IFA Glossary
0-9 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
100 Hertz
Flicker-free television, achieved by doubling the standard 50 Hertz refresh rate used in television.
720p
Video format for HDTV: 720 lines of resolution are produced progressively
("p" = progressive, no interlace) on the screen, i. e. the full line is depicted at one time.
1080i
Video format for HDTV: 1080 lines of resolution are produced using the interlace technique ("i" = interlace).
AC3
go to Dolby Digital.
Access Point
The access point is the basic station within a wireless network
(for example a WirelessLAN).
Active speaker
Speaker enclosure with integrated power amplifier (sometimes with
separate power amplifiers for high, mid-range, and bass frequencies).
ADR
(Astra Digital Radio).
This is a transmission system for digital radio programs broadcast via ASTRA satellites
since 1995. It is based on the MUSICAM /
MPEG-11 data compression process.
The data transfer rate is 192 Kbit/s (including 256 Kbit/s error protection).
An additional 9.6 Kbit/s is used for radio data signals (RDS),
conditional access system
(access control for pay radio) and other control data.
The digital transmission is realized via the satellites
ASTRA 1A - 1D using audio subcarrier frequencies. On a medium-term basis,
ADR is expected to be substituted or supplemented by DVB-S.
ADSL
(Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line).
Transmission technology that dramatically accelerates data transmission via standard twisted pair copper cable.
"Asymmetric" variant of DSL in which data is transferred downstream
at rates of > 10 Mbit/s and upstream at >
800 Kbit/s. The unequal data rates for downstream and upstream data transfers explain term "Asymmetric."
ADSL2
With ADSL2 the data rate downstream is as high as 16 Mbit/s, for ADSL2+ up to 24 Mbit/s and with VDSL,
up to 52 Mbit/s may be realized.
Advanced Television Enhancement Forum
Go to ATVEF.
ANGA
(German Association of Private CATV Operators).
ANSI
(North American Standards Institute).
Organization for technical standards in the USA.
API
(Application Programming Interface).
Software interface for application programs which allow direct access to operating
system resources or the user interface. An API provides connectivity for other
programs to the existing operating system. This allows for running a newer software
on an older computer. In digital television, the
Multimedia Home Platform MHP plays a comparable role. Since this interface can be
used by all program and service providers as well as all device manufacturers, it
clears the way for solutions which are compatible with future programs, for
example interactive programs: An open API enables the use of applications
(e. g. EPGs) by different providers on the same
Set-top box.
APS
(Automatic Programming System).
Technology is used in television sets to detect the locally available channels when the television is
switched on for the first time and assign the programs the channel memories
(buttons 1, 2, 3 ... on the remote control handset).
ARD Digital
ARD Digital is the digital program bouquet of the ARD.
It comprises 18 television
programs, all radio programs of the Landesrundfunkanstalten (German radio stations under
public law) as well as numerous interactive services. Besides the "Ersten" ARD Digital
broadcasts the three programs "EinsPlus", "EinsExtra", and "EinsFestival", which are
delivered only in digital format. The program package ("bouquet") of ARD Digital
includes TV programs, an electronic program guide (EPG) for easy and organized
information about ARD services and the ARD online channel (ARD-Online-Kanal) as well
as additional interactive services.
ASCII
(American Standard Code for Information Interchange)
Internationally used digital code for alphabetic and numeric characters and symbols (ASCII character code).
Aspect Ratio
So far, the standard television screen has a ratio of width and height of 4:3,
the format widescreen has an aspect ratio of
16:9. HDTV uses the widescreen
ratio (16:9) as a standard.
Astra
Satellite system operated by the Société
Européenne des Satellites (SES). The ASTRA family (1A-G) now has
7 satellites in geostationary orbit at 19.2° east for transmitting
analog and digital radio and television channels. In addition to
non-German channels, virtually all analog and digital television/radio
channels can be received with a satellite dish with a minimum diameter
of 60 cm. Further Astra Satellites are available at 28,2° East,
24,2° East, 23,5° East, and 5,2° East.
Astra Digital Radio
Go to ADR.
ATM
(Asynchronous Transfer Mode).
Digital transmission technique in the broadband network, which transfers data in "packages" of 53
Byte each. ATM is a technology that allows Broadband ISDN (short: B-ISDN), which means it allows
due to a high data transfer rate the digital transmission of audio, video and data signals.
ATVEF
(Advanced Television Enhancement Forum)
Consortium of hardware manufacturers and broadcasters established with the intention of creating a single standard
from the various protocols used to link television with the Internet. The proposed standards submitted by ATVEF
define connections that will enable remote control of televisions, computers and other household appliances.
Audiovision
(Audio/video) combination of sound and images. Generic term for processes used for the simultaneous
transmission, storage, and reproduction of sound and pictures.
Audio frequencies
The frequency range between 20Hz and 20,000Hz perceivable by the human ear.
Also referred to as low frequency range.
Avatar
Virtual (sometimes three-dimensional) representation of a person in video games, chat rooms, or
advertising. Well known avatars include Lara Croft from the game Tomb Raider and Robert T. Online from Deutsche Telekom.
B2B
(Business to Business).
Business Relations between companies.
B2C
(Business to Consumers).
Business Relations between companies and private customers.
Basic access line
An ISDN basic access line includes two voice/data channels (B-channels) and a control channel
(D-Channel). The channels can be used independently of each other making it possible to, for example,
use the telephone and send a fax at the same time.
Basic encryption
With basic encryption, even Free-TV programs are encoded, but other than for Pay-TV, the programs
are automatically decoded inside the receiver (each device has to include the appropriate decoding system).
This basic encryption could be used to prevent unauthorized viewing of TV channels.
Bit
Short for binary digit. One bit is the smallest unit of digital information in the binary data system:
represented by 0 or 1.
Bit rate
See Data rate (also termed data transfer rate).
B-Channel
One of two voice/data channels available with an ISDN Basic access line. The transfer rate for
a single B-channel is 64,000 bits per second (bit/s). Two B-channels can be combined to provide a
transfer rate of 128,000 bits per second (bit/s).
Beamer
Go to Video projector.
Blue Laser
Blue laser light has a wave length above 400 nm. It is used in the technologies HD-DVD as well
as the Blu-ray Disc. The advantages of the blue laser - compared to the red laser used for DVDs -
is the shorter wave length. The shorter wave length allows for writing data closer together on the
disc which leads to up to four times as much storage room than on a DVD.
Blucom interactive
During a television program Bluetooth enabled set-top boxes can establish a connection to
traditional mobile phones equipped with a bluetooth interface. The viewer not only receives additional
information via this connection but can also interactively take part in quiz-shows, home-shopping, booking
holiday trips, voting etc. using navigation elements displayed on the mobile phone.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth (after King Bluetooth of Denmark, who signed a settlement with the Norwegians
1,000 years ago) is a system specifically developed to provide low-cost, short-distance
RF connection between PDAs, laptops, mobile phones, and other (mobile) devices. It is
also used to provide wireless connection to peripherals (mouse, keyboard etc.).
Bluetooth devices automatically recognize each other and establish a network connection.
A Bluetooth-network, known as "Piconet", can include up to eight devices. The data is
transferred from one device to the other at a carrier frequency in the 2.4 GHz range
(2,402 GHz to 2,480 GHz). The signals have no preferential destination and can therefore
be received by any device within the range. If a Bluetooth-device detects another device
in its range, one of them automatically takes on a server-like role organizing the radio
transmission. The maximum Data rate up to around 750 Kbit/s, with a range restricted to
10 m. The extended Bluetooth standard allows a range of 100 m with improved transmission
power.
Blu-ray Disc
Optical storage media, similar to DVD, storage capacity of 25 GB using Blue Laser and therefore
appropriate for storing HDTV
programs. The specifications for the Blu-ray Disc were established in
2002 by the Blu-ray Group composed of Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard,
Hitatchi, LG Electronics, Matsushita, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung and
Sharp.
Bouquet
Bouquet is a term used by broadcasters to denote their thematically varied package of digital
programs (ARD Digital). The term "bouquet" is also used to identify a grouping of program or service
providers into a single program package.
bps
(Bit per second).
Unit for Data throughput (also see cps).
Browser
(also "Web browser")
Computer program that provides access to the World Wide Web (WWW) and graphically
displays pages. Required for Web surfing on the Internet or and other data networks.
Byte
Block of digital data consisting of eight Bits.
CA
(Conditional Access System)
A system controlling the access of Pay-TV subscribers to the subscription
channels and services, etc. Prevents non-subscribers from receiving the signal.
CA modules are distinguished by the encoding method they are designed to decode.
Examples: BetaCrypt (Premiere), Irdeto, Viaccess, Nagra, Cryptoworks, and Conax.
Provided that the CA modules are interchangeable, the programs of several Pay-TV
providers using different encoding methods can be received with the same satellite receiver.
CaTV
(Cable TV)
C-Band
Go to Satellite frequency range.
CCD
(Charge Coupled Device).
Light-sensitive semiconductor image converter, used in modern video cameras in place of the previously used camera tubes.
High quality video cameras use 3 CCDs - one for each of the primary colors: red, green and blue.
CDMA / CDM
In code devision multiplexing (CDM = Code Division Multiplex, CDMA = Code Division Multiple Access) for mobile
telephony, signals from several sources are transmitted simultaneously on the same frequency. Data bits are
transmitted using bit sequences (code) assigned to the respective sender. To express the bit sign "1" the code
itself is transmitted and for the bit sign "0" the inverse code is transmitted. The data rate on the transmission
channel ("chip rate") therefore is a multiple of the data rate of the source signal. If several senders are active
at the same time they produce a signal mixture. The receiver filters the signal mixture to extract the signal of
a given sender by calculating the correlation between the known code pattern of the sender and the signal mixture.
In simple words, the signal mixture is multiplied by the (binary) code pattern. For the data bit "1" the correlation
yields the value "1" and for the data bit "0" it yields the value "-1". While the sender is not transmitting at all
the correlation yields the value "0". Code devision multiplexing is applied in the Universal Mobile Telecommunications
System (UMTS) in the form of WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access). CDMA is also applied in the satellite
navigation Systems GPS and Galileo.
CD-R
(Compact Disc - Recordable).
1x recordable CD.
CD-ROM
(Compact Disc Read Only Memory)
Non-recordable digital storage medium for images, text, software, and sound data.
CD-RW
(Compact Disc - ReWriteable)
Multiple recordable CD.
CECED
(European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufactures) based in Brussels.
Chain
(CECED Home Appliances Interoperating Network).
The European Committee of Domestic Equipment Manufacturers (CECED)
has defined a communication standard for home appliances in the field
of "home automation" and developed a mutually supported protocol for
the operation of "home automation" systems. The platform CHAIN defines
the data exchange protocol for individual appliances in a network, such
as refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, dish washer, ovens -
even if they are made by different manufacturers. This standard allows
the controlling and monitoring of key functions, e. g. remote
control of appliances, energy and charging management, remote error
diagnosis, automatic maintenance or program updates and services via
the Internet. A certificate is supposed to guarantee the customer that
the product supports the standard and that all specific properties of
the appliance will be provided unrestrictedly in a network environment.
Indoor communication is realized via power lines or radio frequencies.
No modifications of the building are required. The system is designed
for simple installation by the user or service personnel of the
appliance provider without the necessity of specialized help.
Channel bonding
Combining several B-channels of an ISDN access line to a virtual channel with a higher data rate.
Chip
Term used to describe integrated circuits populated by up to several
hundred thousand semiconductor elements (transistors/diodes, etc.).
Structures smaller than a thousandth of a millimeter allow an
increasing density of integration.
Common Interface (CI)
The CI is a standard interface for DVB (a type of jack) which accomodates the
Conditional Access Module (CA module) for decoding (Descrambling) Pay-TV
programs. At the moment (2007) a new generation of the CI standard
(Common Interface Version2) is being developed. This new standard not only considers
different encoding systems but also regards issues concerning the protection of minors
and encorporates copy protection.
Conditional Access System
Go to CA.
Content
Programs (audio and video), services, text, images, data.
Convergence
The term "convergence" involves drawing closer together or matching. Since, for example, the common digital technology has
drawn consumer electronics, computer technology and telecommunications closer together, this is described as "convergence".
Typical products of convergence are Set-top boxes, which receive digital television, and which also provide access to the
Internet through an internal Modem,
and also mobile phones which can be used for taking photographs,
listening to radio, playing music files and playing video games. They
also include portable computers ("laptops"), which can receive
television programs and connect to external data networks by means of
an integrated mobile phone. In convergence systems - several (remote)
devices exchange data using a network - the "convergence is contained
within the network".
Convertible
Specific design type of a Tablet PC.
Cookie
Information stored by Internet providers on the user's computer; used to complete address fields in order forms, or
identify web site visitors.
cps
(characters per second).
Unit of measure for data rate: Number of the effectively transmitted characters (e. g. letters, numbers) per time unit,
excluding the required control commands. The transfer rate including the control commands is expressed in bps (bits per second).
CPU
(Central Processing Unit)
The "main processor", often simply called processor or CPU, controls
the processes in the computer or digital receiver terminals. Typically,
the CPU is represented by the microprocessor, which comprises all
modules of the CPU on one micro chip. The CPU is controlled by the
(software-) program. The tasks of the CPU include arithmetic
operations, reading data from and to memory as well as executing jumps
in the program.
Cyberspace
Term describing the condition in which a user can "move" freely in
virtual space. The interactions calculated by the computer are
reproduced for the user/viewer with realistic images, sounds, and
simulated acceleration forces.
D2-MAC
A television transmission standard developed for satellite television
for the transmission of analog images and - for the first time - digital sound.
It practically has lost relevance with the introduction of DVB.
DAB
(Digital Audio Broadcasting).
Technique for terrestrial digital transmission of radio and multimedia data signals. MUSICAM
(MP2) is used for data compression from 1,411 Mbit/s to 192 Kbit/s. The
basic system components of DAB were developed in the research project
EUREKA 147 commissioned by the EU and were internationally standardized
in 1995. In Germany, DAB has been supplementing the digital terrestrial
FM broadcasting since 1999. This technology is available to 80 %
of the German population.
Datacast
Generic term for all data services (e. g. IP-Datacast) which are transmitted via broadcasting stations.
Data throughput
Whereas the Data rate includes all data, the data throughput applies only to the rate of transfer of useful
data - excluding information for data correction, block separation, etc. - in cps = characters per second).
Data rate
(also data transfer rate or bit rate)
This specifies the number of data units transmitted per unit of time in bit/s (bits per second) or Mbit/s
(Megabit = million bits per second). The data rate has a decisive influence on the image quality of digital
television broadcasts. Data rates of 4-6 Mbit/s correspond to the image quality available for analog TV programs.
Data compression
Data compression of audio signals involves the removal of "inaudible" sound information. Many sounds are superimposed,
while others are outside the frequency range audible to humans and not perceived by the human ear.
Data compression of video signals is accomplished by transmitting frame change information only. Instead of transmitting
25 complete frames per second, only the changes from the previous frame are transmitted.
Decoder
Device used for decoding signals received via the local broadcast standard. A specific decoder is used for each standard
(e.g. PAL, Videotext, DVB).
DECT
(Digital European Cordless Telecommunication).
European standard for digital cordless telecommunications with enhanced security. It has a range between 50 and 300 m,
depending on whether it is being transmitted inside buildings or outside.
Descrambling
Descrambling is the term for decoding or reconstructing encoded (TV-) programs. This process is conducted using a chip
or a special component in the TV set or an auxiliary device (Decoder/Descrambler). Pay-TV,
Scrambling.
Deutsche TV-Plattform
The "Deutsche TV-Plattform" (German TV platform) is a consortium of program
producers and providers, private broadcasting stations and broadcasting stations
under public law, network operators, industrial enterprises, universities and
research institutes, federal ministries, provincial governments, media institutes
and other organisations dealing with television concepts of the future. It is made
up of members from all areas of the media field. With its comprehensive structure
the TV-Plattform considers its main tasks promoting information exchange among the
participants of the value creation chain, coordinating the various interests during
the introduction of digital television, and informing the public of new technological
developments, program formats, new content, and new applications.
Digital photography
The basic design of digital cameras only differs slightly from the design of conventional analog cameras: In both cases the
image of the motif is projected through an optical system (lens) onto a storage medium. Inside the digital camera, the
recorded image is stored in an electronic sensor rather than directly projected on film. This sensor converts the occuring
light into the corresponding electrical voltage, which is digitalized and then stored just like (computer) data, processed
and finally printed.
Digital Rights Management
Go to DRM (2).
Digital television
(Digital Video Broadcasting, DVB).
Digital transmission of television signals - from the broadcasting station to the receiver. In Europe and many other
countries, digital TV (including receivers for digital television) is based on the DVB standards. Today virtually all
known programs, including digital Pay-TV channels and hundreds of Free-TV channels,
are broadcast via satellite (DVB-S)
analogously as well as digitally. The trend towards digital technologies cannot only be attributed to the achievable quality
improvements known from the CD. Digital techniques make more room for the existing frequencies: programs can be expanded and
novel, even interactive information, education and entertainment services can be added. With the MHP (Multimedia Home Platform),
digital television disposes of an interface that can build a bridge between the Internet and television and integrates people
without a computer or efficient IT knowledge directly into the online world of the emerging knowledge community.
Digital Video Broadcasting
Go to DVB.
Digital Versatile Disc
Go to DVD.
DirecTV
First American satellite television. Since June 1994, two satellites have been transmitting up to 150 channels, which can be
received direct - i.e. with the user's own satellite dish - throughout continental North America.
DiSEqC
(Digital Satellite Equipment Control).
System for controlling satellite receivers. In conventional satellite
systems, a 14/18 V switching voltage is used to switch between
horizontal and vertical polarization. In addition, a 22 kHz audio
signal on the power cable controls the orientation of the satellite
dish to specific satellite positions. DiSEqC, on the other hand, is a
universal control concept, because the 22 kHz audio signal is not
simply switched on and off, it is also scanned allowing a large number
of commands (including polarization switching) to be transmitted within
the DiSEqC system. In addition, DiSEqC Level 2 enables bi-directional
communication allowing the satellite receiver to send commands to the
peripheral devices, which in turn communicate with the receiver - i.e.
Plug-and-Play for satellite receiver technology.
D-Kanal
Control channel used with an ISDN Basic access line. The D-channel provides a transfer rate of 16,000 bits per second (bit/s) and is
used for billing information, caller ID, or signaling the type of incoming call (fax, data, voice).
DivX
With this data compressed video data format (#Data compression#) the digital video
data is compressed without significant loss of image quality during playback
(allowing for more storage capacity).
DMAP
(DECT Multimedia Access Profile).
DECT standard for wireless networking of multimedia applications and devices.
DMB
(Digital Multimedia Broadcasting).
Digital Multimedia Broadcasting is based on DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting)
and is developed for the transmission of moving images (Mobile TV) to mobile
receivers, which move at high velocities. For the video encoding the
standard H.264/AVC (MPEG-4) is used which ensures an acceptable image
quality on small displays even at data rates below 400 kbit/s. DMB is downward
compatible to DAB and therefore in principle also allows for receiving and
replaying conventional DAB programs (MPEG 1 Layer 2). Several of the
Mobile TV projects started lately are based on DMB.
Dolby Digital
The Dolby Digital multi-channel sound system processes up to six
separate audio signals: five for the entire audio frequency spectrum
and one for the subwoofer channel (LFE, Low Frequency Effect) commonly
used for special sound effects, e.g. earthquakes or explosions. This
type of signal processing is also referred to as 5:1 audio. Unlike
Dolby Surround, the digital surround channel produces a stereo signal
making it possible for sounds to "wander" e.g. diagonally from front
right to rear left. Data compression reduces the massive
amount of audio data.
Dolby ProLogic
Process for analog surround sound in which the appropriately coded
two-channel stereo signals are separated into four separate sound
channels.
Download
Copying files (text, images, audio, software) from an Internet web site or other service onto a personal computer.
dpi
(dots per inch = Punkte pro Zoll).
A unit of measurement indicating the resolution (sharpness) of images
produced by printers or fax machines. Higher resolutions provide a more
uniform and detailed image. Fax machines typically use a resolution of
200 dpi; laser and inkjet printers provide up to 1,200 dpi.
DRM
(Digital Radio Mondiale).
DRM is an international consortium (with around 70 members in 30
countries) which has developed an internationally standardized
procedure for the digital transmission of radio and data services on
conventional radio frequencies (short, medium and long wave). The DRM
system has thereby forged the last link in the digitization of analog
radio systems. The Data rate is 24 kbit/s (24,000 bits per second),
using aacPlus technology for data compression. DRM has been officially launched in mid-2003 on the occasion of the World Radio
Communication Conference (WRC). The high broadcast quality of DRM is being demonstrated at IFA in the scope of the TWF. In 2005,
the DRM consortium participates with a separate booth introducing new receivers manufactured in series.
DRM (2)
(Digital Rights Management).
Digital Content can be copied virtually without any losses compared to the original.
The disadvantage of digitality is the possibility of producing illegal copies of high
quality digital signals - maybe even in HDTV quality - and thereby undermining
copyrights. DRM was created to secure copyright in a reliable, unbureaucratic and
consumer friendly manner. In Europe there are different legislations: in the EU
there are directives regarding copyright protection in the information community,
data protection in electronical communication and enforcement of copyright and
trademark rights. However, the legal situation is country-specific (e. g. copyright law).
Typical proposals for a feasable DRM system are: open standard for protected content,
no manufacturer-specific systems, no device-specific content. Additionally, everything
including the rules is meant to be simple, consumer-friendly and uncomplicated.
DSL
(Digital Subscriber Line).
General term (also referred to as "xDSL") for high speed data transfer via a twisted pair copper cable, ADSL,
HDSL.
Dual Band
Cell phones that can be used for two (GSM) radio frequency ranges (900 MHz and 1800 MHz). Dual band capability makes it possible
to for mobile phone subscribers to use their phones in different networks. Triple Band.
DVB
(Digital Video Broadcasting).
Initially established in 1991 as the European Launching Group (ELG),
the DVB project started work in 1993. It now encompasses over 260
companies, institutions and organizations - equipment manufacturers,
broadcasters, network operators, research institutes and authorities -
from 27 countries. The objective of DVB - a "project financed solely
from the contributions of the members without any significant public
funding - is the general and coordinated development of systems and
standards to enable the broadcast of digital television in Europe via
satellite, cable and terrestrial transmission" [Deutsche TV Platform
e.V.]. Although originally primarily a European project, a large number
of non-European companies, e.g. from Japan, South Korea, Canada and the
USA, are now also members of DVB. Since DVB has applications beyond
digital broadcasting (television and radio), this technology represents
a virtually universal "data highway" for applications with Data rates up to 39 Mbit/s. The suggestion has therefore occasionally
been made to change the name from Digital Video Broadcasting to Digital Versatile Broadcasting (see also DVD). The family of
DVB standards includes:
DVB-S:
System for satellite transmission in the 11/12 GHz Satellite frequency range: configurable for various transponder bandwidths
and power outputs. DVB-S2 is not designed to substitute DVB-S. It was primarily intended for IP-based services and high definition
television (HDTV).
With DVB-S2, the effectively usable bandwidth for satellite
transmission is increased by 30 percent offering the same reception
quality. Additionally, DVB-S2 allows for the transmission of two transfer streams
on a single satellite transponder (parallel transmission of one "conventional"
TV program and one HDTV program). Also see DVB-SH.
DVB-T: Standard for terrestrial
(go to Terrestrial broadcasting) digital television.
Go to DVB-T.
DVB-T2:
: Refurbishment of
DVB-T currently in development and under
the process of further specification. Up to now, the possibilities
researched reach from stationary use with a roof antenna with a
maximum Data rate of 50 Mbit/s to a system, which could cover the
requisitions of the standard DVB-H2.
DVB-H (H stands for "handheld").
Go to DVB-H
DVB-C:
A standard, compatible with DVB-S, for the transmission of digital
broadcasts and/or services via cable. Modified bit-error correction and
modulation processes allow the data transmitted on the satellite
channel to be accommodated on a standard (cable) channel of only 8 MHz
bandwidth.
DVB-CS:
A standard adapted to DVB-C and DVB-S for cable/satellite-based reception of DVB signals via community
aerial systems.
DVB-MS:
(Multipoint Distribution System): this system uses microwaves for the
terrestrial transmission of a large number of TV channels direct to the
viewer. The microwaves are transmitted in packets to reception aerials
in the line of sight of a transmitter station situated in a high
location. (also referred to as "specification for wireless broadband
cabling").
DVB-SI:
Service Information System. Used for the transmission of data, for example program-related information, within the
data stream.
DVB-TXT:
Specification for the transmission of Teletext ("Videotext")
DVB-CI:
(Common Interface) - common interface for conditional access and other applications.
DVB-Subtitling:
Specification for subtitling and the presentation of graphics
DVB-RCC:
(Return Channel Cable): Specification for interactive channels (forward and return channels) in broadband
cable networks.
DVB-RTC:
Specification for interactive channels (return channels) via telephone and ISDN.
DVB-NIP:
Network-independent protocol for interactivity.
DVB-IPN:
Interfaces between DVB and the telecommunications world.
The standards developed in the DVB project also include Multimedia Home Platform, MHP. Other specifications and processes
relate to data radio via DVB, the synchronization of single frequency networks, interfaces between the DVB world and high
speed data networks, DVB-based digital satellite news gathering (DSNG), bi-directional communications and the networking of
DVB terminals.
DVB-H
(H stands for "handheld").
DVB-H enables the transmission of data rates of up to 10 Mbit/s. A typical field of application is the transmission of, for
example, 20 video streams at a data rate of 400 kbit/s each and on one DVB-H channel to a battery-powered end device (PDA,
Smartphone, Communicator etc.). Audio and data services, such as Internet-Push, can also be transmitted via DVB-H. Time
Slicing is used to conserve battery power of the end device: data is compressed and transmitted in defined time slices
and not permanently. In between time slices, no energy is consumed. DVB-H is based on DVB-T and is also suitable for
5-MHz channels (higher frequencies than radio bands), which is particularly interesting for applications in the USA.
DVB-SH
(DVB-H via satellite on S band).
Mobile TV via satellite - in
S band - to earth stations, that terrestrially
broadcast television services - also in S band - to mobile TV receivers
(mobile phones, PDA,
Navigation systems etc.).
The project is still
in an early development stage, its first public demonstration takes place
at the IFA 2007 in the Technisch Wissenschaftlichen Forum
(Science and Technology Forum).
DVB-T
(Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial).
Standard for terrestrial (see Terrestrial broadcasting) digital television.
At the beginning of 2003 DVB-T was introduced in the area of Berlin and Potsdam
and now increasingly replaces the conventional analogous terrestrial television
in Europe. The digital transmission technologies allow for a significantly more
efficient exploitation of the capacity of the available television channels. The
viewers are now able to receive 20 programs via antenna instead of five programs
in the past. Radio programs and multimedia data services can also be transmitted.
In many cases, a normal indoor antenna or simply a device antenna is enough, to have
clear reception nearly everywhere - inside the house, in the yard or while on the
move. That is where the German term "ÜberallFernsehen" comes from. The complete
conversion of terrestrial television from analog to digital TV (DVB-T) is scheduled
for 2010. Viviane Reding, EU commisioner for Information Society and Media, has
proposed the beginning of 2012 as a due date for the termination of the terrestrial
broadcasting in Europe. She expects that by 2010 most television consumers in Europe
will own at least one digital receiver.
DVB-X
Working title of one research project within the "Technical module" regarding DVB.
The task was to determine if and to what extent DVB-T could also be
provided for battery-powered end devices that, e. g., need to be
holding their charge for at least 24 hours. In a forecast regarding the
technology of DVB-T receivers was stated that by 2006 the power
consumption of these devices will have decreased to approximately 0.6
watts - which still is too high. Since the DVB-X end devices are to be
suited for different communication platforms they have to support IP
protocol, video signals and MPEG. In its early phase of development,
DVB-X was a variant of DVB-T which targeted the market segments of PDAs
and mobile phones. Its development has been completed and the format is
now known as DVB-H.
DVD
(Digital Versatile Disc).
Originally "Digital Video Disc", the "V" was re-designated from Video
to Versatile, because, like CD, the DVD is a highly universal data
medium (audio, video, text, computer software, etc.). The DVD combines
the convenience of the normal CD with a hitherto unknown application
flexibility, data rate and data capacity. The main difference between
the CD and the DVD is the considerably higher storage capacity of the
latter. The simplest version of the DVD has a single data layer with a
storage capacity of 4.7 GB - around seven times higher than that of a
CD-ROM. DVDs with two layers on each side achieve storage capacities of
up to 17 GB. The DVD also achieves an optimum data rate of around 10
Mbit/s for first class picture quality.
DVD-Recorder
DVD recorders record high-quality digitized television signals (audio
and video) on recordable or rewritable DVDs. There are currently four
different DVD variants, which can be considered as video recording
media, and are used by the industry for this purpose:
DVD-RAM: Double-sided recordable and rewritable disk with a storage
capacity of 4.7 gigabytes per side (enough space to record a feature
film in DVD quality). Similar to a hard drive, data on a DVD-RAM is
recorded in sectors. This allows extremely fast, precise access, making
the medium ideal for interactive functions. On a DVD-RAM disc, the data
is stored in pre-cut grooves as well as on the on the land separating
spaces. Consequently, DVD-RAM discs can only be played on a DVD-RAM
recorder or on PCs with an internal DVD-RAM drive, and not on
conventional DVD players. Integrated into a cartridge, DVD-RAM discs
can be removed from this protective covering for recording or playing
on drives with a standard retractable tray mechanism.
DVD-RW: Single-sided recordable and rewritable disc with a storage
capacity of 4.7 gigabytes. Similar to a DVD video, the data is recorded
in a spiral groove. The similarities between the two types of discs
make it possible for standard DVD recorders to read DVD-RW disks.
DVD+RW: Practically identical with DVD-RW. The main difference is in
the way the grooves are cut to provide better tracking than with a
DVD-RW. DVD+RW disks rotate at higher speeds and therefore provide
faster data transfer rates.
DVD-R: Single-sided, one-time recordable disc with a storage capacity
of 4.7 gigabytes. DVD-R stores data in a spiral groove, similar to a
DVD video. The physical similarities between the two types of discs
make it possible to play DVD-R discs on standard DVD recorders.
The question of compatibility with DVD players is not determined solely
by the physical disc format. Conventional DVD players were only able to
read DVDs which had been recorded in DVD Video File Format. New DVD
recorders operate with a different file system, Video Recording Format
(VRF) standardized by the DVD Forum. The advantage of this is that VRF
offers much more convenient editing possibilities than the old DVD
Video File Format.
In order to ensure compatibility with all DVD players, most new DVD
recorders are equipped with drives which are capable of recording and
playing several different types of disc. From a current perspective, it
can be said that practically all DVD recorders that have come on the
European market since the autumn of 2001 can record media that can be
played on a DVD player.
DVI
(Digital Video Interface).
Originally developed for computer monitors, the digital video interface
has been introduced to consumer electronics. The main difference
between DVI and the later introduced HDMI is that this format allows
for simultaneous transmission of audio data.
DXB
DXB (Digital Extended Broadcasting) was the subject of a project of the Fraunhofer
Gesellschaft (Fraunhofer HHI) extending from 2005 to 2007 regarding the development
of a new digital transmission concept on the basis of the systems DAB/DMB and DVB-T/DVB-H.
The goal is a multimedia transmission system using a combination of suitable system
components fulfilling the demand for frequency efficiency (efficient usage of radio
broadcasting frequencies). Another purpose of the project is to enable the transmission
of multimedia applications via DAB and DVB-H without additional encoding.
EBU
(European Broadcasting Union) A consortium of European broadcasters.
EDGE
(Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution).
Go to Mobile telephone systems.
E-Mail
Electronic mail (via Internet, Intranet and telephone lines).
Entavio
Entavio is the name of a so-called distribution platform for digital satellite
television by SES Astra. This platform is used to aggregate and encode radio programs
and additional services by order of the program providers. If the consumer has an
entavio-enabled satellite receiver as well as the Smartcard
required for watching
Pay-TV and has paid the monthly basic fee this
encoded content can be decoded and watched.
EPG
(Electronic Program Guide)
In digital television, EPG includes a user interface and an electronic program guide. The EPG is accessed over the Navigator,
which displays a table of contents of all the available Bouquets and Services
on the TV screen and provides access to several functions. After using
the remote control to select a program provider or a channel in the
Navigator, the corresponding customizable EPG appears and provides
detailed information about programs and their contents. The EPG can
also provide background information on shows broadcast the current day
or the following days. This system requires that the corresponding
broadcasting station transmits the requested information within the
digital stream. Each provider/station is responsible for the content
and presentation of its own
program package (Bouquet) in the EPG. Several other functions of the EPG can be chosen using the remote control buttons: e. g.
automatic timer recording on a VCR or setting bookmarks.
Ethernet
Protocol for data transmission in local networks (Local Area Networks = LAN).
ETSI
European Telecommunications Standards Institute.
Eutelsat
European satellite operator with several satellites in geostationary
orbit, providing a wide range of channels. The Hotbird Satellites,
relevant to Germany, are located at 13° East. The European
Telecommunication Satellite Organization was established in Paris in
1977 to manage satellite communication services in Europe. The original
membership of 17 countries has now grown to almost 50. Eutelsat's remit
is the operation of satellites for stationary and mobile communications
in Europe.
Everywhere television
Designation used for DVB-T terrestrial digital television, due to its universal (stationary, portable and mobile) applications.
Fachverband Consumer Electronics
(FV CE)
This association of manufacturers and providers of consumer electronics within the ZVEI (Zentralverband Elektro- und
Elektronik-Industrie) e.V. (Central association of the electrical engineering and electronics industry) regards itself as
marketing agent, consultant and customer service as well as the "portal to the consumer" through its close connections to
consumers, private customers and the specialized trade.
FDM (1)
(Frequency Division Multiplex).
Frequency division multiplex allocates each mobile phone user a specific
channel within the available frequency range for the duration of a connection.
FDM (2)
(Forum Digitale Medien)
After the successful completion of the "Initiative Digitaler Rundfunk" (IDR,
Initiative for Digital Broadcasting) a new start has been made with the
"Forum Digitale Medien - Aktion für Rundfunk und Neue Medien" (FDM
- campaign for radio broadcasting and new media). The objective of the
forum is to cooperate with all organizations involved in the
digitalization of communication and develop appropriate solutions. The
motto of the forum is: "Hemmnisse beseitigen, die Dinge zum Laufen
bringen!" (Eliminate barriers and get things moving!) Examples of
current projects are Mobile TV,
the digitalization of cable TV and the necessary readjustments regarding media rights on EU level.
Feedback channel
Transmission channel from the viewer to the program or service
provider. Broadband cables, telephone lines, Internet, mobile telephony
etc. can be used as feedback channels. The feedback channel is an
important prerequisite for interactive television.
Feedback channel
Transmission channel from the viewer to the program or service provider.
Broadband cables, telephone lines, Internet, mobile telephony etc. can be used as
feedback channels. The feedback channel is an important prerequisite for
Triple Play and
interactive television. It will also play an important
role in the context of new program formats for IPTV.
Firewall
Security system designed to protect a computer or computer network from unauthorized access or external data transfers.
Flatt Screen
Go to Plasma-Screen and LCD.
Flicker-free television
Go to 100 Hertz.
Forum Digitale Medien
Go to FDM.
Free-TV
(Also referred to as free-to-air or FTA)
Unencrypted digital channels or services which can be received without
the payment of subscription charges and the use of special CA systems
in the receiver, i.e. free of charge (see also Pay-TV).
gfu
(Gesellschaft für Unterhaltungs- und Kommunikationselektronik GmbH)
In 1973, eleven leading manufacturers of consumer electronics founded
this association for the advancement of consumer electronics. Its
objectives are presenting the Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA)
Berlin (International consumer electronics trade fair) and informing
the public about the developments regarding consumer electronics.
Later, the name of the organization was adapted to its current
commitments: since 1986, it has been the Gesellschaft für
Unterhaltungs- und Kommunikationselektronik (gfu) mbH, Frankfurt /Main.
The associate members are the companies of the trade association
Consumer Electronics of the Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und
Elektronikindustrie (ZVEI) e.V.
GIF
(Graphics Interchange Format).
Standard of a compressed format for digital images. These can also be short sequences of moving images - animated GIFs. At
the end of the 1980s, GIF was introduced by CompuServe and is mainly used for representing images on the WWW.
Gigabyte (GB):
Unit of measure for information units in Byte: 1 gigabyte = 1 billion byte (1000 megabyte).
Global Positioning System
Got to GPS.
GPRS
(General Packet Radio Service).
See Mobile telephone systems.
GPS
(Global Positioning System).
Satellite-supported navigation system that was originally designed and used
for the determination of locations and navigation in the military sector. Today
it is also widely used for civilian purposes: in air traffic, maritime and road
traffic as well as in sports, land surveying or in commerce. GPS uses a number
of satellites (at least 24) which transmit their own position in orbit together
with the current time at regular intervals. On the basis of the run times of the
GPS signals the GPS receiver
(Navigation system) calculates the position and
velocity.
GSM
(Global System for Mobile Communication).
See Mobile telephone systems.
Guide Plus+
System for automatic recording of television programs. Guide Plus+ receives program
information via the antenna terminal of the recorder and has an appearance on the
screen similar to a program guide. The desired program is "clicked" on using the
remote control and later recorded automatically. Prerequisite: the video recorder
supports the required technology. For information on which TV stations are offering
Guide Plus+ and the respective countries go to
www.europe.guideplus.com.
H.264/AVC
(or MPEG-4/AVC).
In Europe, the favoured encoding technique for high definition television (HDTV) enables data compression. With the encoding
standard MPEG-2,
HDTV would require 22 Mbit/s (million bit per second) and therefore a
lot more Bandwidth for transmission. Thanks to H.264/AVC, the
broadcasting of HDTV only requires 8-12 Mbit/s. This system was adopted
in 2003 by the work group JVT (Joint Video Team) - Moving Pictures
Experts Group (MPEG), ISO/IEC and Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) of
ITU-T.
HDD
(Hard-disk drive).
This storage type is also applied in consumer electronics for recording digital radio and television signals (HDD Recorder).
HDD Recorder, Digital Video Recorder
For digital television (DVB), all image and audio signals are transmitted to the
receiving device in a digital format similar to computer data in sequences of Bits.
These digital image and audio signals can be stored on a harddisk drive
(or on a Memory card with sufficient storage capacity), just like data on a computer.
Despite of the Data compression employed, an HDD recorder requires a relatively high
storage capacity of 1-2 GB (Gigabyte) per hour of recorded TV program.
HDD recorders are mainly provided in combination with Set-top boxes for digital satellite
reception. Currently, HDD recorders have a typical storage capacity of 80 GB and more.
These recorders record the data stream of the digital television as is and reproduce it
without any modification. There is virtually no loss in quality. The programming of the
recorder in combination with an EPG is exceptionally convenient: Simply select or
"click" on the desired TV program and that's it! There are also programming solutions
based on EPGs in the Internet. With such a solution, the recorder at home can be
programmed at any location. EPGs on the Internet will gain importance as soon as
systems like MHP enable television reception and Internet access on the same device.
HHD recorders have several other benefits: While the program is still being recorded it
can already be played back. With this technology, the Time Shift feature has a whole
new meaning: pause the program you're watching for a telephone call.
Other available features are replay and slow motion: widely used in sport
live-broadcasts from the stadium.
HAVi
(Home Audio Video interoperatibility).
The objective of the HAVi consortium is the development of a home
network architecture for applications in the "intelligent home".
According to the HAVi specifications, certain applications are able to
recognize and control HAVi compatible devices regardless of the
manufacturer. Additionally, these applications can control devices
within an assembly separately regardless of their physical layout. HAVi
includes components for messaging and power exchange via IEEE 1394
networks, registration and recognition of device functionalities via
network and management of digital audio-visual streams and devices. The
features of HAVi include a security system for protection against
(computer) viruses, a component that supports functions such as
pre-programmable (audio/video/data-) recording and standard programming
interfaces for controlling device functionalities.
HDCP
(High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection)
Copy protection for content of digital programs of high bandwidth. Applied with the digital interfaces DVI (Digital Video Interface) and
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface).
HD DVD
(High Density DVD, originally Advanced Optical Disc (AOD)).
Optical storage medium, similar to DVD but with significantly more capacity. The HD DVD consortium consists of NEC, Toshiba, Intel,
IBM and Time Warner.
HDMI
(High Definition Multimedia Interface).
"Fast" interface (connectors, cable and port) for the transmission of
digital audio, video and data signals. HDMI can process all currently
known image and audio formats including HDTV without any loss in
quality. The HDMI supports the copy protection HDCP necessary to qualify
for the label HD ready.
HDSL
(High-speed DSL)
Transmission system using pulse code modulation via twisted pair copper
cable to implement transmission at 1,544 Kbit/s T1 or 2,048 Kbit/s E1.
HD ready
(ready for HDTV)
A seal of approval signaling and ensuring consumers that devices are
suited for HDTV (flat screens in particular, but also camcorder and
player for Blu-ray discs and HD DVD). A device is "HD ready" if it
complies with the HDTV-standards 720p or 1080i, has a analogous
interface besides the digital DVI or HDMI interface, that supports the copy protection HDCP.
Since labels like "HD ready" only are effective if introduced all over
Europe, the European Information, Communications and Consumer
Electronics Technology Industry Associations (EICTA), the European
Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the European broadcasting stations and
Pay-TV-provider have been included in the development.
HDTV
(High Density TeleVision).
High resolution television (e.g. with twice the normal horizontal and
vertical resolution).
In comparison to conventional PAL television, a HDTV image consists of
five times as many pixels (five times higher resolution) and
consequently has a higher focus. HDTV will be provided via satellite,
broadband cable ("cable TV") and later also via telephone lines (also
see VDSL and IPTV). So far, terrestrial broadcasting is not currently being planned for Germany.
Efficient broadcasting of
HDTV requires the most efficient technologies. Therefore, the enhanced satellite broadcasting standard DVB-S2 or, for broadcasting via
cables, the standard DVB-C with 256-QAM is used. When encoded with MPEG-2, HDTV required approximately 22 Mbit/s (million bit per second).
This data rate was decreased substantially to 8-12 Mbit/s by applying modified transmission techniques and more efficient data compression
techniques. DVB-S2 and data compression (encoding) according to H.264
AVC are the preferred solutions. Appropriately equipped television
receivers are downward compatible, meaning they can also process the
currently broadcast HDTV programs (DVB-S and MPEG2-encoded). HDTV is
not only interesting in terms of television. There are camcorders and
optical storage media (Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD)
that can be used as a
source for HDTV.
High End
Audio systems meeting the highest sound quality standards.
Home-Cinema
(also referred to as Home Theater).
The home theater is one of the major trends in digital consumer electronics.
The "Concerto grosso" or the movie night at home are experiences which can repeated
on a daily basis. The home theater experience calls for the 16:9 Widescreen format.
Popular systems include a LCD screen or Plasma screen. Video projectors
provide even larger images. They project the video images on a screen just
as in the movie theater. Surround systems provide for the proper digital
sound from five, six or even seven channels.
HSCSD
(High Speed Circuit Switched Data).
Go to Mobile telephone systems.
HIPERLAN
(High Performance Radio Local Area Network, High Performance Radio Mobility in LANs).
European ETSI standard for wireless LANs. Assuming that wireless LANs will extend wired LANs or partially replace them, the HIPERLAN
specification is oriented at existing LAN hierarchies. A similar standard (IEEE 802.11) was specified in the USA.
HIPERLAN Type 1 specifies a wireless Ethernet with data rates of approx. 20 Mbit/s for the 5 GHz frequency range.
HiperLAN Type 2 is a European standard for broadband radio
communication for short ranges (up to 100 m). Output power can be
up to 1 watt at data rates of up to 20 Mbit/s. The system uses
frequencies in the 5 GHz range. Typical fields of application are:
wireless communication inside company buildings ("business
environment") and wireless networks of consumer electronic devices or
computers and peripherals in private households ("home environment")
for transmission of multimedia applications (audio, video, text, data).
HIPERLAN supports the transmission of data packets across several
stations as well as the transmission of time-critical and asynchronous,
time-independent data packets. HIPERLAN-compatible devices are operated
at frequencies between 5.15 GHz and 5.3 GHz. In future the carrier
frequency range between 17.1 GHz and 17.3 GHz will also be used.
HTML
(Hypertext Markup Language)
Programming language for creating Internet pages.
Hyperband
Frequency range (300 - 470 MHz) used in the broadband communications
network for the transmission of television programs ("cable
television").
Available for the introduction of new transmission services and primarily intended for digital TV transmissions using DVB-C.
IC
(Integrated Circuit)
Complex electronic circuit, in which many thousands of (transistor and
diode) functions are grouped together on a semiconductor chip. The
trend is to ever greater integration, with increasingly smaller
structures in the sub-micron range.
IDR
(Initiative Digital Radio)
Coordinated by the German Economics Ministry, IDR is a forum in which
experts from the fields of politics, academics, broadcasters and
industry discuss the scenarios which will determine the continued road
to digital radio and television. Germany is keeping pace with a
development which has now been introduced or announced throughout the
world. Consumer protection and the right to information have been
important topics in the consultations of the IDR. The changeover from
existing standards to digital radio and television will be a
consistent, but also a "soft" transformation. So for a transitional
period, radio and TV will be broadcast using the old and the new
broadcasting technologies. In cable and satellite, the preferred
receiving modes for 91% of TV viewers, there are adequate technical
facilities for parallel provision. But in terrestrial broadcasting -
which in the long term will be used mainly for portable and mobile
radio and television services - some compromises could become necessary
on a regional basis, because it will not be possible to receive all the
familiar programs in the customary quality using both the old and new
broadcasting standards for unlimited transition periods. The
transitional period for cable and satellite will be as long as
necessary, for terrestrial television up to 2010 and for terrestrial
radio up to 2015. During this period, multi-standard radio and
television receivers capable of analog and digital reception will be
available. In addition, a set-top box can be used now or at a later
date to convert any existing television set to digital TV. In addition
to set-top boxes for televisions, plug-in cards and external devices
are available to enhance computers with a digital TV capability. Since 2006,
the functions of the IDR (which have been updated and expanded) are
performed by the Forum Digitale Medien (FDM).
IEEE
(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).
The IEEE arranges symposia and forms boards for the standardization of technologies,
hardware and software. The IEEE with its more than 360.000 members in 175 countries
(end of 2005) is the world's largest engineering professional organization.
IEEE 1394
IEEE standard for high-speed data transmission in a local cable network
(Local Area Network, LAN). This standard also applies to home networks (HAVi). Depending on the layout, the data rate
is as high as 100, 200, 400 or 800 Mbit/s. In 1995, the P1394Bus
system, originally developed by Apple as IEEE 1394/1995 and also known
as "Firewire", was pronounced industry standard. In 1997, Sony
introduced the "i.Link" logo as a label for standardized
IEEE-1394-interfaces.
IEEE 802.11
Family of standards for local wireless networks (WirelessLan). The most widespread standard IEEE 802.11b uses a Data rate of 11 Mbit/s, and
operates in the 2.4-GHz-ISM frequency band, providing wireless connections between different devices. Two other common standards are IEEE 802.11a
(data rate 54 Mbit/s in the 5 GHz band and 802.11g (data rate 54 Mbit/s in the 2.4-GHz band).
IFA Convention
"IFA Convention - Common Life Technologies" is an event format at the
IFA. It covers current questions regarding Digital Lifestyle and
Electronic Entertainment and consequently focuses on future
developments and their relevance for today and the future.
IP-Datacast
The participants of the international DVB (Digital
Video Broadcasting) project work on developing technologies for the
so-called hybrid networks. IP Datacast (IP = Internet Protocol) via
DVB-H comprises the option of including a mobile telephony channel. It
allows for portable application of completely new services, which could
neither be provided by mobile telephony systems such as UMTS nor by digital
broadcasting networks such as DVB-H alone.
iMode
iMode is a system successfully launched in Japan, which transfers
content from the Internet on the displays of specific mobile phones.
iMode is based on the programming language cHTML (Compact HTML), which
is a subset of HTML- used for programming Internet sites. Due to this close relation, it is possible to display iMode-pages on the PC monitors with the established Browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape etc.) (see: www.eu-japan.com/i/). iMode can be used for depicting text and simply animated pictures. Because of the relatively low Data rate
of 9600 Bit/s iMode doesn't support presenting films or videos. -iMode
got rapidly more than over 16 mio customers in Japan. The developer was
NTT DoCoMo, the leading operator of mobile phone networks in Japan.
E-Plus has introduced iMode based on GPRS (Mobile telephone systems) in Europe.
Indoor coverageMain problem for mobile telephony: Inside buildings the radio signals are more or less shielded which can impair reception. To try and compensate for this, relatively high transmitting power is supplied.
Information society
As the American scientist Norbert Wiener predicted as soon as in 1948, the term
"information society" has been used - in different contexts - for a long time.
In the 1960s the development from an industrial society to a service society
has been characterized by this term. About 10 years later the term "postindustrial society"
was born. Meant is that more and more people - expecially using the computer - are employed
by the procurement, processing, and transfer of information.
The science theoritician Helmut F. Spinner identifies the information society as a pre-stage
of the knowledge society.
Initiative Digital Radio
see IDR.
interactive
Describes the possibility of intervening in a certain process (program, data flow, etc.)
via a Feedback channel. This concept is also referred to as dialog-oriented services or
applications, which include certain television program formats as well as
Online-Shopping.
Interlace
For the interlace technique, the odd image lines (1, 3, 5, 7...) and
the even image lines (2, 4, 6, 8...) are "written" on the TV screen in
turn. With this technique, flickering can largely be avoided.
interleaving
Bytes from a defined number of subsequent data
packets are read from storage before transmission and afterwards
written back in a different order so that the subsequent bytes
originate from different data packets. By interleaving, which is
reversed analogously in the receiver, transmission errors that have
corrupted a rather long segment of the data stream are divided into
discrete errors that are easier to correct.
Interface
There are software interfaces (API) between programs which work together, and hardware interfaces in the form of - generally standardized - connection
sockets or plugs. E.g. the parallel and serial ports (interfaces) in computers and Set-top boxes.
Internet
Global interlinkage of data networks. Initially intended exclusively
for military use, then increasingly adopted by universities and
institutes for (data) exchange of research results. Today, online
services and service providers allow anyone access to the Internet.
Internet Protocol Television
The term "Internet radio" (also known as web radio or e-radio) denominates the radio
programs broadcast on the Internet as well as the appropriate receiving devices
(if not using a computer). For the transmission of Internet radio usually
"Streaming Audio" is used, a variant of Streaming Media.
Internet radio
Television via Internet (see IPTV).
Intranet
A data network using the same technology as the Internet that is not
public but can only be accessed by authorized users, i. g. within
companies or organizations. A so-called "extranet" additionally grants
authorized external users, such as important customers, access to the
extranet.
INTELSAT
(International Telecommunication Satellite Organisation).
This international telecommunications organization plans and services
worldwide telecommunication networks - primarily for satellite
broadcasting services between continents. INTELSAT defines the
technical specifications for earth stations in the member countries.
IP Datacast
The participants of the international DVB
(Digital Video Broadcasting) project
work on developing technologies for the so-called hybrid networks. IP Datacast
(IP = Internet Protocol) via DVB-H comprises the option of including a mobile
telephony channel. It allows for portable application of completely
new services, which could neither be provided by mobile telephony
systems such as UMTS nor by digital broadcasting networks such as
DVB-H alone. This technology allows for providing appropriately equipped
end devices with radio content (via DVB-H)
and Internet content (via GSM, GPRS or UMTS).
IPTV
(Internet Protocol Television).
IPTV is television based on Internet protocol (IP).
Consequently, IPTV is internet
television, i. e. the TV programs are broadcast via Internet access. Besides
providing access to the Internet and to telephony, the telephone line therefore
also provides television service (Triple Play).
Technologies from the field
of Streaming Media are often
referred to as IPTV. However, IPTV is not the
small window for low resolution images on the computer screen, IPTV was
designed for display on the TV screen: Live-TV via Multicast, Unicast for
on-demand services. The benefits of IPTV are high quality of transmission,
fast changing of channels and the compatibility with home networks. There is
no waste (of bit rates) in the worldwide network any longer. New methods of
video encoding (e. g. MPEG4/H.264-AVC) allow for television in standard
quality at data rates of around 2 Mbit/s. Using VDSL
transmission, even
HDTV via IPTV is possible. Television via
Internet is not always IPTV. -
Quote from "TV-Zukunft": "In many aspects the rules of television blend
with the rules of the Internet. In the future, all radio networks could use
Internet Protocol (IP) as a
technological basis. Today, among experts
"IP-TV" stands for two different developments: either television over the
open Internet. Or television as in cable TV - but using the telephone line.
The two options have basically very similar technical backgrounds. The
open web provides access via every Internet connection. The respective
Internet platforms are independent of Internet access, the content comes
from classical program providers and/or anarchic from the web. To get to
the protected part of the web, which offers as much exclusive content as
possible and that is subject to fees, the customer of a telecom company
(e. g. T-Home) needs to use special
set-top boxes." In several European
countries, including Germany, IPTV is initially deployed in large cities
and metropolitan areas.
IRD
("Integrated Receiver Decoder")
The internationally used technical term for a set-top box with integrated receiver and Decoder for digital television.
ISDN
(Integrated Services Digital Network)
ISDN integrates telecommunications services, including telephone, fax,
and data communications into a single network. This digital
telecommunications system provides maximum Data rates of 128 kBit/s
(Channel bundling of 2 B-channels. See also Basic access line and B-Channel.
ISM
(Industrial, Scientific, Medical).
Frequency band (2.4 GHz to 2.483 GHz) reserved primarily for
industrial, scientific and medical applications, but also used for
local wireless networks (Bluetooth, WirelessLan or IEEE 802.11).
JPEG
(Joint Photographic Expert Group)
JPEG is a process used for
Data compression
of images. JPEG image files contain up to 15 times less
data resulting in faster online transmission and reduced storage space
required on a computer, hard disk or
Memory card.
Ka-/Ku-Band
See Satellite frequency range.
KNX-Standard
Standard technology for home networks. KNX was designed in 2002 as successor
of the combination of the three bus systems European Installation Bus (EIB),
BatiBUS and European Home Systems (EHS). For further information see
http://www.knx.org/ .
LAN
(Local Area Network)
Local network used for exchanging data. When used in wireless transmission, it is referred to as
Wireless LAN. The International Standards Organization (ISO) defines LAN as a local network located
within property boundaries under the legal control of the user.
LCD
(Liquid Crystal Display).
Flat display panels or screens which use liquid crystals to display information.
LED
Light Emitting Diode (frequently used as a low-power illuminated display).
LNB
(Low Noise Block Converter)
The LNB is mounted at the focal point of the satellite dish to amplify the received satellite signals,
convert them to a lower frequency range and then send them to the receiver (e.g. Set-top box).
Mailbox
An electronic answering machine provided by a network operator as a value added service (also referred to as a Mobile Box
in mobile telecommunications). If the number called is busy or the telephone is switched off, the caller can leave a voice
message that is recorded on the network provider's computer.
MD
(Mini Disk)
(Audio) data medium in diskette format, stores up to 80 minutes of music. The sound is almost CD quality.
MD Recorder
Device for recording (and playing) Mini Disks (MD).
Media FLO
(Media Forward Link Only).
Standard developed specifically for CDMA-networks (in the USA) for transmission of multimedia content to mobile receivers.
Mediathek
Digital archives that collect, document and provide access to content
from different media types. Example: in the ZDFmediathek programs can
be chosen from alphabetical or subject-oriented lists even before they
have been broadcast on regular TV (also see Podcast).
medienpolitik@IFA
Round-table discussion events of media-political topics introduced at the
Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA) in 2005. The participants of the 60-minute
discussions are experts from politics, media, science and economy. The topics
cover regulatory, radio-related, and copyright-related questions as well as
technological developments and their effects on the configuration of the receiving
devices of tomorrow.
Memory card
(also called "chip card").A smaller than credit-card sized,
non-volatile semiconductor card for storing large amounts of data. When
the first memory cards were launched, they had a capacity of 8 Mbytes,
rapidly increasing to 16 and then 32 Mbytes. The latter were capable of
storing 30 minutes of music for e.g. an MP3 player.
There are now tiny postage stamp sized cards which can store in the
order of Gigabytes (billion bytes). These were initially used in
digital cameras and MP3 players, but are now also used in camcorders,
dictation machines, mobile phones, PDAs, games consoles, car radios, in
presentation technology, in laptops, color printers and even for
special programs in microwaves and freezers. This development is
starting to make memory cards into "bridge media" between various types
of devices, and thereby extending the mobility of their users. The
cards in most widespread use are the Compact Flash Card, the Smartmedia
Card, the Memory Stick, the Multimedia Card and the SD Card.
A type of memory card that is of growing importance is the USB
flash drive.
The Smartcard also belongs to the
family of memory cards.
Memory Effect
The memory effect occurs in nickel cadmium and metal hybrid batteries
if they are recharged before the power is completely drained. This
reduces the battery's charging capacity. It is always advisable to wait
until the battery is fully discharged before connecting cordless
telephones or mobile phones to the battery charger. Modern lithium-ion
batteries effectively eliminate the problem of memory effect.
Metadata
Data that contains information about other data or additional information
about that data (the greek prefix "meta" means "with" or "beyond").
MHP
(Multimedia Home Platform).
MHP - a software package - is the open, generally accessible technical
solution to all innovative multimedia applications and services in the
scope of the DVB-Standard (digital
television). MHP links the worlds of radio and the Internet, TV and the
computer. In short, it is a uniform system for all services. The use of
this standardized software interface, based on the Java programming
language is intended to make it possible to access all services and
channels on any industry-standard Set-top box.
As the interface is available to all program and service providers as
well as all equipment manufacturers, MHP has paved the way to the
production of receivers which are compatible with all conceivable
current and future offerings. The MHP software package will be
implemented in DVB receivers and on multimedia PCs.
Microwaves
Frequencies in the range above 3 GHz (Gigahertz = billion Hertz). Can
also be used for transmitting digital television services, and
occasionally also referred to as "wireless cable".
MMS
(Multimedia Messaging Services).
MMS allows mobile telephone users to send images, sounds and text. Unlike SMS, the length of an MMS message is unlimited.
MMS is also capable
of sending short video sequences.
Mobile telephone systems
In GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), each voice or data
transmission is allocated to an individual time slot. The data rate is
9.6 Kbit/s. Only one time slot can be used for a connection. By
contrast, several time slots can be allocated to transmissions using
HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data).
This allows considerably higher data rates. According to Nokia, the
company that originally developed the system, HSCSD can be used in
difficult radio transmission areas, where each individual error
correction bit is required. Nevertheless, the principle is effectively
based on the familiar GSM technology. The difference is that the
parallel use of several time slots allows a considerably greater volume
of data to be transferred. Like GSM, HSCSD is based on line
transmission. In other words, in voice and data transmission, each user
is allocated a "separate" line, which he monopolizes for the duration
of the connection. This line is occupied even during phases when the
subscriber is pausing, and therefore neither speaking nor transmitting
data. This creates a certain degree of "idle time."
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is able to utilize these "idle
times." Instead of permanently occupying a line, the data is
transmitted in packets. When a time slot is in a phase of non-use, a
(data) packet is transmitted in this time slot. So instead of line
transmission, the term "packet transmission" is used. This allows
better utilization of the transmission bandwidth. Experts postulate
38.6 Kbit/s and even a theoretical 114 Kbit/s which could be achieved
at some point. The process requires each packet to be "packed" in
accordance with a specific data structure, which must contain at least
two addresses: one which indicates who sent the packet, and one showing
to whom it is to be sent. GPRS integrates the Internet protocol (IP) in
GSM networks. Insiders therefore regard the main application of GPRS as
being Internet access, and particularly WAP services. High downstream
(to the user) data rates are required in these services, while the
request for information (transfer of a simple web address) requires
only a small amount of upstream data. Asymmetric transmissions of this
kind fit well with the possibilities of GPRS.
UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) - This "common successor" to a
large number of mobile radio systems includes technical features which
justify use of the term, "universal." UMTS can be line-connected for
voice and video services, but also used in packet transmission for data
services. Since UMTS automatically recognizes the type of information
(voice or data), the data rate is also automatically adjusted to the
momentary requirements. The tabloid press generally proclaims UMTS data
rates of 2 Mbit/s, but the more critical specialist periodicals claim
more sober rates of "typically 384 Kbit/s." In fact, it can be
anticipated that under optimum conditions, and particularly if the user
is stationary or moving only slowly, UMTS is capable of a data rate of
2 Mbit/s. Especially at higher speeds in moving vehicles - particularly
in urban environments - the standard approved by ETSI provides for a
data rate of at least 384 Kbit/s (which nevertheless allows
high-standard e-commerce or multimedia applications and represents a
high quality standard even for professional video conferencing systems.
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) - Finally, a (GSM) process
that appears somewhat exotic, because no plans for its introduction
have as yet been made known in Germany. In some countries, however,
EDGE is almost certain to be introduced before UMTS. EDGE combines a
special modulation process and the packaging of up to eight GSM
channels. The result is a data rate of 384 Kbit/s.
UMTS (Universal Mobile Telephone System) - This "collective successor"
of several mobile telephony systems shows technical characteristics
which justify the label "universal". UMTS can be line-switched for
voice and video services as well as packet-switched for data services.
Since UMTS automatically recognizes the type of information (voice or
data), the data rate is also adjusted automatically to the current
demand. Theoretically, UMTS can provide the ideal data rate of 2 Mbit/s
at ideal conditions and if the receiver moves slowly.
Especially at high velocities in moving vehicles and in urban areas with
unfavourable propagation conditions for radio waves, the standard by ETSI
intends for a data rate of at least 384 kbit/s (which still allows for
sophisticated e-Commerce- or multimedia application and provides a high
standard of quality when using professional video conference systems).
Mobile TV
Watching TV on a mobile phone. There are two possibilities:
transmission of the TV signal via suitable mobile telephony
technologies (UMTS) or via broadcasting technologies
(DVB-H,
DVB-SH, DMB).
Method and medium of the mobile Information society
result from the convergence of digital radio and mobile
communication. On one hand, the objective is to make radio,
television, and the Internet technically accessible anywhere
and at any time - even outdoors and in vehicles - on the mobile
phone, the PDA, and other mobile devices. On the other hand,
it is a market worth billions: since 2006 not only the appliance
industry, program providers, but also mobile telephone service
providers, independent service providers, and platform providers
compete for the pole position on this new market.
Modem
(Abbreviated compound of Modulator/Demodulator)
Device for connecting a computer to the telephone network for data transmission (fax, Internet) etc.
Moore's Law
Thesis of the co-founder of the company INTEL according to which the
potential or capacity of semi-conductor chips is doubled every 12-24
months.
MPEG
(Motion Picture Experts Group) A joint working group - Working Group 11
(WG11), also referred to as the International MPEG Laboratory - of the
International Standardization Organization (ISO) and the International
Electro-technical Commission (IEC). MPEG was established in 1988 by
over a hundred companies, to discuss and draft proposals and standards
in special expert groups (Requirement or System Groups). Examples:
MPEG-2 is a standard for the
data compression
of television signals and is used all around the globe.
MPEG-4 is a derivative of MPEG-2 allowing for even higher data compression.
MPEG-4/AVC is also known as H.264/AVC.
MPEG-4 is the format used
for DVB-H as well as for future
HDTV broadcasting.
MPEG-7
Unlike other MPEG standards MPEG-7
was not designed to provide
Data compression
but to describe multimedia data by
Metadata.
This includes the organization, the structure,
and the description of content that is used in multimedia archives or
in radio broadcasting. By the use of MPEG-7 finding the content in
such archives is easier and faster. In 2002, MPEG-7 became ISO standard.
MP3
A procedure developed by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG), which
compresses audio data to a degree which allows them to be economically
stored and transmitted within a reasonable time as an attachment to an
E-mail or downloaded from the Internet. The data compression is in the
order of up to 1:20. For example, a 31/2 minute music track occupies a
file size of around 35 MB (million bytes). Using MP3 this is compressed
to around 1.5 MB (Data compression).
MP3 player
MP3 players store MP3 coded music tracks on memory
chips and reproduce them via speakers, headphones or a connected audio
system. MP3 files can also be played on specially equipped CD players
or using computer programs (examples: Realjukebox, Musicmatch or
Winamp).
Multimedia
This term indicates that a number of different media (e.g. voice,
music, moving images, graphics, or text) are used simultaneously (a
multimedia presentation).
Multimedia Home Platform
See MHP.
MUSICAM
(Masking pattern adapted Universal Sub-band Integrated Coding And Multiplexing)
Corresponds to MPEG1 Audio, Layer II: reduces the data rate from audio signals from 1,411 Mbit/s
(as used on an audio CD) to 192 Kbit/s.
Navi
Short for Navigation system device.
Navigator
Software in a Set-top box or TV set with an
integrated digital television receiver. The Navigator provides a user
interface ("menu") on the screen to be used to navigate to the
different programs or functions. The Navigator is supposed to be a
neutral and non-discriminating control system in digital receivers,
which does not favor or penalize certain providers. It contains the
table of contents of all received Bouquets or Services
and provides access to them. Experts call it a basic navigator: A
publication of the association of manufacturers of consumer electronics
stated that the basic navigator is a function directly implemented in
the receiver. It appears right after the device is switched on and
displays the currently available television services. The necessary
data is extracted from the service information associated with the
program and is part of the digital data stream that also includes the
audio and video signals associated with the program. When the user has
chosen the desired program package in the basic navigator using the
remote control, the EPG, an electronic TV program guide of the corresponding provider/station, appears on the screen.
Navigation system device
Device that is capable of receiving GPS signals, deriving a determination of
locations and guiding to a specific geographical target. For this purpose,
besides a GPS receiver a system is integrated into the navigation system
device, that transmits the received data in digital maps in a manner that
the surroundings can be displayed on the screen. Additionally, the device
calculates a routing, meaning the fastest and most direct way to the target,
and produces acoustical and optical instructions for the driver. Navigation
systems come in a variety of models: factory-equipped or later integrated in
a vehicle, integrated in a car hifi system, combined with receivers of traffic
message channels or digital TV, in PDAs, or in mobile phones.
Newsgroups
Internet "bulletin boards" accessible to interest groups. These public information and discussion forums cover
thousands of subject areas.
Every participant can read the contributions and add his own.
Newsletter:
An information service via e-mail provided by businesses and
organizations. A typical example is the free IFA Newsletter which can
be subscribed to from the IFA web site www.ifa-berlin.de. To subscribe
to a newsletter or unsubscribe, you enter your e-mail address in the
mailing list of the corresponding provider.
NICAM
A broadcasting process used in various countries to transmit and
receive two digital sound signals (stereo or bi-lingual) on analog
television.
Non Linear Editing
The term "Non-Linear Editing (NLE)" relates to the type of access to a digital audio/video recording on a hard drive or a DVD.
While on a magnetic tape, specific information is accessible only by
"linear" movement of the tape (fast forward and rewind), a non-linear
disk allows direct access to all information stored on the disk. The
difference is therefore mainly in the time required for winding and
rewinding the tapes. The advantage of NLE lies primarily in simplifying
and speeding up work sequences at the editing desk.
Notebook
Computer for mobile use (modern notebooks are often no thicker than a pack of cigarettes).
NTSC
(National Television System Committee).
US American (also used in Japan) television standard with 60 Hz refresh
rate, an aspect ratio of 4:3 and a resolution of 767 x 575 pixels.
Organizer
(also referred to as Personal Information Manager - PIM)
Small pocket-calculator-size computer. Particularly used for managing addresses, timetables, to-do lists and memos.
OCR
(Optical Character Recognition), Scanner.
Online-banking
Conducting banking transactions "online" (at home): checking account
balances or conducting money transfers at any time and place.
Online-shopping
Shopping "online" (at home): browsing catalogs, comparing products of
different providers on the computer screen and then ordering via
mouse-click or phone call.
OSD
(On Screen Display)
On-screen menu as a user guide or to simplify operation.
Palmtop
Complete PC with keyboard, around the size of a hand, making it significantly smaller than a notebook.
PALplus
A system introduced in 1994 - backwards compatible to PAL standard - for the analog transmission of television channels in 16:9 Widescreen
format. PALplus was developed by a consortium of manufacturers,
broadcasters and research institutes, the activities and development
work of which were coordinated by the German TV broadcaster, ZDF. On
standard television screens (4:3 aspect ratio), PALplus broadcasts are
displayed in "letterbox format" with black bars on the top and bottom
of the screen.
Pay-Per-View
The viewer pays only for the films and programs that he actually
watches. This is currently only possible by subscribing to a channel
that offers this facility: Pay-TV.
Pay-TV
(Subscription television)
In addition to public service broadcasters, e.g. ARD and ZDF in Germany
and the BBC in the UK, which are largely financed by a television
license fee, and the private broadcasters, e.g. SAT1, PRO7 and ITV,
financed from advertising income, a further financing system is Pay-TV.
To receive decrypted pictures and sound, the subscriber has to pay the
fee determined by the broadcaster: Encryption. The viewer pays either a
monthly charge to the broadcaster which gives him access to films or
exclusive sporting events without advertising intervals
(Pay-per-Channel), or he accesses a system in which only the programs
actually viewed are paid for (Pay-per-View).
PCMCIA
(Personal Computer Memory Card Industry Association)
An interface originally designed as an expansion of memory cards for
laptops, and now universally used for applications such as miniaturized
modems or decryption systems in digital television.
PDA
(Personal Digital Assistant)
Handy miniature computer which uses a special pen "writing" on the
display for input rather than a keyboard. Typically used for managing
addresses, timetables, to-do lists and memos, but also for Internet,
e-mail and other interactive applications, communicating via a mobile
phone (cable or infra-red connection to the PDA).
Picture format
Width to height (aspect ratio) of the television screen image. For many
years, the standard format was 4:3. This format was also the standard
used in cinema film. The 16:9 aspect ratio, or Widescreen format, more closely approximates the human field of vision.
PIM
(Personal Information Manager), Organizer, PDA.
PIN
(Personal Identification Number)
Secret code used to access a variety of services.
PIP
(Picture In Picture) An additional (smaller) picture displayed within a
main (television) picture. This facility is used, for example, to view
a second program or to monitor the output from a security camera
simultaneously with watching the main program.
Plasma Screen
Technology for flat television screens. Plasma screens are made up from
two parallel glass panes with an inert gas sandwiched between them.
Horizontal and vertical electrodes are arranged on the insides of the
panes. When an electric voltage is applied to these electrodes, a gas
discharge occurs between them ("plasma condition").The ultraviolet
light radiated from the plasma excites phosphorous particles, causing
them to give off light. The color image is generated by using different
colors of phosphorous. Plasma screens are completely flat, and product
absolutely flicker-free pictures, free from any distortion. Despite the
larger size of the visible screen area, plasma screens need less depth
than conventional television sets with cathode ray tubes.
Play Out Center
In the play out center, the digital encoding, the bundling of the
channels (to form program-Bouquets) and the broadcasting of the
programs and services of a station are locally and technically
centralized.
Podcasting
(Internet-based radio broadcasting).
The term "Podcasting" means producing and deploying media files (audio or video)
via Internet. The term "Podcast" is a composition of the name of the portable
digital audio player "iPod" by Apple and the term "Broadcasting", since 2004
this term is commonly used. Apple is considered to have helped making
podcasting available to a large audience by integrating it into the
widely used Software iTunes. To provide an audio podcast in MP3
format the only equipment needed is a PC with a suitable sound card,
a microphone, Internet access, and storage room on a Server
(so-called Webspace). There is Webspace offered specifically
designed for Podcasters (known as Podspace). There is inexpensive
software for processing and easy handling. In contrast to traditional
radio broadcastings there is not expensive and extensive equipment
required for podcasting. Until now, there are no fees for podcasting
as there are for Internet radio. The only common characteristic with
radio broadcasting is the necessity of respecting the copyrights on the
media content used. Besides the, in some cases, high quality private Podcasts
there are as well some professional services by established media (publishing
houses, broadcasters). The equivalent of the traditional "stations" is
referred to as "feeds" in the context of podcasts. For the audience,
podcasts are usually free of charge. Podcasting uses the technology of
Web 2.0 and is regarded in the broadest sense as audio- or Video on
demand (VoD) (also see
User Generated Content).
Post production software
Software for editing (cutting, color correction, effects,
and adding text) of (digital) video recordings. For cutting of images the method of
Non Linear Editing is used.
Protocol
Rules which enforce and realize the transmission of data on "data
highways", be it in online networks or between components inside a
computer. One of the best known protocols is the Internet protocol (IP)
that controls the transmission throughout the Internet worldwide.
Provider
Providers are companies which provide programs and/orServices.
PVR
(Personal Video Recorder), HDD Recorder.
RAM
(Random Access Memory).
Working memory in computers used to load programs and data.
RDS
(Radio Data System)
Supplementary information (about alternative frequencies, channel name,
time, traffic information, etc.) is broadcast inaudibly in parallel
with the radio programs.
SACD
(Super Audio CD)
Improved CD with more storage capacity (playing time), backwards compatible with CD.
Satellite frequency range
The three most important frequency ranges for satellite transmission
are: C-Band, Ku-Band, and Ka-Band. The C-Band, used primarily for the
early satellite systems, is in the range between 4 and 8 GHz and
requires a dish diameter ("dish size") of 2 - 3 m. The Ku-Band is used
by the current second-generation satellite systems (Astra/Hot Bird) and
occupies the frequency range between 10.7 and 12.75 GHz. The required
dish size is around 60 cm. The Ka-Band is in the range between 20 and
30 GHz and will gain importance in the future in the sphere of data
communications - with a return channel via satellite.
S band
Frequency range between 1.55 and 5.2 GHz which is used for digital
radio broadcasting via satellite as well as by weather and
communication satellites. In the future, the S band might play a role in
Mobile TV
and in the scope of the standard SVB-SH.
Scanner
Device for reading images and text, which are input directly into the
computer as a "screened image." "Scanned" texts can be converted to
text files using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) computer programs,
allowing them to be manipulated in word processing systems.
Semi-conductor
Semi-conductors are solids (e. g. silicon) whose conductivity can
be controlled by introducing impurities (doping). For microelectronics,
semi-conductors are particularly interesting because their conductivity
can also be controlled by applying a control voltage or a control
current (as in transistors).
SES
(Société Européenne des Satellites).
A satellite operator consortium using the ASTRA satellite system; established in 1985.
Set-top box
A supplementary device which includes a decoder for receiving digital
television programs. A set-top box can be connected to the input of any
existing television set allowing it to be used for digital television.
Services
A service is a special offering in the Bouquet of a provider. A service can be a composition of audio, video and/or data. On digital TV
receivers (DVB), the integrated Navigator lists the available services on the screen. The term service is also used in connection with
offers by providers of (mobile) telephone services - for example SMS - or by an Internet Service Provider.
Service convergence
Besides the convergence regarding
technologies, media and markets, there is also convergence in the
context of services. Services are considered convergent if they use
more than one communication network, e g. "skyDSL via Satellite".
The normal connection to the Internet is realized via modem, for Downloads of large
files a satellite connection via DVB-S is additionally established.
Convergent services comprise hybrid communication networks. Especially
interesting are hybrid mobile networks which can comprise several
components: from UMTS
over GSM
and WirelessLAN to broadcasting networks such as DAB, DVB-T and DVB-H.
Service Information Data
Go to SI
Set-top box
A supplementary device which includes a decoder for receiving digital
television programs. A set-top box can be connected to the input of
any existing television set allowing it to be used for digital television.
SFN
(Single Frequency Network).
See Single Frequency Network.
Showview
Programming system for video recorders, in which the Show-View codes quoted
in the TV listing guide (combinations of figures) can be entered by
the remote handset. This obviates the need for separate entry of the
station, program, and the start and finish times for recording.
SI
(Service Information)
Besides the digitalized image and audio data, the data stream for
digital television also includes numerous other data. Amongst this
other data is the so-called service information. It allows for the
representation of program information with a table of contents and the
broadcasting hours. This data is partially adopted by the EPGs. The SI also contains information about frequency, symbol rate, bandwidth and information about
the corresponding satellite system or the cable network.
Science and Technology Forum
See TWF
Scrambling
"Camouflaging" of television images. In the context of Pay-TV, programs
are broadcast encoded and can only be viewed by participants who have
paid a certain fee for authorization and whose receiver includes the
corresponding decoding system (Descrambling).
Single Frequency Network (SFN)
Digital transmission systems (e.g. DVB-T) allow a signal to be sent
from a number of different locations on the same frequency. In analog
technology, this would lead to heavy interference, but in digital
transmission, it can actually improve reception. In addition, the
Single Frequency Network (SFN) makes a contribution to reducing the
number of broadcast frequencies used ("frequency economy").
Slate
Design form of a Tablet PC.
Smartcard
Check-card sized plastic card with an integrated Chip, e.g. used as a telephone card. In digital television, a smart card is used as a "decrypt card"
for calculating and charging for Pay-TV and supplementary data services. It supplies the identification of the user to the
CA system, and also
contains information on which programs the user has subscribed to and are therefore accessible by him.
SMS
(Short Message Service).
Mobile telephone service in which short text messages (typically up to
160 characters) are transmitted and displayed on a mobile telephone.
With appropriate software, SMS messages can also be sent from and
received by PCs and notebooks.
STB
(Abbreviation for Set-top box).
Streaming Media
Audio and video data received and displayed simultaneously from a
digital (computer) network. The process itself is called streaming.
Streaming Media therefore is the Internet-equivalent to broadcasting
technologies. Programs are, for example, Internet radio stations or
Video on Demand. To exploit Streaming Media services, the receiving
side requires a specific software. There are many competing Streaming
Media technologies.
Surroundsound
Originally developed for commercial cinemas, this is now also used in Home Cinema. The standard Home Cinema configurations (Home Cinema)
with five separate audio channels and an additional subwoofer effects
channel (5.1-channel system in Dolby Digital) also include systems,
which provide an additional, third Surround channel (e.g. THX EX). DVD tracks which provide soundtracks with six channels plus a subwoofer effects channel (6.1-channel system),
can also be played on a five-channel Surround set-up.
Tablet PC
Mobile personal computer, which - from the outside - appears to comprise no more than a display (Touch screen),
and - instead of a mouse and keyboard - is operated by a special pen.
Text is also entered by hand, using the pen, with handwriting
recognition software converting the handwritten characters into
letters, figures or symbols from the computer character set. This
allows all information - including data recorded away from the desk -
to be processed in Office documents and, for example, forwarded as
e-mails. A distinction is made between "pure" tablet PCs, which are
also aptly called "slates", and convertibles, which are actually
notebooks, but with a display that can be swung outwards, folded down
onto the keyboard and used like slate type of tablet PC.
Talk im TWF
Presentations and round-table discussions in the TWF
TCP/IP
(Transmission Control Protocol /Internet Protocol).
"Cooperation" of two Protocols: The Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is based on the Internet protocol (IP) and is enhanced by an error
correction system and acknowledgement within a (data) packet-switched fixed connection.
Technisch Wissenschaftliches Forum
Go to TWF
Teletext
System originally developed by the British Broadcasting Corporation
(BBC) for subtitling television broadcasts for the deaf. It is now used
as relatively convenient text information service for television
viewers. The text is transmitted in the blanking interval, i.e. in the
space between two consecutive screen images. This information can be
accessed via the remote control handset and viewed on a television
equipped with a Teletext decoder, which is now a standard feature on
most sets.
Terrestrial broadcasting
(Latin: terra = earth).
Wireless terrestrial transmission of (radio, television and
telecommunication) signals (not transmission via cable or satellite).
THX
(Tomlinson Holman Experiment)
Lukasfilm standard for high-quality sound reproduction in cinemas. The
modules for home surround sound systems can now also be THX certified.
TIFF
(Tag Image File Format).
File format for saving high quality digital photographies.
Touch Screen
With this type of display screen, the user touches the screen surface to navigate through programs and information.
Triple-band
Mobile phones with three radio frequency ranges: 900 MHz (for example
for D networks), 1800 MHz (for example for E networks) and 1900 MHz for
mobile phones in the USA.
Triple Play
Telephony, Internet access and broadcasting (radio and television) on
the same transmission channel (e. g. broadband cable or telephone
line).
Tuner
Reception part of a radio or television, which also includes the
circuitry and controls for selecting the required reception frequency.
TWF
(Technisch Wissenschaftliches Forum - Engl.: Science and Technology Forum).
IFA uses specially tried formats - round-table discussion, conference,
colloquium for the press, and the Technisch-Wissenschaftlichen Forum -
for presenting visitors and trade visitors with the trends of developments.
In this context the Technisch Wissenschaftliche Forum (TWF) is a viewing
window into the future and has become a trademark of the IFA. The TWF has
been a fixed part of IFA for many years. It previews the developments
taking place in the new media and the technical foundations toward an
advanced stage of Convergence of
audio, video, the Internet and telecommunications.
The contributions to this Technologies Show within the IFA come from the research
departments of the broadcasters and telecommunications companies, from German and
international research institutions and from the universities. Each individual
exhibit represents the complex results of many years of research. In order to be
able to convey fully detailed objectives and backgrounds of the projects represented -
to experts, journalists and the general public - the TWF exhibitors have developed a
purpose-designed lecture and discussion forum: "Talk im TWF" [Talk in the TWF].
ÜberallFernsehen
(Digital Video Broadcasting via Satellite, "Television everywhere")
Term used for digital terrestrial television DVB-T because of the possibility of its universal
(stationary, portable and mobile) application.
UGC
Go to User Generated Content.
UMTS
(Universal Mobile Telephone System).
See Mobile telephone systems.
Universal LNB
(Universal Low Noise Block).
A receiver unit on the satellite dish, which receives both the 11 GHz range and the 12 GHz range used for digital transmissions.
URL
(Uniform Resource Location).
Unique address on the WWW. For example,
http://www.ifa-berlin.de is the URL of the IFA consumer electronics exhibition Information Service.
USB
(Universal Serial Bus).
The USB port can be used to connect mouse, keyboard, scanner, printer,
displays, storage media and other devices (for example, a receiver for
DVB-T or DRM)
to the computer. USB is used more and more in digital
television sets and video recorders. Developed by Intel, the Universal
Serial Bus, is based on a radial topology, and can interconnect up to
127 devices on different levels. The hot-plugging function even allows
any number of devices to be plugged in, switched on or unplugged while
the computer is running. The change in status is automatically detected,
and the device addresses reallocated. In version 1.1, the USB operates at
a maximum data rate of 12 Mbit/s. The now generally used version USB 2.0
allows around 40 times faster data rates of up to 480 Mbit/s and is backwards
compatible. Devices are connected using a four-wire lead with standardized
connectors, protected by shape-coded fittings against incorrect connection.
If required, the USB cable also supplies power to connected peripherals.
(For further details, go to: www.usb.org).
User Generated Content
(short: UGC, also referred to as "User Driven Content").
User Generated Content can consist of images and text as well as audio or
video programs, which "ordinary" people published on the Internet and thereby
made accessible to others worldwide. Web2
portals such as MySpace, Flickr and
YouTube provide large amounts of UGC and have achieved high rates of increase.
In one week, the most successful "do-it-yourself" videos on YouTube are accessed
more than one million times. The opportunity of producing programs on one's own
results from now very easy to use technologies and sinking prices: for the required
hardware and software (computer, camcorder, post processing applications for
images and sound, etc.) as well as for using the infrastructure (broadband access).
In Germany alone, by the end of 2006 almost 15 mio. households had access to the
required broadband line to the Internet. When publishing UGC, e. g. on the Internet,
copyright regulations are to be considered.
Video projector
The video projector projects images transmitted by a television receiver,
computer, DVD player, or video recorder on a projection screen
(Home Cinema).
The range of video projectors reaches from small, even portable video projectors
to high performance projectors for stationary use in cinemas.
Video server
(Harddisk) storage for video signals with computer-controlled data
management. In comparison to video tapes, this type of storage has the
advantage of fast random access to any scenes or images. Computers as
servers are used more and more for archiving audio and video data
within home networks. In the context of Video on Demand
(VoD), video servers with storage
capacities of up to hundreds, if not thousands, of video clips
and movies are discussed. Their size is expressed and calculated in
terabyte (= 1000 gigabyte).
VDSL / VDSL2
(Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line).
VDSL allows for data rates of over 50 Mbit/s via the telephone line. This is sufficient for the broadcasting of television
programs (see IPTV)
and even HDTV.
The Deutsche Telekom AG plans VDSL access lines for mid/end of 2006 in
ten German cities (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg,
Hannover, Köln, Leipzig, München, Nürnberg and
Stuttgart). By 2007, 40 other cities are scheduled to follow. In some
countries, VDSL is already being used. VDSL is primarily used in Asia.
The usable VDSL data rate decreases as line length increases.
Therefore, VDSL connection lines can only be a few hundred meters away
from the switching units along the street, which contain an
electro-optical converter (from glass fiber to telephone lines). These
VDSL access lines can be installed to an extent where it becomes
economical in metropolitan areas, especially in large cities. Depending
on the standard employed, VDSL utilizes up to four frequency bands.
Prospectively, VDSL2 will provide data rates of over 100 Mbit/s with an
upper limit frequency of 30 MHz. A range of approx. 350 m is
intended via telephone lines.
VoD
(Video on Demand).
VoD enables the recalling of television programs from the video server
via feedback channel at any time. The transmission presumes the
existence of a distribution architecture based on switching techniques
and bidirectional channels from and to the user, and will be available
for a fee. Experts are discussing services such as Audio on Demand,
Software on Demand and others which are generically called SoD (Service
on Demand).
Viiv
PCs that are based on the Intel Viiv technology can download, store and
manage different digital entertainment content (e. g. images,
music, videos) as well as information. Several devices, such as TV, PC,
laptop and handheld devices, can share this content. The Intel Viiv
technology includes Intel-based hardware and software, which provide a
completely new form of entertainment in combination with Microsoft*
Windows* XP Media Center Edition 2005. The PCs are based on Intel®
Pentium® D, Pentium Extreme Edition and Intel Core Duo processors.
Virtual Private Network
(See VPN).
Virtual Reality
Technology which dissembles an apparent reality.
See also Cyberspace.
VPN
(Virtual Private Networks)
Private data networks carried on public telephone and Internet
services. The computers within the VPN exchange data in encrypted form.
In one sense, they form a private network within the public Internet.
In contrast to the private fixed-line networks, this means
significantly lower costs for the same efficiency.
VPRT
(Verband Privater Rundfunk und Telekommunikation, Association of
Private Broadcasting and Telecommunications).
The communication and media political guidelines by
the VPRT comprise four large topics, that deliver statements
about a new media system, the transfer from analog to digital,
the regulations about advertising and a new order of the dual
radio broadcasting system.
VPS
(Video Program System).
When VPS is active, an ID signal is broadcast along with the television
signal that controls the VCR for automatic recording of TV programs.
The ID signal transmitted by the sender allows for accurate recordings
even if due to program changes the desired program starts at a later
time. Since the VPS signal identifies the sender as well as the
program, it can also be used for other applications (e. g. child
safety locks).
VRF
(Video Recording Format).
VRF is a recording format for DVD recorders. In comparison with the old DVD Video File Format, it has
an extended instruction set, allowing much more
convenient editing possibilities (e.g. allowing the removal of commercial breaks from a television recording).
VTR
(Video Tape Recording).
Currently still the most important storage technology in television studios.
WAN
(Wide Area Network)
Computer network for communicating at greater (intercontinental) distances.
WAP
(Wireless Application Protocol)
Communication protocol for accessing the
Internet from a mobile phone. WAP allows specially processed Internet
pages to be displayed on the comparatively small screen of a WAP phone.
Typical applications are: brief information, e.g. traffic information,
weather reports or share prices - and also online banking,
synchronizing schedules, querying databases (e.g. telephone
subscribers).
WCDMA
(Wideband CDMA).
WCDMA is a CDMA system used in mobile telephony. The signal sent is widely spread to ensure it covers a broader bandwidth: The result is lower
susceptibility to interferences with disturbing pulses of lower bandwidth.
Web 2.0
The term "Web 2.0", born by the publisher Tim O'Reilly, does not describe
a special technology but a new form of perception and/or usage of the web
(WWW). In simple terms - not only the user software on the PC but the
Internet itself becomes an application. Typical for this concept is the
online encyclopedia Wikipedia, which is more than a database: made up of a
vast amount of relatively small articles by uncountable contributors it
probably is the most up to date and active encyclopedia in the world.
The result therefore is a great deal more than the sum of all contributions.
With Web 2.0 the WWW becomes a dynamical design-and-share platform, that
maintains information, brainstorms, images, and videos of and by many users
("communities") and provides the workspace for editing, sharing, and producing content.
(Examples of Web 2.0 portals: www.flickr.com, www.YouTube.com, www.blogger.de).
Webcam
Video camera which transmits live images direct to the Internet ("Web").
Webradio
Go to Internet radio.
WSS
(Wide Screen Signaling).
Special ID comprised in the television signal that allows for changing
the screen format, e. g. from standard format (4:3) to wide screen
format (16:9) (also used for marking programs in PALplus).
Widescreen
Television picture format with a 16:9 aspect ratio. This approximates
the human field of vision, which is much wider than it is high. The
widescreen format is easier on the eyes - especially with larger screen
sizes. Technically, 16:9 formats can be displayed using conventional
analog systems (PALplus) as well
as digital signals (DVB).
Wireless
Wireless connections use radio technology. The cables normally used to
interconnect devices are replaced by a transmitter and a receiver.
WirelessLAN
(Wireless Local Area Network).
Wireless local (radio) network that transmits in the frequency range of 2.4 GHz according to the standard IEEE 802.11b with a data rate
of 11 Mbit/s and wirelessly interconnects several devices, and, for
example also enables several laptops access to the Internet as long as
they are within the range of 100 m max.
WWW
(World Wide Web)
Developed in 1990 by Tim Berners-Lee at the CERN Nuclear Research
Center (Geneva), this is a hypertext information system on the Internet
which provides the user a clearly structured, easily understood graphic
interface. The "web" therefore became the most popular service in the
Internet.
ZDF.vision
The digital Bouquet "ZDF.vision" -
the digital program platform of the ZDF -
broadcasts all programs produced by and in corporation with the ZDF: ZDF,
ZDF-Theaterkanal, ZDF.info, ZDF.dokukanal, Eurosport, EuroNews, CNBC Europe.
CNBC is, according to the statement of the ZDF, the only global economics TV
station, that broadcasts live and direct, 24 hours a day, from the important
financial centers in Europe, the United States and Asia. The digital services
by the ZDF are broadened by the data service ZDF.digitext. With the report
and documentation program ZDF.doku, the ZDF tries to serve its audience with
a forum for presenting facts and background information, encouraging the
formation of an opinion and delivering insight information about the correlation
of events and developments. The data service ZDF.digitext is a further
development of the analog service "ZDF.text" for the digital world.
The digital Bouquet of the ZDF also includes the radio broadcasting
stations under public law Ö1, Deutschlandfunk, and DeutschlandRadio
Berlin as well as "EPG", the electronic program guide of the ZDF.
ZDF.vision broadcasts via ASTRA 1 E, Transponder 11.954 Ghz h (SR 27500, FEC 3/4).