Glossary

Checkpoint
A snapshot of a database, usually RAM-based, that is copied to persistent storage, such as a hard drive or flash. The checkpoint can be used to restore the database after a power cycle or if the database becomes corrupt.
CBR
Constant bitrate.
Control context
A multimedia output point, or location where media files can be played. A control context represents an audio output device, can hold a single track session, and can play a single track at a time. By default, the MME has one control context, but you can add more to the MME database, then connect to them. An MME client receives notifications from an attached control context.
CPPM key
Content Protection for Pre-recorded Media — a key used for DRM.
Codec
Coder-Decoder — an program that encodes and/or decodes a digital data stream or signal.
DSP
Digital Signal Processor — a microprocessor that processes digital signals is real-time.
DTS
Digital Theater System — a multi-channel digital sound format.
DRM
Digital Rights Management — a generic term for technologies used to control access to and usage of copyrighted works. The MME supports files protected with Microsoft Windows Media DRM, via the iofs-pfs.so PFS module to io-fs.
FID or fid
File ID — in the MME, a unique identifier for media files and tracks
File
In the context of the MME, “file” refers to all non-media files (the MME configuration file, for instance) and to media files that are being read or otherwise manipulated for a purpose other than playing them. See also track below.
Locale code
The locale code is a string containing a 5-character language and region code. This code consists of a 2-character ISO639-1 language code, followed by a '_' character, followed by a 2-character ISO3166-1 alpha-2 region code. See http://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/code_list.php
Media
Any music, pictures, or video, in block or stream format.
Mediastore
Any source for multimedia data; examples include hard drives, DVDs, CDs, and media devices such as an iPod or MP3 player.
Metadata
Data describing a media track. Metadata includes but is not limited to track name, artist(s), release date, genre and so on.
MME
Multimedia Engine — the Aviage Multimedia Suite's multimedia engine.
MTP
Media Transport Protocol — a protocol developed by Microsoft for synchronizing both protected and unprotected media content on portable media devices such as MP3 players.
Playback
The act of playing of a media track.
Playlist
A list of media files (identified by FIDs). Your application can play a playlist by creating a track session from it.
PlaysForSure (PFS)
A certification given by Microsoft to media devices that use the MTP protocol.
Prune management
A technique of ensuring that a database doesn't grow too large or exceed a specified size by “pruning” (deleting) unused data.
Ripping
Ripping is the process of reading files from a mediastore, changing the format of these files into another format if required, then writing the files in their new format to a mediastore or other storage device. Copying media is simply ripping media and writing the destination file in the same format as the source file.
RPC
Regional Playback Control. See dvddrivectl in the MME Utilities Guide.
Synchronization
The process by which the MME examines mediastores and updates its database with information about the media tracks on the stores and with the metadata for these media. Information and metadata includes but is not limited to media type and format (audio, video, etc.), track name and language, genre and cover art.
Track
In the context of the MME, “track” refers to media files that are being played or read and otherwise accessed or manipulated for playing. For example, the MME synchronizes folders and the files inside them, but it reads the tracks from a playlist and places them in a track session. See also file above.
Track session
A list of media tracks (identified by FIDs) that can be played by the MME on a specific control context.
Trick play
The term “trick play” refers to playback operations (such as fast forward, reverse and skip) that are not straightforward, normal speed playback.
UOP
User Operation Prohibitions — prohibitions placed on what users can do when manipulating a video.
VBR
Variable bitrate.
Zone
In the MME, an area to which output devices are attached, and to which the output from media playback is sent.