What does 'asynchronous transmission' imply?

Asynchronous transmission refers to a method of communication where data is sent one character at a time without the need for a synchronized clock signal between the sender and receiver. This means that each character is framed with start and stop bits, which allow the receiving device to recognize the beginning and end of each character. Since the transmission of characters is independent of a continuous clock signal, the devices involved do not need to be perfectly synchronized.

This method is beneficial for situations where data is transmitted intermittently. For instance, it is commonly used in serial communication protocols such as RS-232. It allows for greater flexibility and simpler implementation compared to synchronous transmission, which requires close timing coordination.

In contrast, the other options describe characteristics that align with synchronous transmission, where data is transmitted in a continuous stream or fixed intervals with a synchronized clock signal. This coordination is essential in synchronous systems but does not apply to the asynchronous method, making it distinctly different from the nature of asynchronous transmission.