Glossary

Auto Unicast	A transmitter mode that allows an encoder to "automatically" establish and maintain a connection with a streaming server like Quicktime or Darwin. The stream is pushed to a configured publishing point external clients can connect to retrieve the stream.
CDN	Content delivery networks are distributed server systems of deployed in multiple data centers in the Internet. The goal of a CDN is to serve content to end-users with high availability and high performance.
DASH	Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP. DASH is a multimedia streaming technology where a multimedia file is partitioned into one or more segments and delivered to a client using HTTP.
DME	Distributed Media Engine is an integrated platform that provides media redistribution, media transformation and video-on-demand content storage.
Caching Server	Content is cached at remote locations so subsequent requesting clients can access it locally.
FMS	Flash Media Server is a proprietary data and media server from Adobe Systems. This server works with the Flash Player runtime to create media driven, multiuser Rich Internet Applications.
Flash	Multimedia platform used to add video and interactivity to web pages. Flash uses RTMP and is a proprietary Adobe technology.
FMLE	Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder is a media encoder appliance that streams audio and video in realtime to an Adobe Flash Media Server.
FTP Server	The DME uses File Transfer Protocol to populate the DME with files for progressive download.
HDS	HTTP Dynamic Streaming is Adobe's HTTP streaming protocol for Flash players. Like other HTTP adaptive streaming protocols, it breaks the stream into small HTTP-based files so the client can select from different streams containing the same material encoded at different data rates. This allows the streaming session to adapt to available data rates.
HLS	HTTP Live Streaming is Apple's HTTP streaming protocol for QuickTime and iPhone. Like other HTTP adaptive streaming protocols, it breaks the stream into small HTTP-based files so that the client can select from different streams containing the same material encoded at different data rates. This allows the streaming session to adapt to available data rates.
HTTP Server	The DME has an internal web server that serves VOD files via progressive download.
ICP	Internet Cache Protocol coordinates multiple web caches. It finds the most appropriate location to retrieve a requested object when multiple caches are in use at a single site. The goal is to minimize the number of remote requests to the originating server.
Multicast	A highly-efficient streaming mechanism wherein one stream is sent to multiple clients without impacting available bandwidth. Multicast is a one‑to‑many connection between client and server. Used only in local IP networks (not the Internet); requires support from a switch. See Unicast.
Progressive Download	Progressive download is a method of delivering audio and video that involves caching and playing the downloaded portion of a file while a download is still in progress via FTP. The files are downloaded—not streamed.
Pull	The mechanism whereby a video stream is requested, and pulled, from an RTP server (e.g. QuickTime or Darwin), an RTMP server (e.g. Wowza or FMS), or another VBrick DME.
Push	The mechanism whereby an RTP or RTMP stream is continuously pushed to a configured destination.
RTMP	Real Time Messaging Protocol is a proprietary protocol developed by Adobe for streaming audio and video over the Internet, between a Flash player and a Flash server. The DME has an internal RTMP server for Flash files. Wowza and FMS are also RTMP servers.
RTMPS	RTMP over a secure SSL connection. With RTMPS streamed content is encrypted by the Flash Media Server "on the fly" so there is no need to encrypt the source file.
RTP	Real Time Transport Protocol is the Internet-standard protocol for the transport of realtime audio and video over the web. The DME has an internal RTP server. Darwin, QuickTime, and VBrick VOD‑W streaming servers are RTP servers.
RTSP	Real Time Streaming Protocol is a network control protocol used to control streaming media servers. RTSP defines the control sequences in streaming playback and uses TCP to maintain an end-to-end streaming connection.
SDP	Session Description Protocol. A standard which provides information about the timing and format of a live RTP stream and provides information on how to tune into the stream. It can be provided as part of a session creation in a protocol such as RTSP or as a text file with a .sdp extension.
SIP	Session Initiation Protocol is a signaling protocol widely used for controlling video conferencing communication sessions.
StreamPlayer	VBrick PC application used to view live and on-demand streams. StreamPlayer can discover program names on a network by listening for session announcements (SAPs) from VBrick devices.
Transmux	The process whereby a digital bit stream is converted from one file format or streaming protocol to another—without changing the compression method. An example of transmuxing is when a unicast stream is converted to multicast or when an RTP stream is converted to RTMP.
Transport Stream (TS)	MPEG transport stream (MPEG2TS) is a standard format for transmission and storage of audio and video. Transport Stream specifies a container format encapsulating packetized elementary streams, with error correction and stream synchronization features for maintaining transmission integrity when the signal is degraded.
Transrate	Change the speed/compression characteristics of a stream without changing the compression algorithm to accommodate different devices (e.g. laptop, mobile phone) on networks of varying qualities of service
Unicast	A bandwidth-intensive streaming mechanism wherein a separate and complete video stream is sent to each requesting client. Unicast is a one‑to‑one connection between the client and the server. See Multicast.
VBAdmin	An integrated management interface that lets you manage the DME configuration from an external web browser.
VBDirectory	A proprietary VBrick application used to auto-discover VBrick devices (including DMEs) on a local IP network. It is available on the VBrick Downloads page for new customers and is automatically installed when you perform an upgrade.
VBDME Download	A proprietary VBrick application used to perform a software upgrade on DME appliances.
VC Gateway	VBrick's Video Conference Gateway uses standards-based SIP and H.264 technology to become a participant in a video conference and stream the content to multiple endpoints including PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, etc.
VEMS	VBrick's flagship VBrick Enterprise Media System is an integrated solution that delivers both live and on-demand audio and video over an IP-based infrastructure. It provides access to a dynamic viewing portal, scheduling and administrative controls, and a media management engine.
VEMS Mystro	VEMS Mystro is VBrick's modular enterprise media management system. Mystro's unique widget-based streaming design lets you personalize and embed IP video in any communications environment such as unified communications, learning management, or mobile devices.
VOD	Video‑on‑demand files are stored streams that can be played from the DME's FTP server via progressive download.
Wowza	The Wowza Media Server is a proprietary platform that serves multiple protocols and files.