Video Conferencing Terms

Glossary of Videoconferencing terms

This glossary contains some of the terminology associated with videoconferencing.
Select the first letter of the word you're looking for:

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

A
address book	A personal directory of e-mail addresses stored and maintained with one's e-mail program. It can also refer to a collection of Internet addresses for people or places you can call for videochats. In CU-SeeMe Pro, this is found in the Conference Companion. In earlier versions of CU-SeeMe it is found in the Phone Book.
administrative server	The White Pine MeetingPoint Conference Server that maintains the conference configuration and user database files for all conference servers in a MeetingPoint domain.
admitted sender	A participant who can send video, audio, and chat in a conference even when those attributes are not enabled for the conference in general.
alias	A collection of e-mail addresses stored under one name to facilitate addressing mail to a particular group of users.
application sharing	A feature of many document-conferencing packages that lets a number of users on different systems simultaneously use an application that resides on only one of the computers. Back to top
B
backbone	High-speed lines or connections that link networks together.
bandwidth	The amount of information a connection can handle. It is usually measured in bits per second (bps) or thousands of bits per second (Kbps).
browser	A program used to access and view information on the World Wide Web, Gopher or WAIS servers. The two most popular browsers are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Back to top
C
chat macro	Shortcut buttons that allow you to automate typing of words, phrases, or symbols that you use often. Chat macros can be used in the text chat portion of White Pine CU-SeeMe.
chat room	An online area where several users can interact simultaneously. Some chat rooms only allow users to exchange typed messages. Videochat rooms also allow users to send and receive video and audio.
chat window	A feature of CU-SeeMe that allows users to converse using text messages. The Chat window is component of the CU-SeeMe Conference Room window.
CIF	Common Intermediate Format A 352 x 288 video format defined by the ITU's H.261 specification.
client	The conferencing application (such as CU-SeeMe, NetMeeting, and others) that a person uses to connect to a MeetingPoint Conference Server. Client applications can also be used to make point-to-point calls.
codec	Compressor/DeCompressor; Hardware or software that compresses and decompresses audio and video data. CU-SeeMe uses software codecs.
conference administrator	The person responsible for setting up and monitoring MeetingPoint Conference Server(s).
conference ID	A number between 1 and 32768 that is provided to attendees of a private conference session. The CID number is needed for some conferences.
conference room	The CU-SeeMe window in which videoconferencing takes place. It is like a virtual meeting room where you can see and talk to others
conference server	Software, such as White Pine MeetingPoint Conference Server or EREF, that delivers multimedia group interaction across IP networks. A conference server is the server program in a client/server videoconferencing solution. (CU-SeeMe is a typical client program).
contact card	A convenient tool for storing information about a person or place. It is like a business card or card in a rotary file. Contact Cards are displayed in the White Pine CU-SeeMe Phone Book Window (found in CU-SeeMe Version 3.x).
CU-SeeMe	Desktop videoconferencing software for computers runing Windows or Mac OS. CU-SeeMe transmits and receives audio, data, and video streams.
CU-SeeMe name	Your user name that appears when you conference with others. Your CU-SeeMe name and the CU-SeeMe names of other participants appear in the Participants List in the Conference Room window.
cybercast	A one-way conference similar to a television broadcast, where the same data is sent to a number of destinations. Audience participants in a cybercast are called observers. ICUII and IVisit and Dwyco are such programs Back to top
D
data compression	A technique that reduces file size or bandwidth by eliminating empty fields, gaps, redundancies, and unnecessary data, to reduce the amount of information being sent.
data stream	The audio, video, and/or text information that participants generate when taking part in a conference.
DC	Direct Connect or Point-to-Point Conference A direct connection between two videochat users. Also called a person-to-person conference
Direct Connect	DC or Point-to-Point Conference A direct connection between two videochat users. Also called a person-to-person conference
document-conferencing application	Data-Conferencing Software that lets users on different computers share applications and jointly edit text and graphics files. Also known as Whiteboards or Boardcasts. White Pine has such an application sharing program and Mimio
download	To retrieve a file from an online service or Internet server. Back to top
E
electronic mail	E-mail A means of exchanging typed messages between computer users in which messages are sent to specific addresses and stored in mailboxes. Back to top
F
FAQs	Frequently Asked Questions A collection of common questions about a particular subject.
FCIF	Full Common Intermediate Format A 352-by-288 video format that is described by the ITU's H.261 specification. FCIF is sometimes called CIF or "Full CIF"
File transfer protocol	FTP A program that allows you transfer files to and from other computers on the Internet.
firewall	Networking software that controls the type of protocol messages that pass back and forth across a software "wall". It is typically used to protect an organization's internal network from access by unauthorized users.
flame	To send a nasty, unnecessary e-mail message to another user.
forum	The name used for a discussion group on an online service. CU-SeeMe World has forums on topics related to videochat.
fractional T1	A digital phone service that provides a portion of a T1 line's full 1.544-Mbps bandwidth. Fractional T1 lines are usually partitioned in 56-Kbps increments and are sometimes used to provide 384-Kbps service for high-quality videoconferencing applications.
Frequently Asked Questions	FAQ's A collection of common questions about a particular subject.
frame rate	The number of images per second displayed in a video stream.
Ftp	File transfer protocol A program that allows you transfer files to and from other computers on the Internet.
full-duplex	Allows both parties to send and receive audio at the same time. This affects the receiver only. Back to top
G
G.711, G.722, G.728	H.320's three audio compression standards: G.711 defines the common A-law and mu-law codecs and specifies a 64-Kbps 3.4kHz compressed-audio stream. G.722 describes high-quality 64-Kbps 7.0-kHz audio, and G.728 specifies a more efficient 16-Kbps 3.4kHz audio stream. Back to top
H
H.261	The video codec component of H.320.
H.263	Also known as I263 medium quality videoconferencing. it is optimized for low data rates and relatively low motion. H.263 is an advancement of the H.261 and MPEG-1 standards, designed with the goal of producing substantially better quality below 64 kbit/sec
H.310	A suite of H.320-like recommendations that define videoconferencing over broadband ISDN and ATM and uses MPEGII compression.
H.320	A suite of ITU (International Telecommunications Union) recommendations that define videoconferencing mechanisms over switched digital services such as ISDN, fractional T1, and Switched 56. H.320 incorporates standards such as H.261, G.711, G.722, and G.728.
H.321	A suite of H.320-like recommendations that define videoconferencing over high-speed, wide area networks such as broadband ISDN and asynchronous transfer mode. H.321 uses H.261 compression and is backward-compatible with the H.320 standard.
H.322	A suite of H.320-like recommendations that define videoconferencing over isochronous networks such as IEEE 802.9a Ethernet and Token-Ring.
H.323	A suite of recommendations defined by the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) defining multimedia conferencing over packet-switched, generally IP-based, networks such as LANs/WANs and the Internet. It covers both point-to-point and multipoint conferencing.
H.324	A suite of H.320-like recommendations that define videoconferencing over POTS phone lines.
half-duplex	Allows only one person to talk at a time. This after the receiver only.
hold-down-time	The amount of penalty time that a client must wait before reconnecting to a conference after having been refused connection or having been disconnected.
home page	The introductory or menu page of a Web site.
HTTP	Hypertext Transfer Protocol The communications protocol, or set of technical rules, through which Worldwide Web information is linked on the Internet.
hypertext link	An automatic link on the Worldwide Web that connects a word, phrase, or picture on one server with another server. When a user selects a linked phrase or picture, that user is automatically connected to the server to which it is linked. Back to top
I
internet	An international data communications pathway that links thousands of computer networks together. Also called the Net.
Internet Service Provider	ISP A company or organization that offers Internet access to customers for a fee. Also called an ISP, or Internet access provider
IP Address	The unique numeric address for every computer that is connected to the Internet. It has four sections, each separated by a dot. For example, 127.0.0.1.
IP Name	The unique name for every computer that is connected to the Internet.
ISDN	Integrated Services Digital Network; a high bandwidth network used to move large amounts of data over phone lines. Limited to 128k
ISP	Internet Service Provider A company or organization that offers Internet access to customers for a fee. Also called an ISP, or Internet access provider Back to top
K
Kbps	An abbreviation meaning kilobits per second, used for measuring bandwidth. Back to top
L
LAN	Local Area Network; a network made up of two or more computers connected together. They are usually within the same building or within a very short distance (a mile or less) to each other.
Listener	A CU-SeeMe feature that alerts you to an incoming call (direct connect)
Local Area Network	LAN A network made up of two or more computers connected together. They are usually within the same building or within a very short distance ( a mile or less) to each other.
local video	The window containing your video image on your computer screen. This video image can be sent to other people using CU-SeeMe or other client software.
lurker	A videochat participant who is not sending a video image. Back to top
M
M-Jpeg	M-JPEG stands for "Motion JPEG," and is identical to Photo-JPEG with two differences. First, Photo-JPEG is for progressive images, which M-JPEG compresses the two fields of interlaced images seperately. Second, the M-JPEG codecs have translators built-in to support the different capture cards.
MBONE	Multicast Backbone; a multicast network layered on top of the Internet. It connects multicast routers separated by links that do not support IP Multicast.
MeetingPoint Conference Server	MeetingPoint is White Pine's H.323 standards-based videoconferencing server software.
MeetingPoint domain	A group of MeetingPoint Conference Servers that share a central user database and master configuration file.
Message of the Day	MOTD A dialog box that appears when users connect to a conference. It can provide information about the conference, rules and guidelines, current and upcoming cybercasts, etc.
modem	A device that allows a computer to connect with other computers using standard telephone lines by dialing phone numbers.
MOTD	A dialog box that appears when users connect to a conference. It can provide information about the conference, rules and guidelines, current and upcoming cybercasts, etc.
Multicast	The ability to send one stream of video data and one stream of audio data over a network, and many users can simultaneously connect to and receive these streams of data without the use of additional software.
Multipoint control unit	MCU A device that links three or more point-to-point videoconferencing systems into a multipoint conference. Back to top
N
netcast	See cybercast
netiquette	Rules of conduct for Internet users. Back to top
O
observer	A conference participant who cannot interact with other observers in the conference. Back to top
P
packet switching	A method of moving packets of data along the network. Each packet contains the address of where it is from and where it is going.
parental control	A security feature that allows you to put restrictions on the CU-SeeMe calls that are made from your computer and the calls accepted by your computer. This is a feature in CU-SeeMe Version 3.x.
participants	Anyone taking part in a conference.
participants list	A component of the Conference Room window that lists the people currently connected to a conference.
personal profile	A Personal Profile identifies you to other people on the network. It includes your CU-SeeMe name, contact information, and more.
phone book	A feature in CU-SeeMe that works like a personal directory where you can list anyone you might want to call. You use the Phone Book to initiate a CU-SeeMe videoconference call. In CU-SeeMe Pro, this feature is found in the Conference Companion. See also address book.
Point-to-Point Conference	A direct connection between two videochat users. Also called a person-to-person conference or direct connect (DC)
port	A specific location within a computer's TCP/IP stack.
POTS	Plain old telephone service Conventional analog telephone service
PPP	Point-to-Point Protocol. A protocol that allows a computer to make a TCP/IP connection using a telephone line and a modem.
primary conference server	The main conference server of a multi-server conference. The primary conference server sends data streams to secondary conference servers.
profile contact card	When you create a Personal Profile in White Pine CU-SeeMe Version 3.x, you also create a Profile Contact Card. It is like a business card that you can exchange with others electronically.
protocol	Standards that allow programs on different computers to communicate. Back to top
Q
QCIF	Quarter Common Intermediate Format A 176 x 144 video format defined by the ITU's H.261 specification. Back to top
R
reflector	A UNIX, Windows NT, or Windows 95 program that allows multiple users to send and receive video, audio, and auxiliary data streams. Reflector was the precursor to the MeetingPoint Conference Server.
remote video	The window that contains the video sent by anther participant in a conference.
router	A computer system or software package that connects two or more networks. Routers look at the destination addresses of the IP packets and forward them to the correct address.
RSVP	and RTP are new protocols that are slowly being adopted by equipment and software manufacturers. These are intended to improve the abilities of IP networks to handle streams of DVC data without their interruption by other network traffic.
RTP	and RSVP are new protocols that are slowly being adopted by equipment and software manufacturers. These are intended to improve the abilities of IP networks to handle streams of DVC data without their interruption by other network traffic. Back to top
S
secondary conference server	A conference server that receives data streams from a primary conference server in a multi-server conference.
sender	A videochat conference participant who is sending a video image.
SLIP	Serial Line Interface Protocol; a protocol that allows a computer to use a telephone line and a modem to connect to the Internet.
stream	The audio, video, and/or text information that participants generate when taking part in a conference. Also called data stream.
SubQCIF	SQCIF A 128 x 96 video format defined by the ITU's H.261 specification.
switched 56 service	A type of dial-up digital phone service that provides 56-Kbps bandwidth. Back to top
T
T.120	An ITU recommendation that standardizes document conferencing over a variety of transmission media. T.120 support is required for data conferences suing equipment from multiple vendors.
T1	A type of 1.54-Mbps digital phone service, sometimes used for extremely high-quality videoconferencing.
TCP/IP	Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol; the protocol that defines the Internet.
telnet	Communications network that allows computers to exchange information. It allows you to login from one Internet site to another.
thread	A group of newsgroup messages on the same topic, often a sequence of replies and comments about an initial message.
TTL	Time-to-Live A value used by routers that is decremented as it passed from router to router.
Tunneling	Refers to a method by which a conference with participants in one LAN can effeciently communicate with participants in another LAN. Multicast can be used in each LAN, with a unicast transmission between the gateways connecting the two LANS. Back to top
U
Unicast	A point-to-point connection, where data is sent from one sender to one receiver over an IP network. MeetingPoint manages multiple unicast connections simultaneously.
URL	Universal Resource Locator A standardized address format used for Internet addresses, especially for Worldwide Web addresses. Back to top
V
videoconferencing	Software and/or hardware that allows users to see and hear each other using their computer systems.
W
WAN	Wide Area Network; a network made up of two or more networks located in different locations using telephone lines.
Whiteboard	A document-conferencing function that lets multiple users simultaneously view and annotate a document with pens, highlighters, and drawing tools. More advanced whiteboard programs handle multipage documents and provide tools for delivering them as presentations. Also known as Boardcasts
Wide Area Network	WAN A large network made of connected LANs.
World Wide Web	WWW; resources available using Internet tools such as FTP, browsers, etc. to gain access to the information. Back to top