1.2 Glossary

This document uses the following terms:

.asx file: A file that contains the URL or a set of URLs to the streaming media files.

.nsc file: A file that serves as an announcement for, and contains information about, a media stream broadcast. This file allows a client to tune in to a broadcast. The .nsc file was originally known as a NetShow Station Configuration file. Because the NetShow protocol suite is now obsolete, the original nomenclature is no longer applicable and is not used. Also known as a Windows Media Station file or an NSC file.

advanced fast start: A process whereby a receiver uses information that is provided by the sender to determine when playback of streaming (1) content should be initiated.

Advanced Systems Format (ASF): An extensible file format that is designed to facilitate streaming digital media data over a network. This file format is used by Windows Media.

client: A computer on which the remote procedure call (RPC) client is executing.

content: Multimedia data. content is always in ASF, for example, a single ASF music file or a single ASF video file.  Data in general. A file that an application accesses. Examples of content include web pages and documents stored on either web servers or SMB file servers.

encryption: In cryptography, the process of obscuring information to make it unreadable without special knowledge.

fast start: A process to stream content quickly as requested by the receiver.

key: In the registry, a node in the logical tree of the data store.

multicast: A content delivery method in which a single stream is transmitted from a media server to multiple clients. The clients have no connection with the server. Instead, the server sends a single copy of the stream across the network to multicast-enabled routers, which replicate the data. Clients can then receive the stream by monitoring a specific multicast IP address and port.

playlist: One or more content items that are streamed sequentially.

publishing point: An organized memory location that is identified by a name on a media streaming server. The name is part of the URL that is used by a client when the client requests content from the server.

redirector file: A file that is designed to provide the player with information on how to access the streaming media file. Redirector files can be .axf files or .nsc files.

server: A computer on which the remote procedure call (RPC) server is executing.

session: In the Workstation service, an authenticated connection between two computers.

split stream: A stream (2) that is being split by a distribution server in order to be forwarded to multiple recipients.

stream: A flow of data from one host to another host, or the data that flows between two hosts.

streaming: The act of processing a part of an XML Infoset without requiring that the entire XML Infoset be available.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP): A protocol used with the Internet Protocol (IP) to send data in the form of message units between computers over the Internet. TCP handles keeping track of the individual units of data (called packets) that a message is divided into for efficient routing through the Internet.

unicast: The process of sending traffic to a unique address. Unicast routing is the process of forwarding unicasted traffic from a source to a destination on an internetwork.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP): The connectionless protocol within TCP/IP that corresponds to the transport layer in the ISO/OSI reference model.