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VIDEOCONFERENCING GLOSSARY
Algorithm
Specifications that define a specific method for transmitting video, audio, and/or data.
Bandwidth
The information carrying capacity of a communications channel or line; sometimes referred to as speed because digital bandwidth is measured as datarate.
Bridge
The piece of equipment that facilitates the communication of three or more sites in a single conference; also known as a Multipoint Control Unit (MCU).
Codec
The heart of a videoconferencing system. The codec converts analog video and audio signals for transmission over digital circuits, and then converts the digital signals back to analog signals for display. A codec is also capable of compressing the digital signals, so more information can be sent at lower speeds.
Continuous presence
A videoconference in which each participant is seen in one quadrant of the screen for the entire length of the meeting.
Datarate
The measurement for bandwidth in bits per second. In general, the higher the datarate, the higher the quality of video.
Desktop video
A videoconference held using a codec, which is embedded in a personal computer system.
Dialing-in/dialing-out
A choice made by the user as to whether to initiate or receive a call with their videoconference system.
Document camera
A specialized camera used for taking pictures of still images - pictures, graphics, text pages - which can be sent as a part of a videoconference.
H.320
An umbrella term for a set of specifications developed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in 1991 to define a set of universal standards for videoconferencing.
Hybrid meeting
A meeting that consists of a mix of conference users, i.e., video, audio or document.
Multipoint conference
A videoconference involving three or more videoconference systems - a video party call.
Point-to-point conference
A videoconference between two videoconference systems.
Port
Like reserved seats around a dinner table, ports are the place where video sites "sit" in order to communicate with other sites.
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