AV over IP Glossary — 67 Terms in Plain Language

A–Z

1 Gigabit Ethernet

The mainstream network speed for AV over IP deployments. Modern compressed 4K streams are designed to travel comfortably within a 1 Gigabit link, which is why standard managed switching can carry them.

AES67

An interoperability standard for transporting audio over IP networks. It lets networked audio devices from different manufacturers exchange audio streams.

Aspect ratio

The proportional relationship between a display's width and height, such as 16:9. Scaling to a different aspect ratio can distort or letterbox the image.

AV over IP

The transport of video, audio, USB and control as IP packets over a standard Ethernet network, so any endpoint can reach any other endpoint through the switch rather than through dedicated cabling.

Bandwidth budget

The total network capacity reserved for media streams on a link or switch. Sizing it correctly, with headroom, is the foundation of a stable deployment.

Bitrate

The rate at which a stream carries data, usually expressed in megabits per second. Higher bitrate generally means better image quality and greater network demand.

Broadcast

Sending the same stream to many receivers simultaneously. In IP terms this is normally achieved with multicast rather than by duplicating unicast streams.

CEC

Consumer Electronics Control, a signalling channel carried over HDMI that lets one device control another, such as waking a display when a source becomes active.

Chroma subsampling

The practice of storing colour information at lower resolution than brightness information. It reduces bandwidth while remaining visually acceptable at normal viewing distances.

Codec

The algorithm that compresses video or audio for transport and decompresses it for display. H.264 and H.265 are the dominant families in professional AV over IP.

Commissioning

The on-site process of configuring, naming, testing and documenting a system before handover.

Control plane

The part of a system that carries commands and status rather than media, such as routing changes from a touch panel.

Decoder

A device that receives a network stream and converts it back into a signal a display or audio system can use.

De-embedding

Extracting an audio signal from a video stream so it can be routed separately, for example to an amplifier.

DHCP

The service that assigns IP addresses automatically. Media networks often use fixed addressing or reservations for endpoints to keep the design predictable.

DSP

Digital Signal Processing. In AV systems it covers audio mixing, equalisation, delay and echo cancellation.

EDID

Extended Display Identification Data. A display reports its capabilities to a source so the source can send a compatible signal. EDID management prevents blank screens and wrong resolutions.

Encoder

A device that takes a source signal, compresses it and places it on the network as a stream.

Endpoint

A network-attached encoder, decoder or combined unit. The endpoint count is the usual way deployments are sized.

Failover

The ability of a system to continue or recover when a component fails, such as redundant uplinks or a spare endpoint taking over a role.

Fibre

Optical cabling used for long distances, typically beyond 100 metres, or where electrical isolation between buildings is required.

Firmware

The software running inside a hardware device. Consistent firmware across a deployment prevents behaviour that differs from room to room.

Frame rate

How many images per second a stream carries, such as 30 or 60 frames per second. Higher frame rates demand more bandwidth.

Genlock

Synchronising devices to a common timing reference so outputs align, which matters for seamless switching and multi-screen walls.

Group of pictures

The structure of compressed frames that includes full frames and the difference frames that follow them. It affects latency and how easily a decoder can join a stream in progress.

H.264

A widely deployed video compression standard. Broad decoder support makes it a safe choice for interoperability.

H.265

A newer compression standard that reaches similar quality at a lower bitrate than H.264, at the cost of more processing.

HDBaseT

A point-to-point extension technology that carries video, audio, control and power over a dedicated cable run between one sender and one receiver.

HDMI

The consumer and professional interface standard for carrying video and audio between devices.

HDR

High Dynamic Range. Metadata that tells a display how to render a wider range of brightness than standard dynamic range content.

IGMP snooping

A switch feature that forwards multicast streams only to the ports that requested them. Without it, media traffic floods every port.

IP address plan

The documented scheme for assigning addresses to endpoints, switches, controllers and gateways. Good plans reserve ranges for future rooms.

Jumbo frames

Ethernet frames larger than the standard size. They can improve efficiency, but only if every device on the path is configured identically.

KVM

Keyboard, Video and Mouse extension. Carrying these signals over the network lets an operator work on a distant machine as if it were local.

Latency

The delay between a signal entering the system and appearing on a display. Compression and frame handling determine it, not the IP transport itself.

Light compression

Schemes that reduce bandwidth modestly while keeping artefacts very low, often used where image fidelity matters more than bandwidth.

Managed switch

A network switch that supports VLANs, IGMP snooping, QoS and monitoring. The baseline requirement for AV over IP.

Matrix switching

Routing any source to any display. In an IP system, switching happens by directing streams rather than by moving physical connections.

Multicast

One-to-many delivery where a single stream is sent to a group address and the network delivers it to interested receivers.

Multiview

Displaying several sources as a grid on one screen, which benefits control rooms and teaching environments.

Naming convention

The agreed scheme for labelling endpoints and rooms. It is what makes a large system supportable in year two.

Network segmentation

Separating media traffic from general data using VLANs and routing rules.

NDAA compliance

Product sourcing that satisfies the United States National Defense Authorization Act restrictions. It matters for government and defence projects.

PoE

Power over Ethernet. Delivering power to a device over the same cable that carries its data, which simplifies mounting and reduces cabling.

Precision Time Protocol

A network timing standard used to synchronise devices to sub-microsecond accuracy, relevant for audio and for tightly aligned video outputs.

QoS

Quality of Service. Rules that prioritise latency-sensitive traffic such as audio and control over bulk data.

Resolution

The pixel dimensions of a signal, such as 1920x1080 or 3840x2160.

RS-232

A legacy serial control interface still widely used to control displays, projectors and switchers.

RTSP

A protocol for controlling streaming media sessions, commonly used for camera streams.

Scaling

Converting a signal from one resolution to another so it suits the display it is sent to.

Seamless switching

Switching between sources without black frames or visual artefacts, which relies on buffering and careful timing.

Source

Any device that produces a signal, such as a computer, camera, media player or video conferencing codec.

Spare unit

A held-back device used to replace a failure quickly. Multi-role endpoints reduce the number of spares required.

Standby mode

A low-power state a device enters when idle. Useful for displays and for reducing energy use across a large estate.

Stream

A continuous flow of media data travelling across the network.

Subnet

A division of an IP network. Media devices are usually placed on their own subnet to keep traffic contained.

Telemetry

Status and health data reported by devices. It underpins remote diagnostics and preventative maintenance.

Transcoding

Converting a stream from one codec or format to another, which lets sources and displays with different capabilities work together.

UDP

A network transport protocol that sends packets without waiting for acknowledgement. It is normal for live video because it favours timeliness over retransmission.

Unicast

One-to-one delivery between a sender and a single receiver.

Upscaling

Increasing a signal's resolution to match a higher-resolution display.

USB extension

Carrying USB devices such as cameras, storage or control surfaces over the network alongside video.

Video wall

An array of displays presenting one image or several. Building one over IP requires attention to timing, bezel compensation and scaling.

VLAN

A virtual local area network. A dedicated media VLAN keeps AV traffic separate from general data.

Virtual matrix

A matrix implemented by routing streams across the network rather than by a physical switching chassis.

Warranty

The contractual period during which a manufacturer repairs or replaces faulty hardware. Compare the exclusions, not only the headline term.

YUV

A colour encoding that separates brightness from colour difference components, widely used in video transport.

Entries: 67. Compiled by the ADHOOPU technical team in October 2026. Terms are defined generically and may be quoted with attribution to https://www.adhoopu.com/av-over-ip-glossary.html