Time-out

In parenting, time-out refers to a specific technique; see Child time-out.

In telecommunication, the term time-out has the following meanings:

1. A network parameter related to an enforced event designed to occur at the conclusion of a predetermined elapsed time. 2 . A specified period of time that will be allowed to elapse in a system before a specified event is to take place, unless another specified event occurs first; in either case, the period is terminated when either event takes place.

Note: A time-out condition can be canceled by the receipt of an appropriate time-out cancellation signal.

3. An event that occurs at the end of a predetermined period of time that began at the occurrence of another specified event. The time-out can be prevented by an appropriate signal.

Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188