stop playing
momentarily so that the buffer can be refilled.
Cache - A place to store
something temporarily so that it can be accessed quickly. Web
pages that are viewed are generally stored temporarily on the
user's hard drive, for quick access on return visits. Caching can
also refer to distributing Internet content to multiple servers
that are periodically refreshed.
Capture - The process of
changing or transferring digital or analog audio or video files to
binary files, which can then be edited and encoded.
CGI - (Common Gateway
Interface) A method used by WWW pages to communicate with programs
run on the web server.
CODEC - Stands for
Compress/Decompress. A media file is encoded or compressed using
an algorithm or formula and then decoded and decompressed as the
user views or listens to the file.
Compression - It is desirable
to compress media files to reduce file size and speed up the
transmission time. This can be done using hardware, software or a
combination of both. Compressed media files are then decompressed
on the user's end.
Configuration Files - Files
that set-up how an application is to operate.
CRC - (Cyclic Redundancy
Check) A technique of providing a data string added to packets of
information that can be used to detect errors in the data packets.
Current Output File - Name of
the current input file with the addition of speed. (Applies to
Neuron products only)
Current Source File - Name of
the current input file currently being processed. (Applies to
Neuron products only)
Default Directory - The
directory from which files are typically opened and stored.
Destination Directory - The target directory when moving data.
Digitize - See capture.
DNS - (Domain Name System) DNS
servers are located at many strategic places on the nets to
resolve the routing of e-mail and Internet connections. No single
DNS server has all the address information of the Internet, and
successful routing may require routing through several levels of
servers.
Download - To transfer a file
from another system to your own computer system via a modem over
telephone or cable lines or a telco connection using a transfer
protocol. Less precisely, it may also refer to a direct transfer
from a server to your local terminal over a local area network or
an FTP transfer from a remote system to your system.
DSL- (Digital Subscriber Line)
DSL utilizes unused portions of a phone line's bandwidth for
transmitting data at high speed.
DVD - A high-density compact
disk for storing large amounts of data, especially high-resolution
audio-visual material.
DVD Directory
- Directory used to convert or encode 16:9 aspect ratio files,
such as DVD movies. (Applies to Neuron products only)
DVE - Digital Audio Encoder
DVS - Digital Video Streamer
Encode - To format (electronic
data) according to a standard format.
Encoding Options - The number
of speeds and file formats available for encoding. (Applies to
Neuron products only)
Firewall - Firewall refers to
the concept of a security interface or gateway between a closed
system or network and the outside Internet that blocks or manages
communications in and out of the system. The security may be
provided by passwords, authentication techniques, software, and
hardware.
Formats - The arrangement of
data for storage or display. A method for achieving such an
arrangement.
FPS - (Frames Per Second) A
media stream containing multiple streams of different types of
data, such as audio, video, or MIDI. The number of video frames
displayed each second. Generally, the higher the number, the
smoother and sharper the images appear.
FTP - (File Transfer Protocol)
The Internet protocol that permits you to transfer files between
your system and another system.
GUI - (Graphical User
Interface) Pronounced "gooey". An operating system
interface between the user and the computer based on graphics.
GUIs typically use a mouse or other tracking device and icons.
First developed by XEROX as an easier to learn interface than
text-based ones, it was adopted by Apple for the Macintosh,
Microsoft for Windows, and even for Unix systems as XWindows.
Hosting - Storing media files
on servers specifically designed for streaming over the Internet.
HTML - (HyperText Markup
Language) The coding system used to create WWW pages. A page
written in HTML is a text file that includes tags in angle
brackets that control the fonts and type sizes, insertion of
graphics, layout of tables and frames, paragraphing, calls to
short runable programs, and hypertext links to other pages. Files
written in HTML generally use an .html or .htm extension.
http - (Hyper Text Transfer
Protocol) It is the main protocol used on the Internet that
enables linking to other web sites. Addressing to other web pages
begins with "http://" and is followed by the domain name
or IP address.
Hyperlink - A link in a web
page that brings you to another location or resource when
activated. Hyperlinks usually appear as underlined text and
printed in a contrasting color, but they may also appear as
graphics, such as buttons to click. Hyperlinks may link to another
place in the same page, to a different page, to play an audio or
video file, to download a file, to set up a message to an e-mail
address, to search a database, to read Usenet newsgroups, and to
link to other Internet resources.
Internet - A network of many
networks that interconnect worldwide and use the Internet Protocol
(IP).
Internet Broadcasting - Capturing, encoding, and
hosting a live event, such as a concert, award show, meeting, or
conference, usually from a remote location, for Internet broadcast
on a one-time or limited basis. Live events usually require
establishing an Internet connection and/or satellite uplinks for
streaming over the Internet. Live events can also be archived for
viewing on demand.
IP - The network layer for the
TCP/IP protocol suite widely used on Ethernet networks, defined in
STD 5, RFC 791. IP is a connectionless, best-effort packet
switching protocol. It provides packet routing, fragmentation and
re-assembly through the data link layer.
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IP address
- IPs, together with domain address are the two forms of Internet
addresses in common use. IP addresses consist of four numbers
between 0 and 255, separated by dots.
ISDN - (Integrated Services
Digital Network.) A technology that carries data over phone lines
at up to 128Kbps for dialup users, but extends to fast broadband
communications, too. It applies to the first three layers of the
OSI and TCP/IP models.
ISP - Internet Service
Provider.
Java - A programming language
developed by Sun Microsystems based on C++. It is used with web
pages to create that will run on different platforms.
JavaScript - A script language
(with little in common with Java) developed by Netscape for
writing short programs embedded in a web page. It is supported by
Microsoft and AOL browsers from version 4.0 on.
LAN - Local Area Network.
Lossy Compression - Data
compression by eliminating perceptually insignificant information.
However, since lossy compression introduces inaccuracies, it
should only be used with graphics, audio, and video. Data files
and executable programs can only be compressed with a lossless
algorithm (i.e., a zip file).
Metadata - Additional, related
information that can be stored as part of the compressed file or
kept in a separate database. Examples include CD cover art, movie
one-sheet images, or text-based information, such as author,
title, etc.
Metafile - A graphics format
that combines the features of bitmap and vector graphics. Common
types of metafile formats are CGM, Corel Draw CDR files,
encapsulated Postscript EPS files, Adobe Illustrator, Word Perfect
Graphics WPG files, PICT, and RTF.
Modem -
(modulator/demodulator) A modem is used between a computer and a
phone or cable line to convert the computer's digital signal to an
analog signal for the line and vice versa.
MP3 - A digital audio
compression algorithm that achieves a compression factor of about
twelve while preserving sound quality. MP3 is currently (July
1999) the most powerful algorithm in a series of audio encoding
standards developed under the sponsorship of the Moving Picture
Experts Group (MPEG) and formalized by the International
Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Music - Typically requires
filters and higher sampling rate than voice when encoding files in
Real Media. (Applies to Neuron products only)
Music-Stereo
- Typically requires filters and double the sampling rate than
when encoding files in mono music format in Real Media. (Applies
to Neuron products only)
NAP - (Network Access Point) A
point where networks and service providers hand off traffic to
each other. NAPs are typically the points with the worst
congestion problems.
Net Congestion - Traffic on
the network that slows the transmission of data.
NIC - (Network Interface Card)
For example, an Ethernet card in a network.
Noise Reduction - A variety of
processes applied to audio or video signals to lower the amount of
noise in the given signal.
Normal Video - Average setting
for outputting Real Media files. (Applies to Neuron products only)
NTSC - Input signal formats
used in North America and Japan. Has 525 lines total with 480
lines visible per frame.
Output - The information
produced by a computer from a specific input.
Packet - A packet is a
self-contained bundle of data sent over a packet switching
network. Packets are typically less than 1500 bytes in size.
Longer files are broken into multiple packets for transmission and
reassembled at the other end. A packet includes a header with to
and from addresses, relation to other packets (sequencing), and
error checking information.
Packet Loss - Data is
transmitted in small units known as packets. Occasionally, packets
are lost or delayed due to network congestion, resulting in
dropped frames.
PAL - Input signal format used
in Europe, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. Has 625 lines
total, 576 lines visible.
PING - (Packet InterNet
Groper) An Internet utility used to check the connection with
another site. It repeatedly bounces a signal off the remote site
and shows you how long it took to complete the round trip each
time. If you get no returns at all, the site is either down or
unreachable. If only a portion of the signals are returned, it
indicates some trouble with the connection that will slow down
performance.
Pixel - One unit of screen
information. A video image is composed of individual colored dots,
referred to as pixels. Depending on how a monitor is set, a pixel
can take up 8 bits/1 byte (256 colors), 16 bits/2 bytes (high
color), or 24 bits/3 bytes (true color).
Port - A connection to a
computer to enable other devices, such as printers, modems,
monitors, keyboards, mice, etc. to interface with the computer. A
logical connection to a network.
Pre-Processing - Procedure
that screens video files for content and frame drop rate to
determine best configuration files and selects filters to apply.
Typically increases processing time by 12%. (Applies to Neuron
products only)
Preview Window - Video display
of content being input. (Applies to Neuron products only)
PPTP - (Point to Point
Tunneling Protocol) A technology developed by Microsoft, US
Robotics, and others to enable virtual private networks to work
securely over the Internet without exposing their communications
to intercept.
RJ-11 - The type of modular
jack used with telephones. It connects one to three pairs of wires
with a transparent connector that plugs into your phone on one end
and a wall jack on the other.
RJ-45 - A modular jack that
can connect up to four pairs of wires. It resembles the RJ-11
telephone jack, but is a bit larger. It is commonly used to
connect twisted pairs of cable in a LAN.
Real Media - Trademark of Real
Networks Inc.
Router - A router connects
networks together, controlling the routing of packets from source
to destination and providing alternate paths when necessary.
Routers are more sophisticated than bridges, connecting networks
of different types, with the ability to make logical routing
decisions on the basis of available data.
SAN - (Storage Area Network) A
high speed network of shared storage devices.
Server - A computer in a
network that provides access to other computers in the network to
programs, web pages, data, or other files and services, such as
printer access or communications access. A server may also
authenticate requests for files and services before providing
them.
Sharp - Less forgiving, more
crisp setting for outputting Real Media files. (Applies to Neuron
products only)
Smooth Video - Less crisp,
more forgiving setting for outputting Real Media files.
Source Directory - The origin
directory of a file.
Source Material - The data,
video or audio content to be encoded.
Speeds -The rate of bandwidth
when sending or delivering data.
Secam - Input signal format
used in France and a few other countries. Has 625 lines total, 576
lines visible.
Streaming audio & video -
Streaming allows the user to watch or listen to a media file
without downloading it. The file is simultaneously
"streamed" to the user as he or she is watching or
listening to it. The user needs a player to view or listen to the
files - files must be decompressed by a media player that is
compatible with the format of the file.
T-1 - A digital communications
circuit that transmits at 1.54 Mbps. (equals approximately
fifty-three 28.8k modems)
T-3 - A digital communications
circuit that transmits at 45 Mbps. (equals approximately 1,548
28.8k modems)
Total Created Files - The
total number of files that have been created. (Applies to Neuron
products only)
Total Remaining Files - The
total number of files remaining to be created. (Applies to Neuron
products only)
Transcoding - The conversion
of one digital file format to another digital file format (i.e.,
MP3 to Windows Media). The ideal method for encoding to multiple
streaming media formats is to use the original, uncompressed
source material and encode it into the new formats, avoiding
transcoding completely.
Webcasting - See Internet
Broadcasting
VOD - (Video on Demand): Video
that can be accessed at any time by the user.
Unique Source Files - The
number of input files completely encoded. (Applies to Neuron
products only)
Upload - To transfer a file
from your computer system to another system via a modem over
telephone or cable lines or a telco connection using a transfer
protocol. A transfer from your system to a remote system.
URL - (Uniform Resource
Locator) URLs specify the location of a resource in the Internet.
You can type or paste a URL into the Location window in your
browser and then connect to it. The URL shows the type of item and
its basic address and path.
Video Device - Any device
capable of outputting video, Example: camera, VCR, DVD, CD-ROM.
Voice with Background Music -
Typical requires use of filters and low sampling rate when
encoding files in Real Media. (Applies to Neuron Products only)
Voice - Typically requires low
sampling rate when encoding files in Real Media. (Applies to
Neuron products only)
WAN - Wide Area Network.
WAV - A sound format developed
by Microsoft and used extensively in Microsoft Windows.
WMA - Windows Media Audio.
(Windows Media Player 7)
WMV - Windows Media Video.
(Windows Media Player 7)
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For more information, contact
info@neuronbroadcasting.com.
ClearStreaming, Inc.
NeuronBroadCasting.Com
6543 ChaseWood Dr Suite F
Jupiter, FL 33458
Phone 561-744-1088
FAX 561-658-6333
Copyright © 2001
ClearStreaming, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Dale Graham - President / CEO
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