Online IPTV Dictionary
More than 10,256 Terms and Definitions 

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	IP TV Dictionary. Over 10,000 of the latest IP Telephony and VoIP Terms and Definitions along with            + 400 diagrams and photographs!!!
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Lawrence Harte- Editor

Industry leader and expert Lawrence Harte ensured this dictionary is unbiased and includes the latest information related the IP Television industry.  

Sample Diagrams and Descriptions

IP TV Video System

This figure shows how a basic IP television system can be used to allow a viewer to have access to many different media sources. This diagram shows how a standard television is connected to a set top box (STB) that converts IP video into standard television signals. The STB is the gateway to a IP video switching system. This example shows that the switched video service (SVS) system allows the user to connect to various types of television media sources including broadcast network channels, subscription services, and movies on demand. When the user desires to access these media sources, the control commands (usually entered by the user by a television remote control) are sent to the SVS and the SVS determines which media source the user desires to connect to. This diagram shows that the user only needs one video channel to the SVS to have access to virtually an unlimited number of video sources.

 IP TV Program Distribution

This figure shows how an IP television system can distribute information through a switched telephone network. This example shows that end users who are watching a movie that is initially supplied by media center that is located some distance and several switches away from end users (movie watchers). When the first movie watcher requests the movie, it is requested from the telephone end office. The telephone end office determines that the movie is not available in its video storage system and the end office switch requests the movie from the interconnection switch. The interconnection switch also determines the movie is not available in its video storage system and the movie is requested from the distant media source. When the movie is transferred from the media center to the end customer, the interconnecting switches may make a copy for future distribution to other users. This program distribution process reduces the interconnection requirements between the switching distribution systems.

 DSL Serving Prep for IP TV

This figure shows how the number of simultaneous IP television users per household geographic serving area can vary based on the data transmission capability of the service provider. This example shows that each single IP television user typically requires 3 to 4 Mbps of data transfer. For a telephone system operator that uses distance sensitive DSL service, this example shows that the service provided will be limited to providing service to a single IP television when the data transfer rates are limited to 3-4 Mbps. When the data transfer rate is above 5-7 Mbps, up to 2 IP televisions can be simultaneously used and when the data transmission is between 10 to 14 Mbps, up to 3 IP televisions can be simultaneously used.

Advanced Television Services-Advanced Television Services are television services that are provided using alternative technologies (such as digital television). Advanced television services are defined the report: "Advanced Television Systems and Their Impact Upon the Existing Television Broadcast Service", MM Docket 87-268.
Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA)-Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) is a device that converts analog telephone signals into another format (such as digital Internet protocol). These adapter boxes may provide a single function such as providing Internet telephone service or they may convert digital signals into several different forms such as audio, data, and video. When adapter boxes convert into multiple information forms, they may be called multimedia terminal adapters (MTAs) or integrated access devices (IADs).
Analog telephone adapters (ATA) must convert both the audio signals (voice) and control signals (such as touch tone or hold requests) into forms that can be sent and received via the Internet.
Analog Television Adapter (ATVA)-Analog Television Adapter (ATVA) is a device that converts digital multimedia signals (such as MPEG) into analog television signals (such as NTSC or PAL). These adapter boxes may provide a single function such as providing Internet television service or they may convert digital signals into several different forms such as audio, data, and video. When adapter boxes convert into multiple information forms, they may be called multimedia terminal adapters (MTAs) or integrated access devices (IADs).
Analog television adapters (ATA) must convert video, audio, and control signals (such as requests for changing channels) into forms that can be sent and received via data networks such as the Internet.
Digital Television (DTV)-A process or system that transmits video images through the use of digital transmission. The digital transmission is divided into channels for digital video and audio. These digital channels are usually compressed. Video compression commonly uses one of the motion picture experts group (MPEG) standards to reduce the data transmission rate by a factor of 200:1.
Digital Video-Digital video is a sequence of picture signals (frames) that are represented by binary data (bits) that describe a finite set of color and luminance levels. Sending a digital video picture involves the conversion of a scanned image to digital information that is transferred to a digital video receiver. The digital information contains characteristics of the video signal and the position of the image (bit location) that will be displayed.
Interactive Television (ITV)-Interactive television has three basic types: "pay-per-view" involving programs that are independently billed, "near video-on-demand" (NVOD) with groupings of a single film starting at staggered times, and "video-on-demand" (VOD), enabling request for a particular film to start at the exact time of choice. Interactive television offers interactive advertising, home shopping, home banking, e-mail, Internet access, and games.
Internet Protocol Broadcast (IP Broadcast)-A data packet that uses a frame address mask of 255.255.255.255 to identify it is intended for broadcast distribution. This allows devices within the network to identify broadcast messages and inhibits routers from constantly circulating packets through the network. The use of the address mask inhibits the normal transmission of the data packet through routers because routing protocols use the zeros at the end of the subnet mask number to identify the subnet. Because of the subnet mask (11111111.11111111.11111111.11111111 equals 255.255.255.255), the end of the address does not contain any zeros.
Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)-Internet protocol television (IPTV) is the process of providing television (video and/or audio) services through the use Internet protocol (IP) networks. These IP networks initiate, process, and receive voice or multimedia communications using IP protocol. These IP systems may be public IP systems (e.g. the Internet), private data systems (e.g. LAN based), or a hybrid of public and private systems.
Internet Protocol Video (IP Video)-IP video is the transfer of video information in IP packet data format.
Internet Television Service Provider (ITVSP)-Internet Television Service Providers (ITVSPs) are companies that provide television or video services that connect through the Internet or other types of data networks. ITVSPs setup and manage television services between multimedia computers, televisions with adapters, or integrated IP television devices and media sources.
An ITVSP coordinates Internet television devices so they can use the Internet as a connection path between television media sources. ITVSPs are commonly used to connect end users to television content providers that use media gateways. Media gateways convert packets of audio data from the television source into packets that can be routed through data networks to end users.
Internet TV (iTV)-Internet TV is a Television service that is provided through the Internet.
Internet Video-Internet video is the transfer of video information through the Internet in IP packet data format.
IP Multicast-An Internet protocol that is used to broadcast the same message to multiple recipients. An IP multicast message is transferred to all the members within pre-defined group.
IP Television (IP TV)-IP television is the transmission of digital video and audio through data networks, usually through the Internet. IP television services may be on a subscription basis (paid for by the recipient) or may be funded by commercials or government agencies. IP television broadcasters transmit multimedia data signals to end users or to distribution points that redirect the digital television signals to end users.
Packet Video-Packet video is the transfer of video information in packet data format.
Personal Media Channel (PMC)-A personal media channel is a communication service that allows a media user (e.g. viewer) to select and view media (typically video or music) from a variety of media sources.
Set Top Box (STB)-An electronic device that adapts a communications medium to a format that is accessible by the end user. Set top boxes are commonly located in a customers home to allow the reception of video signals on a television or computer.
Telephony Over Internet Protocol (ToIP)-A process of providing telephony services using Internet protocol (IP).
Television Gateway-A television gateway is a communications device or assembly that transforms audio and video that is received from a television system (e.g. broadcast television) into a format that can be used by a different network. A television gateway usually has more intelligence (processing function) than a data bridge as it can select the audio and video compression coders and adjust the protocols and timing between two dissimilar computer systems or video over data networks.
Video Conferencing-A process of conducting a face-to-face meeting between two or more people in different locations through the use of telecommunications circuits and equipment that allows video and audio communications. Video conferencing usually requires real-time two-way transmission of audio and video communications between two or more locations. Transmitted video images may be in the form of full TV-quality images or freeze frame still images, where the picture is repainted every few seconds.
Video On Demand (VOD)-A service that provides end users to interactively request and receive video services. These video services are from previously stored media (entertainment movies or education videos) or have a live connection (news events in real time).
Video Server (VS)-The video server is an application server that provides video and/or specialized television capabilities. Video servers receive requests for video and/or media delivery, find the matching media, and deliver the video program as requested.
Video Streaming-A real-time system for delivering video, usually along with synchronized accompanying audio, typically over the internet. Upon request, a server system will deliver a stream of video and audio (both compressed) to a client. The client will receive the data stream and (after a short buffering delay) decode the video and audio and play them in synchronization to a user.