interleaving

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interleaving A technique for achieving multiprogramming in a relatively simple system without a supervisor program. Each of the programs that are to be run concurrently are broken down into segments that are then linked up into a single program. The function of each segment and the order of linking is arranged so that maximum use is made of processor time. A segment that initiates a transfer to a peripheral, i.e. a relatively slow task not requiring processor activity, is linked to a segment of some other program for which processor activity is required. A multiplexer channel interface will interleave transfers from several slow peripherals.