Glossary

AAF

Short definiton: Audio Format in Milan Streams

Explanation: AVTP Audio Format.

Reference: IEEE 1722-2016, Clause 7

ADC

Short definition: Analog to Digital converter

ATDECC

Short definiton: Control protocol for Milan

Explanation: Short for “AVB/TSN Device Discovery, Enumeration, Connection Management, and Control”.

Reference: IEEE 1722.1-2021

AVB

Short definiton: Audio Video Bridging

Explanation: Describes the basis for Milan.

Reference: IEEE 802.1BA-2011

AVTP

Short definiton: Audio Video Transport Protocol

Explanation: Specifies the media transport in a Milan network.

Reference: IEEE 1722-2016

Avnu Alliance

Short definiton: Industry alliance to develop Milan

Explanation: The Avnu Alliance is a consortium of member companies working together to create an interoperable ecosystem of low-latency, time-synchronized, highly reliable networking devices using the IEEE open standard TSN.

Reference: Avnu Alliance Website

BTCA

Short definiton: Best TimeTransmitter Clock Algorithm

Explanation: Formerly known as “Best Master Clock Algorithm”. Used to determine the best gPTP Clock Leader in a network.

Reference: IEEE 802.1AS-2011, Clause 10.3

Bridge

Explanation: Switch and Bridge are used synonymously. A Switch forwards traffic from one port to another. AVB switches must be time-aware (see: Network timing) and support traffic shaping (see: Traffic shaping).

CRF

Short definiton: Clock Reference Format

Explanation: Mechanism to improve audio clock accuracy in Milan networks. Commonly referred to as Media Clock.

Reference: IEEE 1722-2016, Clause 10

DAC

Short definition: Digital to Analog converter

Delay

Short definiton: The time offset applied to a Stream before playback.

Explanation: In audio streaming, Delay refers to the time offset applied to a Stream before it is played out. The technical specification defines this as Presentation Time Offset (PTO), while the Milan Manager refers to it as Presentation Time. Regardless of terminology, the function remains the same: it ensures that streams are synchronized by introducing a controlled delay before playback.

Egress port

Short definiton: Traffic exit port

Explanation: Describes a port through which traffic is exiting a device. Used to describe the traffic flow in a Switch.

Endstation

Short definiton: Converts audio from/to Milan

Explanation: A device converting audio into or from the Milan network. An Endstation is Milan certified.

Reference: IEEE 802

FQTSS

Short definiton: Forwarding and Queuing for Time-Sensitive Streams

Explanation: Specifies how to handle traffic of different priorities. And makes sure that Milan traffic arrives on time at the Listener.

Reference: IEEE 802.1Q-2014, Clause 34

GM

Short definiton: GrandMaster

Explanation: The GrandMaster provides the global network time with the gPTP protocol. It has been elected using the BTCA.

Reference: IEEE 802.1AS-2011

IEEE

Short definiton: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Explanation: The IEEE is an American professional association for electrical engineering, electronics engineering, and other related disciplines.

Reference: IEEE Website

Ingress port

Short definiton: Traffic input port

Explanation: Describes a port through which traffic is entering a device. Used to describe the traffic flow in a Switch.

Listener

Short definiton: Receiver of a Stream

Explanation: The receiver of a Stream created by a Talker, e.g., an amplifier.

Reference: IEEE 802.1BA-2011, Clause 3

MAC

Short definiton: Medium Access Control

Explanation: Layer that controls the hardware responsible for interaction with the wired or wireless transmission medium.

Reference: IEEE 802

MSRP

Short definiton: Multiple Stream Registration Protocol

Explanation: Facilitates the reservation and management of multiple Streams in a coordinated manner. Is an extension to SRP.

Reference: IEEE 802.1Q-2014, Clause 35

Milan

Short definiton: Media Independent Local Area Network

Explanation: The term Milan is used to describe a ProAV network based on the AVB specifications.

Reference: Milan-v1.2

OSI Layer

Short definiton: Path through a computer system

Explanation: The OSI Layer model is an abstract way to describe the path a packet has to take through a computer system.

Reference: Wikipedia OSI model

PCM

Short definition: Pulse Code Modulation

PTO

Short definiton: Presentation Time Offset

Explanation: The playout time for a packet transmitted from a Talker. Also known as Delay.

PTPv2

Short definiton: Precision Timing Protocol v2

Explanation: Precision Timing Protocol version 2. This is the basis for gPTP.

Reference: IEEE 1588-2008

Primary

Short definiton: Primary connection

Explanation: In a redundant network, the first connection is called Primary. The second connection is called Secondary.

Reference: Milan-v1.2, Clause 8.2.2

SRP

Short definiton: Stream Reservation Protocol

Explanation: Handles the reservation of rereferences for individual Streams.

Reference: IEEE 802.1Q-2014, Clause 35

Secondary

Short definiton: Secondary connection

Explanation: In a redundant network, the second connection is called Secondary. The first connection is called Primary.

Reference: Milan-v1.2, Clause 8.2.2

Stream

Short definiton: Container for audio channels

Explanation: Used to transmit data between a Talker and a Listener within a network. Basis for the bandwidth reservation calculation. More explanation

Reference: IEEE 1722-2016

Switch

Explanation: Switch and Bridge are used synonymously. A Switch forwards traffic from one port to another. AVB switches must be time-aware (see: Network timing) and support traffic shaping (see: Traffic shaping).

TSN

Short definiton: Time Sensitive Networks

Explanation: Has evolved from the IEEE AVB working group. TSN the basis for AVB.

Reference: IEEE TSN TG website

Talker

Short definiton: Producer of a Stream

Explanation: The reference of a Stream to be received by a Listener, e.g., a stage box.

Reference: IEEE 802.1BA-2011, Clause 3

gPTP

Short definiton: Generalized Precision Timing Protocol

Explanation: The Generalized Precision Timing Protocol (gPTP) is a profile of PTPv2. It provides precise timing and synchronization in Ethernet networks.

Reference: IEEE 802.1AS-2011