Basic Terms and Definitions

• Streaming    Streaming is a means by which audio and video files are delivered across a network or the Internet without downloading the entire file before it plays.  The streamed file is not stored on your computer.

• Buffering    Buffering is the process through which the sending of a certain amount of information (file) is partially downloaded and stored in a buffer before the media begins to play.  This process continues as more information is streamed to the Windows Media Player.  This process protects against the break-up of the data flow.

• Bandwidth    Bandwidth is a networks capacity for transferring an amount of data in a given time.

• Broadcast    Broadcast is the method by which a client receives a stream, but the client cannot control the stream.

• Cookie    A Cookie is a piece of data placed by the server on a clients computer that identifies the client for future connections.

• Encoding    The conversion of audio and video content to a specific digital format is called encoding.

• Firewall    A Firewall is a combination of software and hardware that maintains a boundary between two or more networks that prevents unauthorized access to a private network.

• HTTP    Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is the Internet method by which information is delivered over the World Wide Web.

• Loop    A loopis the continuous repetition of a stream.

• Player    A player is a client program or control that receives digital media content streamed from a server or played from local files.

• Plug-In    A plug-in is a type of auxiliary software component that extends or enhances the features of other software.

• Proxy Server    A proxy server is a server located on a network between client software, such as a web browser, and another server.  It intercepts all requests to the server to determine whether it can fulfill them itself.

• Skin    A skin is a user interface that provides an alternative appearance and customized functions for software.  An example of a skin is Windows Media Player.

• Visualization    A visualization is a graphical display that changes in response to the audio signal.  An example of a visualization can be viewed in Windows Media Player.