This paper deals with the chaotic oscillator synchronization. An approach to the synchronization of chaotic oscillators has been proposed. This approach is based on the analysis of different time scales in the time series generated by the coupled chaotic oscillators. It has been shown that complete synchronization, phase synchronization, lag synchronization, and generalized synchronization are the particular cases of the synchronized behavior called “time-scale synchronization.” The quantitative measure of chaotic oscillator synchronous behavior has been proposed. This approach has been applied for the coupled Rössler systems and two coupled Chua’s circuits.

The universal mechanism resulting in the generalized synchronization regime arising in the chaotic oscillators with the dissipative coupling has been described. The reasons for the generalized synchronization occurrence may be clarified by means of a modified system approach. The main results are illustrated by unidirectionally coupled Rössler systems, Rössler and Lorenz systems, and logistic maps.