Final answer:
The frequency of synchronization between processes characterizes multiprocessors in a system, indicating the number of times processes communicate with each other in a given period of time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The good way of characterizing multiprocessors and placing them in context with other architectures is to consider the synchronization frequency, or frequency of synchronization between processes in a system. Frequency is defined as the number of events per unit time. In the case of multiprocessors, it refers to the number of times processes synchronize or communicate with each other in a given period of time.
The synchronization granularity in a multiprocessor system concerns the rate of process synchronization. It is similar to the concept of frequency in physics, representing the number of interactions per unit time, and impacts system performance and design, similar to how frequency characterizes oscillations in wave phenomena.
The student is asking about a concept that characterizes the synchronization granularity, which refers to the frequency of synchronization between processes in a multiprocessor system. In the context of computer architecture, synchronization granularity can be thought of similarly to frequency in wave phenomena, which characterizes the number of cycles per second with the units being Hertz, or 1/s. However, in a computing context, it specifically addresses how often processes must coordinate or synchronize with each other. This could range from a 'coarse-grained' system with synchronization at large intervals to a 'fine-grained' system where synchronization happens very frequently.
Frequency (f) is directly related, and for periodic motion in physics, frequency is the number of oscillations per unit time. While different from the physical concept, the analogy in computing suggests how often the interactions occur within a set period, impacting the performance and design of the system. Systems following a cyclic pattern where synchronization is predictable, as opposed to systems where the path varies each cycle, are also necessary considerations when determining the synchronization granularity.