Account Access - PlayStream's Web site allows customers to manage their media account online, including upgrades, downgrades and viewing media reports. Customers can manage their media through our Web interface and/or via their preferred FTP client.

Active/Passive Mode - Used in terms of an FTP client. Denotes the type of transfer the client would like to use with the FTP server. Generally passive mode is used to bypass firewall restrictions.

Backbone - On the Internet a backbone is a set of paths that local or regional networks connect to for long-distance interconnection.

Bandwidth - Generally how much data can be transferred in a given time period. Bandwidth is most often measured in bits per second.

Bit - Bit (b) is short for binary unit. It has a single binary value, either 1 or 0.

Bit rate - The measurement of what speed or how much bandwidth is used when a piece of media is streamed.

Bits per second - (bps) Some multiple in thousands of bits per second is the usual measure of data transfer speed in streaming.

Buffering - Buffering is the process of a client putting a certain amount of a stream into memory before starting playback out of the buffer. The purpose is to help if the bandwidth between the client and server is not stable.

Byte - Byte (B) Now is commonly 8 bits of data.

Bytes per second - (Bps) This unit of measure is 8 times the same number of bits per second.

Cache - Storage of frequently accessed information either in memory or in file.

Capture Card - A device that is used to digitize analog audio or video and write to a file or write digital audio or video to a file.

Client - Usually refers to a piece of software used to access a server of some type. Examples: media player, FTP browser, web browser.

Codec - Short for Compression/Decompression algorithm. Used for compression and playback in the context of audio and video.

Concurrent Connections - The number of active connections to a given mount point or piece of media.

Connection Speed - Usually refers to available bandwidth.

Content Delivery Network - (CDN) A network designed for optimal delivery of content.

Data - In general data is information in an electronic format.

Data Transfer - The amount of data sent by a server to a client computer. Generally data transfer is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).

Digital Rights Management - DRM (Digital Rights Management) is used to encrypt content to allow the content owner to control who has access to the content.

Storage Space - Storage space refers to the space on a hard drive for the storage of electronic files. Generally storage space is measured in megabytes (MB) or gigabytes (GB).

Distributed Network - All packages benefit from our distributed network architecture. When your users view or listen to your media at PlayStream, they are routed to the closest data center, providing optimal performance. Multiple data centers also ensure maximum uptime of your media.

Download - The process of transmitting a file from a server to a client computer.

Easy Link Technology - Rather than using conventional and more complicated linking methods that vary depending on the format, PlayStream Easy Link Technology allows customers to use one linking method for streaming their media, regardless of format used. This technology preserves the full functionality of each format. Customers may also use the format’s original linking method if they prefer.

Embedded player - A media player enclosed in an HTML document using the ActiveX and or Netscape plug-in for that player.

Encoder - A piece of software that uses a codec to compress audio and video.

Encoding - The process of compressing media using a codec.

Firewall - A firewall is software located at a network gateway, which protects the private network from users from other networks.

Flash/Shockwave - A format made by Macromedia that uses vector graphics, scripting, and can include video and audio, usually delivered via a progressive download.

Format - For media a format is the type of media. Example: A windows media video is of the type windows media.

Fps - Frames per second. Usually applied to video and is the measurement of the frame rate.

Gigabits - (Gb) Is 1073741824 bits or 1024 Megabits.

Gigabytes - (GB) Is 1073741824 bytes or 1024 Megabytes.

Intelligent stream - Windows Media version of a multi bit rate file.

Internet Service Provider - (ISP) A company that provides internet connectivity through a connection like a modem, DSL, Cable, T1, T3 etc …

IP address - Most commonly a 32bit number used to identify a sender or receiver on a network.

Java - A language used for creating applets and applications that use the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) and JVM (Java Virtual Machine).

Java Streaming - Java Streaming enables viewers to watch your media without having a media player installed. Viewers are able to listen to and watch media that plays in their Web browser.

JRE/JVM - A application layer that Java applets and applications use to be executed.

Kilobits - (Kb) Is 1024 bits.

Kilobits per second - (kbps) Some multiple in thousands of bits per second is the usual measure of data transfer speed in streaming.

Kilobytes - (KB) Is 1024 bytes.

Kilobytes per second - (KBps) This unit of measure is 8 times the same number of Kilobits per second.

Link - The URL  used to connect to a reference file or content.

Live Streaming - Broadcasting live audio and/or video over the internet, synonymous with webcasting.

Media - In streaming context it is audio and or video content.

Media Player - A client used for the play back of media, usually audio and video.

Media Reports - Each PlayStream account includes our monthly media report, which lets you see how much data has transferred, which clips are popular and how long people are viewing your clips. The previous three months, broken down by month, are available online for viewing. For more robust reporting, we offer several advanced reporting options.

Megabits - (Mb) Is 1048576 bits or 1024 Kilobits.

Megabits per second - (Mbps) Some multiple in thousands of bits per second is the usual measure of data transfer speed in streaming.

Megabytes - (MB) Is 1048576 bytes or 1024 Kilobytes.

Megabytes per second - (MBps) This unit of measure is 8 times the same number of Kilobits per second.

Mount Point - A mount point is the unique part of the URL for linking to a stream. Example: http://easylink.playstream.com/winlive/mountpoint.asx

MP3 - MP3 is a MPEG-1 layer 3 audio, used to compress audio to a reasonable download size.

MPEG-1 - A standard defined by the MPEG group for download.

MPEG-2 - A standard defined by the MPEG group, usually used for DVD ’s.

MPEG-4 - A standard defined by the MPEG group for streaming.

Multi bit rate - Multi bit rate refers to a piece of media that has multiple encodes for different bit rates within a single file.

Multicast - The communication between a single sender and multiple receivers over a network.

Network - A group of computers able to communicate with each other via some protocol such as TCP or UDP.

Network Latency - Latency, a synonym for delay, is an expression of how long it takes for a packet of data to get from one point to another.

On-demand Streaming - (pre-recorded) Streaming of content that has been previously encoded

Port - A port in terms of TCP/IP a logical connection place, where a client can connect with a server.

Port Forward/Port Map - The process of specifying all request on a certain port at a firewall be direct to a specific computer behind the firewall.

Pre-Clip - A component of PlayStream’s Easy Linking Technology allows you to easily insert pre-clips into streaming media files, even if the media files reside in different locations. Currently, this capability is only available for Windows Media.

Post-Clip - A component of PlayStream’s Easy Linking Technology allows you to easily insert post-clips into streaming media files, even if the media files reside in different locations. Currently, this capability is only available for Windows Media.

Private Network - In terms of an IP network is where a group of computers use non internet routable IP addresses to form a network.

Progressive Download - The process of transmitting a file from a server to a client computer, usually playing back as it is received.

Public Network - In terms of an IP network is where a group of computers use internet routable IP addresses to form a network.

Pull System - Pull system refers to a live streaming event where the server initiates the connection to the encoder for the stream to rebroadcast.

Push System - Push system refers to a live streaming event where the encoder initiates the connection to the server that will rebroadcast the stream.

QuickTime - QuickTime is container for both streaming and non-streaming media formats made by Apple Computer.

RealMedia - A streaming format for audio and/or video made by Real Networks.

Rebroadcast - In streaming terms, to receive a stream and replicate it for broadcast to one or more clients.

Re-Buffering - This occurs when a client has used all the data out of its buffer and doesn ’t have enough in-coming data to continue playing.

Reference File - i.e. (.asx, .wvx, .wax, .qtl, .ram, .m3u) Generally a text file used to link to media on a streaming server.  A mime type is sent with the reference file signaling to the browser what player to open the file with.  The player then connects to the address in the file.

Root Domain Name - A string token used to locate an entity on the internet.  Example: playstream.com

Server - Usually a computer that accepts request for information or content and sends that data in a response to the requesting client.

Streaming - The process of sending compressed media from a server to a client. The client then plays back the media as it is received. The media can be pre-recorded or live.  Generally a UDP protocol is used and the media is not kept by the client.

Streaming Server - A streaming server is usually a server that sends media  to a client so the media can be played back in real time without waiting for it to download completely first.  Examples: Windows Media, Real, QuickTime.

Sub Domain Name - A domain name with a prefix.  Example: www.playstream.com

Surestream - Real Networks version of a multi bit rate file.

Unicast - The communication between a single sender and receiver over a network.

Upload - The process of transmitting a file from a client computer to a server.

URL - Uniform Resource Locator, previously Universal Resource Locator.  It is the address of an entity on the internet.

Webcasting - Broadcasting live audio and/or video over the internet, synonymous with live streaming.

Web Server - A web server is a server that sends content in response of to web browsers or HTTP request.

Windows Media - A streaming format for audio and/or video made by Microsoft Corp.