Industry Terminology
The following is an ever-growing list of terms that relate to networking and audiovisual technology.
Cache
Cache refers to a reserved section of computer memory or an independent high-speed storage device used to accelerate access and retrieval of commonly used data.
Channel
Tyically an audio channel is usually a single mono audio input on a device. Less commonly could refer to video components such as luma channel or alpha channel etc.
Codec
A codec (compressor-decompressor) is a technology or software used to encode and decode data, specifically for audio, video, or multimedia files. Codecs compress data to reduce file size for easier storage or transmission and then decompress it for playback or editing.
Device
Any hardware capable of communicating over a network using the Internet Protocol (IP) or NDI network. A device can be a source or destination or both while the function of the machine could be sending or receiving.
Domain
A domain refers to a LAN subnetwork of users, systems, devices, and servers. Domain can also refer to the IP address of a website on the Internet.
DNS
DNS (Domain Name System) is a system used by the Internet and private networks to translate domain names into IP addresses.
Ethernet
Ethernet, standardized as IEEE 802.3, refers to a series of LAN (Local Area Network) technologies used to connect computers and other devices to a home or business network. Ethernet is a physical and data link layer networking protocol that supports data transfer rates starting at 10 Mbps, typically over twisted pair cabling, but also fiber optic and coaxial cabling.
Format
Specific details of a signal, eg: resolution, frame-rate, codec encoding, etc.
Genlock
A process used to synchronize a video source by allowing devices to lock their video signals to a common external reference signal (often referred to as a sync signal or black burst), It is used in video production and broadcasting to ensure that multiple video devices, such as cameras, switchers, and monitors, operate in perfect sync.
HDCP
High-bandwidth Digital Copyright Protection developed to prevent unauthorized copying of digital content as it travels across connections like HDMI, display port, etc. It is commonly used in high-definition content transmission between devices such as Blu-ray players, TVs, computers, and gaming consoles.
Host
A specific machine, device, or computer that is connected to a network that can provide or consume services, resources, or data.
IGMP
IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) is the protocol used in IP multicasting that allows a host to report its multicast group membership to networked routers in order to receive data, messages, or content addressed to the designated multicast group.
IP
IP (Internet Protocol) is the communications protocol for the Internet, many wide area networks (WANs), and most local area networks (LANs) that define the rules, formats, and address scheme for exchanging datagrams or packets between a source computer or device and a destination computer or device.
IPv4
IPv4 (Internet Protocol Version 4) is the fourth and most used version of the Internet Protocol. IPv4 uses a 32-bit IP address scheme for network identification and communication, with each unique IP address expressed as four numbers (between 0 and 255) separated by decimal points.
IPv6
IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the latest version of the Internet Protocol, developed to eventually replace IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4). IPv6 uses a 128-bit IP address scheme for network identification and communication, with each unique IP address expressed as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits (numbers from 0-9 or letters from A-F) separated by colons. In addition to exponentially increasing the number of available IP addresses, IPv6 simplifies and streamlines network communication while increasing security, compatibility, and efficiency.
LAN
LAN (Local Area Network) is a network that connects computers and devices in a room, building or group of buildings. LANs are typically deployed in homes, offices, and schools, where users share access to the same server, resources, and data storage. A system of LANs can also be connected to form a WAN (Wide Area Network).
Layer 2
Layer 2 refers to the OSI networking model's second layer or Data Link layer. A layer 2 switch uses hardware-based switching to transmit data between connected devices based on their MAC (Media Access Control) layer addresses.
Layer 3
Layer 3 refers to the OSI networking model's third layer or Network layer. A layer 3 switch uses hardware-based switching to transmit data between connected devices based on their IP addresses.
MAC Address
MAC (Media Access Control) address refers to a unique physical address identifying a network node.
Mbps
Mbps (Megabits per second) is a unit of measurement for data transfer speed, with one megabit equal to one million bits. Network transmissions are commonly measured in Mbps.
mDNS
mDNS (multicast DNS) refers to the use of IP multicast with DNS to translate domain names into IP addresses and provide service discovery in a network that does not have access to a DNS server.
Monitor
Device used to display or view a video signal or listen to an audio signal. Also defineed as the act of examining details of an audio or video stream
OSI
The OSI (Open System Interconnection) reference model is a standard that defines worldwide network communication, developed by ISO (International Organization for Standardization). The OSI reference model divides network communication into seven layers: 1) Physical, 2) Data Link, 3) Network, 4) Transport, 5) Session, 6) Presentation, and 7) Application.
Packet (Frame)
A packet, also known as a frame or datagram, is a unit of data transmitted over a packet-switched network, such as a LAN, WAN, or the Internet.
Port
A port is a communications channel for data transmission to and from a computer on a network. Each port is identified by a 16-bit number between 0 and 65535, with each process, application, or service using a specific port, or multiple ports, for data transmission.
PPS (Picture Parameter Set NALU)
Details a decoder needs to decode the video data, such as resolution, frame rate, and other parameters. They must be included in the video stream for the decoder to interpret the video correctly.
QoS
QoS (Quality of Service) is the measure of performance for systems or networks, with considerations that include availability, bandwidth, latency, and reliability. QoS can also refer to prioritizing network traffic to ensure a minimum or required level of service, predictability, and/or control.
Router
A networking device capable of transporting IP data based on Layer 3 details (IP Address and subnet details).
An SDI router (Serial Digital Interface router) is a device used to route and manage video signals in broadcast and production environments. It allows multiple SDI video sources, such as cameras, servers, and playback devices, to connected to and switch between various destinations, such as monitors, recorders, or live feeds.
SPS (Sequence Parameter Set NALU)
Details a decoder needs to decode the video data, such as resolution, frame rate, and other parameters. They must be included in the video stream for the decoder to interpret the video correctly.
Subnet
Subnet (short for subnetwork) refers to a distinct subdivision of an IP network, usually created for performance or security purposes. Subnets typically include the computers, systems, and devices in one location, office, or building, with all nodes sharing the same IP address prefix.
TCP
TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a network communications protocol that enables two host systems to establish a connection and exchange data packets, ensuring that data is delivered to the correct destination. TCP is typically grouped with IP (Internet Protocol) and is known collectively as TCP/IP.
TTL
Time to live (TTL) or hop limit is a mechanism that limits the lifespan or lifetime of data in a computer or network. TTL may be implemented as a counter or timestamp attached to or embedded in the data. Once the prescribed event count or timespan has elapsed, data is discarded or revalidated. In computer networking, TTL prevents a data packet from circulating indefinitely. In computing applications, TTL is commonly used to improve performance and manage the caching of data.
UDP
UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is an alternative protocol to TCP that is used when reliable delivery of data packets is not required. UDP is typically used for applications where timeliness is of higher priority than accuracy, such as streaming media, teleconferencing, and voice-over IP (VoIP).
WAN
WAN (Wide Area Network) is a network that spans a relatively broad geographical area, such as a state, region, or nation. WANs typically connect multiple smaller networks, such as LANs (Local Area Network) and MANs (Metropolitan Area Network). The Internet is an example of a WAN.
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