Glossary


The following list of terms and definitions is specifically for RealPlayer. While some of these concepts may have broader meanings and implications, the definitions in this Help file will relate directly to your use of the RealPlayer, rather than to the world or Internet at large.

Term

Definition

A

accessory Accessories are parts of the Player that are not necessary to its main function, but that enhance your experience during playback (for example, Statistics).

B

background When something is checked "in the background" there is no visual cue to alert you to the process. During a background process, you can continue to work normally.
bandwidth The amount of data over a short time that can be sent to your computer; usually expressed as kilobytes per second (KBPS). The higher the bandwidth, the faster you receive data. Very much like using a larger garden hose to get more water faster.
browser Short term for World Wide Web browser (for example, Netscape, Opera, or Internet Explorer)
buffered Data that is collected but held back rather than made available. Similar to a translator on the news listening to a whole statement before telling you what the speaker has said, rather than trying to give you a less accurate, halting, word by word translation.

C

clip Any media that can play within RealPlayer.
compiled Term describing a file when the raw information, or source-code, has been organized into a usable format for your desktop. (for example, .rma, .exe, and .com file-types)

D

datatype Determined by the program that creates the media you are viewing and usually distinguished by the extension on the end of the file (for example, .avi, .wav, .rm, .ram, etc.)

E

electronic certificates Electronic certificates are digital fingerprints. Each file carries a special code identifying it as officially sanctioned and approved by RealNetworks to work with your RealPlayer.
encoding The process of converting media (sound, video, etc.) so it can be streamed to and played by RealPlayer.

F

file-type A file's "type" is described at the front of every file and alerts your computer to what programs can use the file. Some programs can use other programs' file-types (for example, word processors can often read other word processor documents). When programs are installed, certain file-types are associated with that program.

File-type is determined by code in the file header (the portion of the file that is read first) that tells your computer what programs can read it. Often file-type and file extension (for example, .ram) can be used interchangeably, but in actuality, extensions are not always an indication of file-type.
firewall Security devices used to protect companies from unauthorized access to their servers. A firewall ensures that all communication between an organization's network and the Internet conforms to the organization's security policies using either proxy services or packet filtering.

G

H

HTTP HyperText Transport Protocol. A standard language for pushing information across the Internet. A good fall-back, though with reduced quality, to use when your company employs a firewall that blocks other protocols.

I

IP Internet Protocol. Part of the TCP/IP group of information languages.
IP address Internet address to another computer in number format (for example, 127.0.0.1)
ISP Internet Service Provider. Who you use to dial up to the Internet if you do not have a permanent network connection.

J

K

L

M

media A general term that includes any visual, audio or text broadcast.
Multicast Used for broadcasting large events over the Internet. Allows a single computer to create the content (concert, film, etc.) and many computers to play the same single stream.
multi-clip Any string of clips linked within a file that can play within RealPlayer.

N

network time-out The amount of time that the network will allow a process to continue without receipt of a confirmation or task completion signal. When this time has been exceeded, the process is assumed to be out of bounds and is shut down to free up whatever resources it might still be using.

O

P

packet A single package of data sent to a computer. Similar to a single brick in a building.
panel Any one of the separate areas of the RealPlayer.
plug-in A component of the RealPlayer that extends its ability.
PNM or PNA The previous standard protocol for streaming media to your RealPlayer.
protocol Language used by computers to talk to each other or to its own hardware. In the case of two computers, they must speak the same language to understand each other. The standard Internet protocol is TCP/IP.
proxy Used in conjunction with a firewall , a proxy or proxy service is a server that acts as an intermediary to first determine if a requested connection between a computer on the internal network and one on the outside is permitted. If the connection is authorized, the firewall sets up the necessary communication links between the two computers. The firewall can then monitor the communication between the two networks and suppress any unauthorized activity.

Q

R

RealMedia Any media that is specifically created to be streamed, from RealServer to your computer.
RTSP Real Time Streaming Protocol. The newest and fastest protocol used to stream media to your RealPlayer over the internet.

S

sampling rate How many times a sample is taken over a specific period of time.
server Any machine or program that is "serving" information to another machine or program.
streaming When a large media file (audio, video, etc.) is broken into smaller pieces so it can viewed immediately rather than having to wait for the whole file to be downloaded first.

T

TCP Transmission Control Protocol. Part of the TCP/IP group of information languages. More reliable than UDP , but often slower.
TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. Standard protocol used by the Internet to send information back and forth.
transport Specifically how data is broken up and sent to your computer over the Internet or your company intranet or network. Each type of transport is handled differently. Most machines will only recognize a single type of transport, though this is not always the case. Synonymous with protocol.

U

UDP User Datagram Protocol. Part of the TCP/IP group of information languages. Similar to, but less reliable than, TCP, though often faster.
URL Uniform Resource Locator. This is the complete address that tells your browser and your RealPlayer where to get the information to show or play (for example, www.real.com/thankyou.rm) and how to interpret that information (for example, rtsp://).

V

W

X

Y

Z

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