IPTV & Encoding Glossary

Internet Protocol Television - television content delivered over Internet Protocol (IP) networks rather than terrestrial, satellite, or cable formats.

A device or software that converts raw video/audio signals into compressed digital formats suitable for streaming or storage.

Coder-Decoder - software or hardware that compresses and decompresses video/audio data. Common examples: H.264, H.265, AAC.

Advanced Video Coding - widely supported video compression standard offering good quality at moderate bitrates.

High Efficiency Video Coding - successor to H.264 offering 50% better compression at the same quality level.

Network transmission method where a single stream is sent to multiple receivers simultaneously, efficient for IPTV distribution.

Real-Time Messaging Protocol - Adobe protocol widely used for live streaming to platforms like YouTube and Facebook.

Secure Reliable Transport - open-source protocol with error correction for reliable streaming over unpredictable networks.

HTTP Live Streaming - Apple's adaptive streaming protocol using HTTP segments, widely supported on mobile devices.

High-Definition Multimedia Interface - common consumer connector for transmitting high-quality video and audio.

Serial Digital Interface - professional broadcast standard for uncompressed digital video over coaxial cable.

The amount of data transmitted per second, measured in Mbps (megabits per second). Higher bitrates generally mean better quality.

The delay between video capture and display. Critical for live applications like sports and interactive content.

Device that receives and decodes IPTV streams for display on televisions.

Central facility where TV channels are received, processed, and distributed to the network.

Internet Group Management Protocol - network protocol that enables multicast group membership management.

Real-time Transport Protocol - standard for delivering audio and video over IP networks.

Network Device Interface - technology for transporting high-quality video over local networks for production.

Converting video from one format, resolution, or bitrate to another for compatibility or bandwidth optimization.

Number of video frames displayed per second (fps). Common rates: 24fps (film), 30fps (NTSC), 60fps (smooth motion).