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In telecommunications, frame synchronization or framing is the process by which, while receiving a stream of fixed-length frames, the receiver identifies the frame boundaries, permitting the data bits within the frame to be extracted for decoding or retransmission.

When packets of varying length are sent, it is necessary to have an instantly recognizable packet-end delimiter (e.g., Ethernet's end of stream symbol). Loss of carrier signal can be interpreted as a packet-end delimiter in some cases. When a continuous stream of fixed-length frames are sent, a synchronized receiver can in principle identify frame boundaries forever. In practice, receivers can usually maintain synchronization despite transmission errors; bit slips are much rarer than bit errors. Thus, it is acceptable to use a much smaller frame boundary marker, at the expense of a lengthier process to establish synchronization in the first place.

Frame synchronization is achieved when the incoming frame alignment signals are identified (that is, distinguished from data bits), permitting the data bits within the frame to be extracted for decoding or retransmission.

Framing

If the transmission is temporarily interrupted, or a bit slip event occurs, the receiver must re-synchronize.

Frame synchronized PCM stream — telemetry application

The transmitter and the receiver must agree ahead of time on which frame synchronization scheme they will use.

Common frame synchronization schemes are:

Framing bit: A common practice in telecommunications, for example in T-carrier, is to insert, in a dedicated time slot within the frame, a noninformation framing bit that is used for synchronization of the incoming data with the receiver. In a bit stream, framing bits are predictable (do not carry information), and occur at specified positions in the frame. Correct framing is verified when almost all framing bits (minus a small allowance for transmission errors) have their predicted values.
Syncword and flag sequence framing: Rather than a single bit, some systems use a multi-bit syncword in each frame, or a flag sequence that marks the beginning and end of each frame. High-Level Data Link Control and similar systems use flag sequences.^[1]
CRC-based framing: Some telecommunications hardware uses CRC-based framing, where correct framing is verified when almost all frames have valid CRCs.

Frame synchronizer

PCM stream prior to frame synchronization

In telemetry applications, a frame synchronizer is used to locate frame boundaries within a serial pulse-code modulated (PCM) binary stream.

The frame synchronizer immediately follows the bit synchronizer in most telemetry applications. Without frame synchronization, decommutation is impossible.

The frame synchronizer searches the incoming bit-stream for occurrences of the frame synchronization pattern. If the pattern persists for long enough that an accidental match is implausible, the synchronizer declares the data synchronized and available for decoding. If a large number of mis-matches occur, the synchronizer declares a loss of synchronization.

The search can be sequential (only consider one starting point at a time), or multiple candidate starting points may be considered at once. Advanced techniques continue searching even while synchronization is established, so that, if synchronization is lost, by the time the loss is noticed a new frame start position has been found.^[2]

Different types of commutation within a frame synchronized PCM stream

It is not uncommon to have multiple levels of frame synchronization, where a series of frames is assembled into a larger "superframe" or "major frame". Individual frames are then "minor frames" within that superframe. Each frame contains a subframe ID (often a simple counter) which identifies its position within the superframe. A second frame synchronizer establishes superframe synchronization. This allows subcommutation, where some data is sent less frequently than every frame.

References

^ Simpson, William A. (July 1994). PPP in HDLC-like Framing. Internet Engineering Task Force. doi:10.17487/RFC1662. RFC 1662.
^ US patent 5621773, "Method and Apparatus for Fast Synchronization of T1 Extended Superframes", issued 1997-04-15, assigned to LSI Logic Corporation

This article incorporates public domain material from Federal Standard 1037C. General Services Administration. Archived from the original on 2022-01-22. (in support of MIL-STD-188).

Scientific articles

J. L. Massey. "Optimum frame synchronization ". IEEE trans. comm., com-20(2):115-119, April 1972.
R Scholtz. "Frame synchronization techniques", IEEE Transactions on Communications, 1980.
P. Robertson. "Optimal Frame Synchronization for Continuous and Packet Data Transmission", PhD Dissertation, 1995, Fortschrittberichte VDI Reihe 10, Nr. 376 PDF

[1] Simpson, William A. (July 1994). PPP in HDLC-like Framing. Internet Engineering Task Force. doi:10.17487/RFC1662. RFC 1662.

[2] US patent 5621773, "Method and Apparatus for Fast Synchronization of T1 Extended Superframes", issued 1997-04-15, assigned to LSI Logic Corporation

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{context|date=February 2013}}
-{{expert-subject|1=Video|date=February 2013}}
-Frame synchronization is the process of synchronizing display pixel scanning to a synchronization source. When several systems are connected, a sync signal is fed from a master system to the other systems in the network, and the displays are synchronized with each other.
-While receiving a stream of [[data frame|framed]] [[data]], '''frame synchronization''' or '''framing''' is the process by which incoming frame alignment signals (i.e., a distinctive [[bit]] sequences or [[syncword]]s), are identified (that is, distinguished from data bits), permitting the data bits within the frame to be extracted for decoding or retransmission.
+In [[telecommunications]], '''frame synchronization''' or '''framing''' is the process by which, while receiving a stream of fixed-length  [[Frame (networking)|frames]], the receiver identifies the frame boundaries, permitting the [[data]] bits within the frame to be extracted for decoding or retransmission.
+When packets of varying length are sent, it is necessary to have an instantly recognizable packet-end delimiter (e.g., Ethernet's [[Ethernet_frame#End_of_frame_–_physical_layer|end of stream symbol]]). Loss of carrier signal can be interpreted as a packet-end delimiter in some cases. When a continuous stream of fixed-length frames are sent, a synchronized receiver can in principle identify frame boundaries forever.  In practice, receivers can usually maintain synchronization despite transmission errors; [[bit slip]]s are much rarer than [[bit error]]s.  Thus, it is acceptable to use a much smaller frame boundary marker,  at the expense of a lengthier process to establish synchronization in the first place.
-== Framing ==
+Frame synchronization is achieved when the incoming frame alignment signals are identified (that is, distinguished from data bits), permitting the data bits within the frame to be extracted for decoding or retransmission.
-If the transmission is temporarily interrupted, or a [[bit slip]] event occurs, the receiver must re-synchronize.
+== Framing ==
+{{Redirect|Flag sequence|the emojis|Emoji flag sequence}}
+If the transmission is temporarily interrupted, or a bit slip event occurs, the receiver must re-synchronize.
 [[Image:Frame Synced Stream.jpg|frame|none|Frame synchronized PCM stream — telemetry application]]
-The transmitter and the receiver must agree ahead of time on which frame synchronization scheme they will use.
+The transmitter and the receiver must agree ahead of time on which frame [[synchronization in telecommunications|synchronization]] scheme they will use.
 Common frame synchronization schemes are:
-;Framing bit:  A common practice in [[telecommunication]]s, for example in [[T-carrier]], is to insert, in a dedicated [[time slot]] within the frame, a noninformation bit or '''framing bit''' that is used for [[synchronization]] of the incoming data with the receiver.  In a [[bit stream]], framing bits indicate the beginning or end of a frame.  They occur at specified positions in the frame, do not carry information, and are usually repetitive.
+;Framing bit: A common practice in [[telecommunications]], for example in [[T-carrier]], is to insert, in a dedicated [[Time-division multiplexing|time slot]] within the frame, a noninformation '''framing bit''' that is used for synchronization of the incoming data with the receiver. In a [[bit stream]], framing bits are predictable (do not carry information), and occur at specified positions in the frame.  Correct framing is verified when almost all framing bits  (minus a small allowance for transmission errors) have their predicted values.
+;Syncword and flag sequence framing: Rather than a single bit, some systems use a multi-bit [[syncword]] in each frame, or a '''flag sequence''' that marks the beginning and end of each frame. [[High-Level Data Link Control]] and similar systems use flag sequences.<ref>{{Cite IETF |rfc=1662 |title=PPP in HDLC-like Framing |last=Simpson |first=William A. |date=July 1994 |publisher=Internet Engineering Task Force}}</ref>
-;Syncword framing:  Some systems use a special [[syncword]] at the beginning of every frame.
-;CRC-based framing:  Some telecommunications hardware uses [[CRC-based framing]].
+;CRC-based framing: Some telecommunications hardware uses [[CRC-based framing]], where correct framing is verified when almost all frames have valid CRCs.
 ==Frame synchronizer==
+[[Image:PCM Stream.jpg|frame|none|PCM stream prior to frame synchronization]]
+In [[telemetry]] applications, a ''frame synchronizer'' is used to locate frame boundaries within a serial [[pulse-code modulated]] (PCM) binary stream.
-===Television===
-{{further|Time base corrector}}
+The frame synchronizer immediately follows the bit synchronizer in most telemetry applications.  Without frame synchronization, [[decommutation]] is impossible.
-A '''frame synchronizer''' is a device used in [[live television]] [[television production|production]] to match the timing of an incoming [[video]] source to the timing of an existing video system.  They are often used to "time in" consumer video equipment to a professional system but can be used to stabilize any video.  The frame synchronizer essentially takes a picture of each [[Film frame|frame]] of incoming video and then immediately outputs it with the correct synchronization signals to match an existing video system.  A [[genlock]] signal is required to provide a means for video synchronizing with the house reference.
+[[Image:Frame Synced Stream.jpg|frame|none|Frame-synchronized PCM stream]]
-===Telemetry===
+The frame synchronizer searches the incoming bit-stream for occurrences of the frame synchronization pattern.  If the pattern persists for long enough that an accidental match is implausible, the synchronizer declares the data synchronized and available for decoding.  If a large number of mis-matches occur, the synchronizer declares a loss of synchronization.
-[[Image:PCM Stream.jpg|frame|none|PCM Stream prior to frame synchronization]]
+The search can be sequential (only consider one starting point at a time), or multiple candidate starting points may be considered at once.  Advanced techniques continue searching even while synchronization is established, so that, if synchronization is lost, by the time the loss is noticed a new frame start position has been found.<ref>{{cite patent
-In [[telemetry]] applications, a ''frame synchronizer'' is used to frame align a serial pulse code modulated ([[PCM]]) binary stream.
+ |country=US |number=5621773 |status=patent |gdate=1997-04-15
+ |title=Method and Apparatus for Fast Synchronization of T1 Extended Superframes
+ |assign=[[LSI Logic Corporation]]
+}}</ref>
-[[Image:Commutation.jpg|frame|none|Different types of commutation within a frame synchronized PCM stream]]
+[[Image:Commutation.svg|frame|none|Different types of commutation within a frame synchronized PCM stream]]
-The frame synchronizer immediately follows the bit synchronizer in most telemetry applications.  Without frame synchronization [[Decommutator|decommutation]] is impossible.
+It is not uncommon to have multiple levels of frame synchronization, where a series of frames is assembled into a larger "superframe" or "major frame".  Individual frames are then "minor frames" within that superframe.  Each frame contains a subframe ID (often a simple counter) which identifies its position within the superframe.  A second frame synchronizer establishes superframe synchronization.  This allows subcommutation, where some data is sent less frequently than every frame.
-[[Image:Frame Synced Stream.jpg|frame|none|Frame synchronized PCM stream]]
-The frame syncronisation pattern is a known binary pattern which repeats at a regular interval within the PCM stream.  The frame synchronizer recognizes this pattern and aligns the data into minor frames or sub-frames.  Typically the frame sync pattern is followed by a counter (Sub-Frame ID) which dictates which minor or sub frame in the series is being transmitted.  This becomes increasingly important in the decommutation stage where all data is deciphered as to what attribute was sampled.  Different commutations require a constant awareness of which section of the major frame is being decoded.
 ==See also==
 * [[Asynchronous start-stop]]
 * [[Phase synchronization]]
 * [[Self-synchronizing code]]
 * [[Superframe]]
-* [[Generator locking]]
 ==References==
+{{Reflist}}
 {{FS1037C MS188}}
 ===Scientific articles===
+* [https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/1091127 J. L. Massey. "Optimum frame synchronization ". IEEE trans. comm., com-20(2):115-119, April 1972].
-* J. L. Massey. "Optimum frame synchronization ". IEEE trans. comm., com-20(2):115-119, April 1972.
+* [https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/1094813 R Scholtz. "Frame synchronization techniques", ''IEEE Transactions on Communications'', 1980].
+* P. Robertson. "Optimal Frame Synchronization for Continuous and Packet Data Transmission", PhD Dissertation, 1995, Fortschrittberichte VDI Reihe 10, Nr. 376 [https://web.archive.org/web/20110718231623/http://www.kn-s.dlr.de/People/Robertson/Papers/diss.pdf PDF]
-* R Scholtz. "Frame synchronization techniques", IEEE Transactions on Communications, 1980.
-* P. Robertson. "Optimal Frame Synchronization for Continuous and Packet Data Transmission", PhD Dissertation,
-, Fortschrittberichte VDI Reihe 10, Nr. 376 [http://www.kn-s.dlr.de/People/Robertson/Papers/diss.pdf PDF]
-==External links==
-* [http://www.ulyssix.com Telemetry Ground Station Processing Electronics telemetry link]
-* [http://www.algolith.com/products/broadcast/frame-synchronization/index.html Algolith Frame Synchronizer Solutions]
 [[Category:Data transmission]]