Asynchronous communication

For other uses, see Asynchrony.

In telecommunications, asynchronous communication is transmission of data, generally without the use of an external clock signal, where data can be transmitted intermittently rather than in a steady stream. Any timing required to recover data from the communication symbols is encoded within the symbols. A notable exception is the RS-232 port, and some derivatives, which are asynchronous, but still have an external clock signal available, although not commonly used. The most significant aspect of asynchronous communications is that data is not transmitted at regular intervals, thus making possible variable bit rate, and that the transmitter and receiver clock generators do not have to be exactly synchronized all the time.

Physical layer

Main article: Asynchronous serial communication

In asynchronous serial communication the physical protocol layer, the data blocks are code words of a certain word length, for example octets (bytes) or ASCII characters, delimited by start bits and stop bits. A variable length space can be inserted between the code words. No bit synchronization signal is required. This is sometimes called character oriented communication. Examples are the RS-232C serial standard, and MNP2 and V.2 modems and older.

Data link layer and higher

Asynchronous communication at the data link layer or higher protocol layers is known as statistical multiplexing or packet mode communication, for example asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). In this case the asynchronously transferred blocks are called data packets, for example ATM cells. The opposite is circuit switched communication, which provides constant bit rate, for example ISDN and SONET/SDH.

The packets may be encapsulated in a data frame, with a frame synchronization bit sequence indicating the start of the frame, and sometimes also a bit synchronization bit sequence, typically 01010101, for identification of the bit transition times. Note that at the physical layer, this is considered as synchronous serial communication. Examples of packet mode data link protocols that can be/are transferred using synchronous serial communication are the HDLC, Ethernet, PPP and USB protocols.

Application layer

An asynchronous communication service or application does not require a constant bit rate.^{[citation needed]} Examples are file transfer, email and the World Wide Web. An example of the opposite, a synchronous communication service, is realtime streaming media, for example IP telephony, IP-TV and video conferencing.

Electronically mediated communication

Electronically mediated communication is often asynchronous in that the participants do not communicate concurrently. Examples include email and bulletin board systems, where participants send or post messages at different times. The term acquired currency in online learning, where exchanges between teachers and students are often asynchronous instead of synchronous (that is, simultaneous), as they would be in face-to-face or telephone conversations.

See also

• Synchronization in telecommunications
• Asynchronous serial communication
• Asynchronous system
• Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)
• Asynchronous circuit
• Asynchrony
• Anisochronous
• Baud rate
• Plesiochronous
• Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy (PDH)