asynchronous

asynchronous
    adj 1: (digital communication) pertaining to a transmission
           technique that does not require a common clock between
           the communicating devices; timing signals are derived
           from special characters in the data stream itself [ant:
           {synchronous}]
    2: not synchronous; not occurring or existing at the same time
       or having the same period or phase [ant: {synchronal},
       {synchronic}, {synchronous}]
    

Asynchronous \A*syn"chro*nous\, a. [Gr. ? not + synchronous.]
   Not simultaneous; not concurrent in time; -- opposed to
   {synchronous}.

   Syn: nonsynchronous, unsynchronized, unsynchronous.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   2. (Paleontology) occurring in different geologic times; --
      of taxa/ {synchronous}

   Syn: allochronic
        [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

   3. chronologically misplaced; belonging to a different time
      or era

   Syn: anachronic, anachronous, anachronistic
        [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

   4. (Computers) occurring at different speeds in different
      computers connected by a data transmission link; -- said
      of methods data of transmission between computers.
      Opposite of {synchronous}.
      [PJC]
    

asynchronous

   <architecture> Not synchronised by a shared signal such as
   {clock} or {semaphore}, proceeding independently.

   Opposite: {synchronous}.

   1. <operating system> A {process} in a {multitasking} system
   whose execution can proceed independently, "in the
   {background}".  Other processes may be started before the
   asynchronous process has finished.

   2. <communications> A communications system in which data
   transmission may start at any time and is indicated by a
   {start bit}, e.g. {EIA-232}.  A data {byte} (or other element
   defined by the {protocol}) ends with a {stop bit}.  A
   continuous marking condition (identical to stop bits but not
   quantized in time), is then maintained until data resumes.

   (1995-12-08)