burst mode


burst mode

[′bərst ‚mōd] (computer science) A method of transferring data between a peripheral unit and a control processing unit in a computer system in which the peripheral unit sends the central processor a signal to receive data until the peripheral unit signals that the transfer is completed.

burst mode

(1) See burst mode photography.

(2) A high-speed transmission mode in a communications or computer channel. Under certain conditions, the system sends a burst of data at higher speed for a limited amount of time. For example, a multiplexor channel may suspend transmitting several streams of data and send one high-speed transmission using the entire bandwidth.