Glossary

A

Access control

The process of ensuring that content is accessed only by those entities authorised to do so, and only in a manner for which they have been authorised

ADSL

Short for Asymmetrical DSL (See DSL). ADSL offers differing upload and download speeds and can be configured to deliver up to six megabits of data per second (6000K) from the network to the customer

Aerial

See Antenna

Analogue

Dated method of transmission that used standard waves to deliver television services

Antenna

An antenna (or aerial) is a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves

API

"Application Programming Interface". A software interface to enable interaction with another software component

Application

An application is software designed to help the user to perform a particular task. Typical examples are EPG/user interface, content sharing, storage, media players and database applications

Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio describes the relationship between the width of an image and its height

ATSC

"Advanced Televisions Systems Committee."Group formed to establish digital television standards for USA (Now replacing NTSC)

Audio Description

Additional audio service that describes what is happening on screen for the visually impaired

Authentication

The process of proving the validity of an entity (such as a smart card) by means of a cryptographic procedure. Put simply, authentication amounts to using a fixed procedure to determine whether someone is actually the person he or she claims to be

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