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Glossary

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Glossary


The following table contains a list of terms defined 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 the world or Internet at large.




Term


Definition

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. Sometimes known as bitrate.

bar
A portion of the RealPlayer interface that is only a single line tall. (e.g. the Clip Info bar)

bitrate
The speed of a connection, how fast information can be passed to your computer over an Internet or network connection. Sometimes known as bandwidth.

bits
A single smallest piece of information. Often used synonymously for packets when talking about the Internet even though they are not actually the same thing. Packets are actually made up of bits, bits being a lower level of structure just as atoms are what make up bricks. (See also packets.)

browser
Short term for Internet browser (e.g., 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.


clip
Any media that can play within RealPlayer.

Clip Info bar
Displays Title, Author, Copyright information about the active clip.

compiled
Term describing a file when the raw information, or source-code, has been organized into a usable format for your desktop. (e.g. RMA, EXE, and COM file types)

Control bar
The portion of the RealPlayer that contains the controls that act on the active clip (e.g., Play, Pause, Stop, etc.) as well as the position slider, volume control, and so on.



datatype
Determined by the program that creates the media you are viewing and usually distinguished by the extension on the end of the file (e.g. MP3, WAV, RM, RMA, etc.)

Display Panel
Displays the visual elements of a clip, as well as setting the size of the display area using the Zoom control.


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.

encode
The process of converting media (sound, video, etc.) so it can be streamed to and played by RealPlayer.


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 (e.g., word processors can often read other word processor documents). When programs are installed, certain file-types are associated with that program. When you click on a link or a file, Windows checks to see what program is associated with that file-type and automatically launches that program (e.g., double-clicking on a .ram file should launch RealPlayer and begin to play a clip).

File-type is determined by code in the file header, that portion of the file that is read first and tells your computer what programs can read it. Often file-type and file extension (e.g., .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 conform to the organization’s security policies using either proxy services or packet filtering.


HTTP
Hyper Text 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.


IP
Internet Protocol. Part of the TCP/IP group of information languages.

IP address
Internet address to another computer in number format (e.g. 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.


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.


normalize
To choose a base setting to which all volume, or other measurements, are adjusted to match.


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 window.

Playlist
Displays the names of the clips within a multi-clip (see multi-clip).

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.


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.


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. RealServers, for instance, serve content to RealPlayers.

Status bar
Portion of RealPlayer that displays connection and other information about the currently active clip.

session
Each time you start RealPlayer you begin a new session, or round, of using the product. While some information, such as Preferences, are retained from session to session, others, such as which clips have been played, are not.

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.


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.


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 (e.g., www.real.com/thankyou.rm) and how to interpret that information.


Web Server
A server that makes HTML pages and other content available to your Web Browser.