Bisync

What does Bisync mean?

Bisync (Binary Synchronous Communications) is a synchronous data transmission protocol developed by IBM in the 1960s. It operates in half-duplex mode over asynchronous character-oriented links, with each character represented by 8 data bits plus 1 start bit and 1 or 2 stop bits. Bisync uses a master-slave architecture, with the master controlling Data flow and the slaves responding to the master’s requests.

The start bit signals the start of a character, while the stop bits indicate the end of a character. Bisync also supports error detection and correction mechanisms, including block check characters (BCCs) and cyclic redundancy checks (CRCs). This ensures the integrity of transmitted data and helps prevent data corruption during transmission.

Applications

Bisync is primarily used for legacy systems and Data Transfer between mainframes and terminals. It remains relevant Today due to its reliability, low latency, and efficient error handling. Key applications include:

• Banking and Financial Services: Bisync is widely used for electronic funds transfer (EFT), automated teller machines (ATMs), and point-of-sale (POS) systems.
• Healthcare: Bisync facilitates the exchange of medical records, lab results, and other patient data between healthcare providers.
• Retail and Hospitality: Bisync supports inventory management, order processing, and customer transactions in retail stores and hospitality businesses.
• Manufacturing: Bisync is employed for factory automation, process control, and data collection from industrial devices.
• Transportation: Bisync enables communication between transportation management systems (TMS), tracking devices, and various terminals in the transportation industry.

Bisync’s continued use is attributed to its stability, compatibility with older systems, and the need for reliable data transmission in critical applications.

History

Bisync was originally developed in the 1960s as the Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC) protocol. It was designed for synchronous communication over leased lines and provided advanced features for error detection and correction. Over time, Bisync evolved into a more general-purpose protocol suitable for various applications.

In the 1970s, Bisync became widely adopted for mainframe and terminal communication. It was incorporated into the IBM System Network Architecture (SNA) and used extensively in the financial and banking sectors.

Bisync has undergone several revisions and updates over the years to improve its performance and compatibility. While it has been superseded by more modern protocols such as TCP/IP, Bisync remains an important legacy protocol for many critical applications.