Synchronization is the coordination of events to operate a system in unison. Systems that work with all parts in sync are said to be synchronous or in sync, and those that don’t are said to be asynchronous.
In English: to synchronize, synchronization, synchronisation.
It is very common to talk about synchronization in computing as the process that consists of making two or more data storage devices or programs (in the same computer or in a different one) have exactly the same information at a given moment. But this is only one of many applications of the synchronization concept.
Synchronization in various areas
Synchronization has the following applications in various fields:
– Computing: In computing, especially parallel computing, synchronization refers to the coordination of simultaneous threads or processes to complete a task with a correct execution time order and without unexpected race conditions. For more information on timing in computing, read the section on Timing in Computer Science below.
– Synchronization between devices: data synchronization is also used when two devices are updated so that they contain the same data. For example, the data synchronization can be between an electronic calendar and the computer’s calendar, both having the same contact information.
– File Synchronization: The purpose of file synchronization is to ensure that two or more locations contain exactly the same information. It is also a type of data synchronization. For more information read: sync files.
– Cryptography: they normally require some synchronization mechanism to ensure that the receiving cipher decodes the correct bits at the correct time.
– Multimedia: Synchronization of image and sound in sound film. Timing is important in fields such as digital telephony, digital video, and digital audio, where sampled data streams are manipulated. The most sophisticated film, video, and audio applications use time code to synchronize audio and video.
– GPS synchronization: which allows receivers to synchronize with satellites using atomic clocks on the satellites. It is a type of data synchronization.
– Electrical power systems: alternator synchronization is necessary when several generators are connected to an electrical network.
– Electronic Engineering: In terms of electrical engineering, for digital logic and data transfer, a synchronous circuit requires a clock signal. However, the use of the word «clock» in this sense is different from the typical sense of a watch as a device that records the time of day; the clock signal simply signals the beginning and/or end of a period of time, often very minute (measured in microseconds or nanoseconds), that has an arbitrary relationship to sidereal, solar, or lunar time, or to any other system. measurement of the passage of minutes, hours and days.
In a different sense, electronic systems are sometimes synchronized to make events at distant points appear simultaneous or nearly simultaneous from a certain perspective. (Albert Einstein proved in 1905 in his first paper on relativity that absolutely simultaneous events do not really exist.) Timing technologies such as GPS satellites and the Network Time Protocol (NTP) provide real-time access to a close approximation of the UTC time scale and are used for many such ground timing applications.
– Physics: The idea of simultaneity has many difficulties, both in practice and in theory.
Synchronization in computer science
In computing, synchronization refers to one of two distinct but related concepts: process synchronization and data synchronization.
Process synchronization refers to the idea that multiple processes must come together or shake hands at any given time, in order to come to an agreement or commit to a certain sequence of action.
Data Synchronization refers to the idea of keeping multiple copies of a data set consistent with each other, or to maintain data integrity. Process synchronization primitives are commonly used to implement data synchronization.
For more information read the article: Data synchronization.
synchronization in telecommunications
In telecommunications, a synchronous network is a network in which the clocks are controlled to run, ideally, at identical speeds, or the same average speed with a fixed relative phase shift, within a specified limited range.
Many services running on modern digital telecommunications networks require precise synchronization for proper operation. For example, if the switches do not operate at the same clock rates, slippage will occur and performance will degrade.
Telecommunications networks are based on the use of high-precision primary reference clocks that are distributed throughout the network by means of synchronization links and synchronization supply units. Ideally, the clocks are synchronous, but in practice they can be messynchronous. In common usage, mesynchronous networks are often described as synchronous.
Modern telecommunications networks use high-precision primary master clocks that must meet the requirements of international standards for long-term frequency accuracy of better than 1 part in 10^11. To obtain this performance, atomic clocks or GPS-disciplined oscillators are typically used.
Synchronization in alternating current (AC)
In an alternating current electrical power system, synchronization is the process of matching the speed and frequency of a generator or other source to an operating network. An AC generator cannot supply power to an electrical grid unless it is running at the same frequency as the grid. If two segments of a network go offline, they cannot exchange AC power again until they are accurately resynchronized.
A direct current (DC) generator can be connected to an electrical network by adjusting its open-circuit terminal voltage to match the network voltage, either by adjusting its speed or its field excitation. The exact engine speed is not critical. However, an AC generator must match both the amplitude and timing of the mains voltage, requiring both speed and excitation to be systematically controlled for timing. This additional complexity was one of the arguments against AC operation during the War of Currents in the 1880s. In modern networks, the synchronization of generators is carried out by automatic systems.
related terminology
Sync up
data synchronization
Doubts? needs more information? Write and we will respond to your email: click here