[W/K] :: handshaking

  handshaking
       n : grasping and shaking a person's hand (as to acknowledge an
           introduction or to agree on a contract) [syn: handshake,
            shake, handclasp]

  handshaking n. [very common] Hardware or software activity designed to
     start or keep two machines or programs in synchronization as they do
     protocol. Often applied to human activity; thus, a hacker might watch
     two people in conversation nodding their heads to indicate that they
     have heard each others' points and say "Oh, they're handshaking!". See
     also protocol.
  
  

  handshaking
       
          1. Predetermined hardware or software activity designed to
          establish or maintain two machines or programs in
          synchronisation.  Handshaking often concerns the exchange of
          messages or packets of data between two systems with limited
          buffers.  A simple handshaking protocol might only involve
          the receiver sending a message meaning "I received your last
          message and I am ready for you to send me another one."  A
          more complex handshaking protocol might allow the sender to
          ask the receiver if he is ready to receive or for the receiver
          to reply with a negative acknowledgement meaning "I did not
          receive your last message correctly, please resend it" (e.g. if
          the data was corrupted en route).
       
          Hardware handshaking uses voltage levels or pulses on wires
          to carry the handshaking signals whereas software
          handshaking uses data units (e.g. ASCII characters) carried
          by some underlying communication medium.
       
          Flow control in bit-serial data transmission such as
          EIA-232 may use either hardware or software handshaking.
       
          2. The method used by two modems to establish contact with
          each other and to agreee on baud rate, error correction
          and compression protocols.
       
          3. The exchange of predetermined signals between agents
          connected by a communications channel to assure each that it
          is connected to the other (and not to an imposter).  This may
          also include the use of passwords and codes by an operator.
       
          [{Jargon File]
       
          (1995-01-13)