From the website http://www.citp-protocol.org/ :
CITP is an open protocol for integration of lighting controllers, media servers and visualizers on a higher-than-control level. It makes it possible to browse a media server with thumbnail previews of content as well as effects, to use the correct effect-specific parameter names while programming and to preview output from a controller or visualizer. It also allows bidirectional DMX, device selection and patch transfer to and from visualizers.