asynchronous
Not synchronised by a shared signal such as {clock} or {semaphore}, proceeding independently.
Opposite: {synchronous}.
1. 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. 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)