| |
B |
| Bandwidth: |
The amount of data that can be transmitted in
a fixed amount of time. For digital devices, the
bandwidth is usually expressed in bits per second
or bytes per second. For analog devices, the bandwidth
is expressed in cycles per second, or Hertz (Hz). |
| Bit: |
The unit of information. A computational quanity
that can take on one of two values. The smallest
unit of storage - sufficient to hold one bit. It
is the answer to a yes or no question or in terms
of digital data a 0 or a 1. |
| Bit rate: |
The speed at which data travels from one place
to another on a computer network, such as the Internet. |
| Bridge: |
A network component that connects two LANs, thus
extending the range of the network. Bridges check
data and forward them across LANs. |
| Broadband: |
Used to describe a network connection which supports
a relatively high bit rate. Also used to describe
content which takes advantage of a high bit rate
connection. |
| Broadcast: |
When data is sent simultaneously to all stations
on a network. |
| Buffer: |
Space allocated on a system’s Random Access
Memory (RAM) where data is stored temporarily until
it is transferred to another part of the system.
In streaming applications, buffers store video or
audio data until there is enough information for
the stream to be composed. |
| Buffering: |
Describes a situation which occurs when a streaming
media player is saving portions of a streaming media
file to local storage for playback. Most streaming
media players buffer a small percentage of a streaming
media presentation before beginning to play it.
Buffering also may occur in the middle of a presentation,
when available bandwidth does not match the presentation's
required bandwidth. |
| Bus Topology: |
A LAN network structure in which all stations
(nodes) are connected to the same cable. Data is
transmitted up and down this single cable. |
| Bypass: |
Use of transmission facilities, usually for data,
which avoid local telephone company networks. |
Support Overview
General FAQ
Streaming Glossary
