:  (a) defining a group of components which must operate in synchronism;  (b) calculating a scaling factor for each input net connected to any component in the group, the scaling factor indicating a rate at which valid picture elements arrive at the input net;  (c) calculating a reference element input time for each input net connected to any component in the group, the reference element input time indicating a time at which a predetermined one of the ordered set of picture elements arrives at the input net;  (d) for each component connected to a plurality of input nets