CATV Dictionary
More than 10,256 Terms and Definitions 

 Request or Submit Definitions: dictionary@Althos.com

Cover	Description
	IP TV Dictionary. Over 10,000 of the latest IP Telephony and VoIP Terms and Definitions along with            + 400 diagrams and photographs!!!
	Format	Pages	Price
	Book	628	$39.95
	Buy IP TV Dictionary

Sample CATV Definitions

Advanced Television Services-Advanced Television Services are television services that are provided using alternative technologies (such as digital television). Advanced television services are defined the report: "Advanced Television Systems and Their Impact Upon the Existing Television Broadcast Service", MM Docket 87-268.
Analog Television Adapter (ATVA)-Analog Television Adapter (ATVA) is a device that converts digital multimedia signals (such as MPEG) into analog television signals (such as NTSC or PAL). These adapter boxes may provide a single function such as providing Internet television service or they may convert digital signals into several different forms such as audio, data, and video. When adapter boxes convert into multiple information forms, they may be called multimedia terminal adapters (MTAs) or integrated access devices (IADs).
Analog television adapters (ATA) must convert video, audio, and control signals (such as requests for changing channels) into forms that can be sent and received via data networks such as the Internet.
Analog Video-Analog video is the representation of a series of multiple images (video) through the use of a rapidly changing signal (analog). This analog signal indicates the luminance and color information within the video signal.
Cable Modem-A communication device that Modulates and demodulates (MoDem) data signals to and from a cable television system. Cable modems select and decode high data-rate signals on the cable television system (CATV) into digital signals that are designated for a specific user. 
Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS)-A cable modem termination system is a system located in the headend of the cable television system that coordinates the overall operation of the cable modem system. The CMTS controls the gateways (Internet to data) and end user cable modems. The CMTS not only manages the data paths to allow end users to connect to the Internet, but also provides cable modem authentication, IP address assignment, billing functions and is responsible for the majority of Media Access Control (MAC) functionality in a cable modem network. A single CMTS typically controls hundreds or even thousands of end-user cable modems.
Cable Telephony- A process of providing telecommunications services through the use of community access television (CATV) systems. Cable telephony services usually combine voice telephone, Internet access, digital cable television (TV), and analog cable TV.
Cable Television (CATV)-Cable television is a distribution system that uses a network of cables to deliver multiple video and audio channels. CATV systems typically have 50 or more video channels.
Campus Television Systems (Campus TV)-Campus television systems gather programs from various sources, organize them into channels, distribute them through various communication systems on school campuses, and allow students and staff members to select and view the programs on one or more types of viewing devices.
CATV Contribution Network- A contribution network is a system that is used to gather content for a media-broadcasting network.
Digital Television (DTV)-A process or system that transmits video images through the use of digital transmission. The digital transmission is divided into channels for digital video and audio. These digital channels are usually compressed. Video compression commonly uses one of the motion picture experts group (MPEG) standards to reduce the data transmission rate by a factor of 200:1.
Digital Video-Digital video is a sequence of picture signals (frames) that are represented by binary data (bits) that describe a finite set of color and luminance levels. Sending a digital video picture involves the conversion of a scanned image to digital information that is transferred to a digital video receiver. The digital information contains characteristics of the video signal and the position of the image (bit location) that will be displayed.
Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS)-Data over cable service interface specification is an industry standard used by cable television systems for providing Internet data services to users. 
Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC)- The hybrid fiber coax (HFC) system is an advanced CATV transmission system that uses fiber optic cable for the head end and feeder distribution system and coax for the customers end connection. HFC are the 2nd generation of CATV systems. They offer high-speed backbone data interconnection lines (the fiber portion) to interconnect end user video and data equipment. Many cable system operators anticipating deregulation and in preparation for competition began to upgrade their systems to Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) systems in the early 1990s.
Interactive Television (ITV)-Interactive television has three basic types: "pay-per-view" involving programs that are independently billed, "near video-on-demand" (NVOD) with groupings of a single film starting at staggered times, and "video-on-demand" (VOD), enabling request for a particular film to start at the exact time of choice. Interactive television offers interactive advertising, home shopping, home banking, e-mail, Internet access, and games.
Internet Protocol Broadcast (IP Broadcast)-A data packet that uses a frame address mask of 255.255.255.255 to identify it is intended for broadcast distribution. This allows devices within the network to identify broadcast messages and inhibits routers from constantly circulating packets through the network. The use of the address mask inhibits the normal transmission of the data packet through routers because routing protocols use the zeros at the end of the subnet mask number to identify the subnet. Because of the subnet mask (11111111.11111111.11111111.11111111 equals 255.255.255.255), the end of the address does not contain any zeros.
Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)-Internet protocol television (IPTV) is the process of providing television (video and/or audio) services through the use Internet protocol (IP) networks. These IP networks initiate, process, and receive voice or multimedia communications using IP protocol. These IP systems may be public IP systems (e.g. the Internet), private data systems (e.g. LAN based), or a hybrid of public and private systems.
Internet Protocol Video (IP Video)-IP video is the transfer of video information in IP packet data format.
Internet Television Service Provider (ITVSP)-Internet Television Service Providers (ITVSPs) are companies that provide television or video services that connect through the Internet or other types of data networks. ITVSPs setup and manage television services between multimedia computers, televisions with adapters, or integrated IP television devices and media sources.
An ITVSP coordinates Internet television devices so they can use the Internet as a connection path between television media sources. ITVSPs are commonly used to connect end users to television content providers that use media gateways. Media gateways convert packets of audio data from the television source into packets that can be routed through data networks to end users.
Internet TV (iTV)-Internet TV is a Television service that is provided through the Internet.
Internet Video-Internet video is the transfer of video information through the Internet in IP packet data format.
IP Multicast-An Internet protocol that is used to broadcast the same message to multiple recipients. An IP multicast message is transferred to all the members within pre-defined group.
IP Television (IP TV)-IP television is the transmission of digital video and audio through data networks, usually through the Internet. IP television services may be on a subscription basis (paid for by the recipient) or may be funded by commercials or government agencies. IP television broadcasters transmit multimedia data signals to end users or to distribution points that redirect the digital television signals to end users.
Packet Video-Packet video is the transfer of video information in packet data format.
Personal Media Channel (PMC)-A personal media channel is a communication service that allows a media user (e.g. viewer) to select and view media (typically video or music) from a variety of media sources.
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) -QAM is a combination of amplitude modulation (changing the amplitude or voltage of a sine wave to convey information) together with phase modulation. There are several ways to build a QAM modulator. In one process, two modulating signals are derived by special pre-processing from the information bit stream. Two replicas of the carrier frequency sine wave are generated; one is a direct replica and the other is delayed by a quarter of a cycle (90 degrees). Each of the two different derived modulating signals are then used to amplitude modulate one of the two replica carrier sinewaves, respectively. The resultant two modulated signals can be added together. The result is a sine wave having a constant unchanging frequency, but having an amplitude and phase that both vary to convey the information. At the detector or decoder the original information bit stream can be reconstructed. QAM conveys a higher information bit rate (bits per second) than a BPSK or QPSK signal of the same bandwidth, but is also more affected by interference and noise as well.
Set Top Box (STB)-An electronic device that adapts a communications medium to a format that is accessible by the end user. Set top boxes are commonly located in a customers home to allow the reception of video signals on a television or computer.
Telephony Over Internet Protocol (ToIP)-A process of providing telephony services using Internet protocol (IP).
Television Gateway-A television gateway is a communications device or assembly that transforms audio and video that is received from a television system (e.g. broadcast television) into a format that can be used by a different network. A television gateway usually has more intelligence (processing function) than a data bridge as it can select the audio and video compression coders and adjust the protocols and timing between two dissimilar computer systems or video over data networks.
Video Conferencing-A process of conducting a face-to-face meeting between two or more people in different locations through the use of telecommunications circuits and equipment that allows video and audio communications. Video conferencing usually requires real-time two-way transmission of audio and video communications between two or more locations. Transmitted video images may be in the form of full TV-quality images or freeze frame still images, where the picture is repainted every few seconds.
Video On Demand (VOD)-A service that provides end users to interactively request and receive video services. These video services are from previously stored media (entertainment movies or education videos) or have a live connection (news events in real time).
Video Server (VS)-The video server is an application server that provides video and/or specialized television capabilities. Video servers receive requests for video and/or media delivery, find the matching media, and deliver the video program as requested.
Video Streaming-A real-time system for delivering video, usually along with synchronized accompanying audio, typically over the internet. Upon request, a server system will deliver a stream of video and audio (both compressed) to a client. The client will receive the data stream and (after a short buffering delay) decode the video and audio and play them in synchronization to a user.