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.

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Astral AST Research, Inc. asymmetrical modulation Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Loop	ABCL/1 ABM ACIA Actors Amulet	Asynchronous Balanced Mode Asynchronous Communications Interface Adapter asynchronous logic Asynchronous Transfer Mode asyncronous