handshaking
from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
handshaking
n.
[very common] Hardware or software activity designed to start or keep
two machines or programs in synchronization as they {do protocol}.
Often applied to human activity; thus, a hacker might watch two people
in conversation nodding their heads to indicate that they have heard
each others' points and say "Oh, they're handshaking!". See also
{protocol}.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
handshaking
handshake
1. Predetermined hardware or software activity designed to
establish or maintain two machines or programs in
synchronisation. Handshaking often concerns the exchange of
messages or {packets} of data between two systems with limited
{buffers}. A simple handshaking {protocol} might only involve
the receiver sending a message meaning "I received your last
message and I am ready for you to send me another one." A
more complex handshaking {protocol} might allow the sender to
ask the receiver if he is ready to receive or for the receiver
to reply with a negative acknowledgement meaning "I did not
receive your last message correctly, please resend it" (e.g. if
the data was corrupted en route).
{Hardware handshaking} uses voltage levels or pulses on wires
to carry the handshaking signals whereas {software
handshaking} uses data units (e.g. {ASCII} characters) carried
by some underlying communication medium.
{Flow control} in bit-serial data transmission such as
{EIA-232} may use either hardware or software handshaking.
2. The method used by two {modems} to establish contact with
each other and to agreee on {baud rate}, {error correction}
and {compression} {protocols}.
3. The exchange of predetermined signals between agents
connected by a communications channel to assure each that it
is connected to the other (and not to an imposter). This may
also include the use of passwords and codes by an operator.
[{Jargon File}]
(1995-01-13)
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