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Improved billing accuracy in session-based communications is provided by separating session (or connection) billing from session processing. If two sessions (440, 442) on the same serving node are bridged, so the true stop time of the prior session (440) is not known, the stop time of the prior session is defined as a function of the last activity during (TALS1) that session. To accomplish this, the serving node detects and stores the time of last activity and the time of initiation for each connection and determines the billing time accordingly, regardless of the state of the inactivity timer (430) or whether sessions were bridged by the serving node.
1. A method of providing information for use in determining duration of packet data communication through a packet network for a wireless communication device, for use in billing for service to the wireless communication device, comprising:
during a first packet data communication session through the packet network for the wireless communication device, detecting inactivity with regard to packet data communication via the first session;
in response to the detection of inactivity, (1) noting the time of inactivity detection as a last activity time, and (2) starting an inactivity timer having a predetermined time-out period such that the timer will time out if the predetermined period expires before detection of further activity with regard to packet data communication via the first session;
subsequently, receiving a request from the wireless communication device for establishment of a second packet data communication session through the packet network; and
if the request for establishment of the second session is received before the predetermined period of inactivity expires, (a) providing a billing adjustment flag signifying a need to adjust duration computation for the first session, and (b) providing the noted last activity time for use in the adjustment of the duration computation.
2. The method of
3. The method of
the UDR is compiled in a packet data serving node (PDSN); and
the method further comprises transmitting the UDR from the PDSN to a Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server.
4. The method of
the UDR conforms to a 3GPP2 protocol; and
a "G" Session Activity field of the UDR contains a timestamp for the noted last activity time.
5. The method of
6. The method of
7. The method of
8. The method of
9. The method of
10. A packet data serving node for use in a communication network providing wireless packet data communication service to a wireless communication device, wherein the packet data serving node is configured to perform functions comprising:
during a first packet data communication session through the network for the wireless communication device, detecting inactivity with regard to packet data communication via the first session;
in response to the detection of inactivity, (1) noting the time of inactivity detection as a last activity time, and (2) starting an inactivity timer having a predetermined time-out period such that the timer will time out if the predetermined period expires before detection of further activity with regard to packet data communication via the first session;
subsequently, receiving a request from the wireless communication device for establishment of a second packet data communication session through the packet network;
if the request for establishment of the second session is received before the predetermined period of inactivity expires, (a) providing a billing adjustment flag signifying a need to adjust duration computation for the first session in a usage data record (UDR) for communications of the wireless communication device through the network, and (b) providing the noted last activity time in the UDR for use in the adjustment of the duration computation; and
forwarding the UDR to a Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server.
11. The packet data serving node of
the UDR conforms to a 3GPP2 protocol; and
a "G" Session Activity field of the UDR contains a timestamp for the noted last activity time.
12. The packet data serving node of
13. The packet data serving node of
14. A communication network providing wireless packet data communication service to a wireless communication device, the communication network comprising:
a packet data serving node (PDSN) is configured to perform functions comprising:
(a) during a first packet data communication session through the network for the wireless communication device, detecting inactivity with regard to packet data communication via the first session;
(b) in response to the detection of inactivity, (1) noting the time of inactivity detection as a last activity time, and (2) starting an inactivity timer having a predetermined time-out period such that the timer will time out if the predetermined period expires before detection of further activity with regard to packet data communication via the first session;
(c) subsequently, receiving a request from the wireless communication device for establishment of a second packet data communication session through the packet network; and
(d) if the request for establishment of the second session is received before the predetermined period of inactivity expires, (i) providing a billing adjustment flag signifying a need to adjust duration computation for the first session in a usage data record (UDR) for communications of the wireless communication device through the network, and (ii) providing the noted last activity time in the UDR; and
a Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server for receiving the UDR from the PDSN, for computing duration for the first session from a start time up until the noted last activity time, in response to the billing adjustment flag.
15. The communication network of
the UDR conforms to a 3GPP2 protocol; and
a "G" Session Activity field of the UDR contains a timestamp for the noted last activity time.
16. The communication network of
17. The communication network of
The inventive concepts relate to techniques for accurately accounting and billing for session based packet data communication over one or more networks, for example for a mobile wireless terminal device.
Digital data communication is fast becoming a ubiquitous aspect of modern life. The increasing development of technology has advanced dissemination of information through telecommunication. The Internet, as well as private local area and wide area data networks, enable transfer of large volumes of data at ever increasing speed and reliability. The Internet is now being used for interactive communication as well as for its original objective of information access.
Concurrent with the explosion in demand for data services, there has been an ever-increasing demand for mobile communications. The number of cellular telephone customers, for example, has grown exponentially. As part of the technical development of the networks to meet the demand for mobile communications, carriers have migrated from an analog-based technology to several digital transport technologies, wherein digital data is "packetized" and transmitted across digital networks. Newer versions of digital wireless communication networks, or mobile packet switched data networks, support a variety of data communication services that are intended to extend the common data communication capabilities of the wired domain to the wireless mobile domain. The current trend is toward the Third Generation of Wireless Telephony (3G) networks (e.g., 3G-1x networks). The 3RD Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) standard entitled Wireless IP Network Standard, 3GPP2 P.S0001-A, Version 3.0.0, �3GPP2, version date Jul. 16, 2001 (the "3GPP2 Standard", a.k.a. the IS-835 Standard") codifies the use of mobile IP in a 3G-1x packet data network, also referred to as a code division multiple access (CDMA) or CMDA2000-1x packet data network.
To communicate via a packet switched data network, each device must have a packet protocol address. In common forms of data networks the address is an Internet Protocol (IP) address. Most often, data is transferred using Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). With current versions of IP, the IP addresses are a scarce commodity, typically administered and assigned through an Internet service provider (ISP).
To send a data packet (i.e., packetized digital data) over an IP packet network, the source device must know its own address plus the address of the destination device. It is possible to assign the address when the user's device first logs-in, or when the user requests data after an idle time, assuming the user's device initiates a new connection after power-up or re-connection after time-out. Generally, when a device sends a request for data to a server, the server obtains the currently assigned IP address from a request packet sent by the device, hence the server can properly address one or more response packet(s) to the requesting device, whether that device is a fixed (i.e., line connected) device or mobile (i.e., wireless) station.
The addresses can be reassigned when the terminal goes off-line or remains idle for some extended period. In the wireless domain, the IP addresses are assigned and reassigned by a network element. For example, after establishment of a point-to-point protocol (PPP) connection between the mobile station and a packet data serving node (PDSN) in the network, an IP address can be assigned by the PDSN. With this approach, addresses are stored in a database of the PDSN. Alternatively, an external Dynamic Handshake Challenge Protocol (DHCP) server or a home agent (HA) server can assign the IP address to the mobile station. There are two somewhat different versions of IP management techniques and services being deployed for mobile station subscribers, Simple IP (SIP) and Mobile IP (MIP). These IP address services are discussed, for example, in the IS-835 Standard.
SIP is a service in which the user is assigned a dynamic IP address from the serving PDSN. A service provider network (e.g., a radio network (RN)) provides the user's mobile station with IP routing service. The user's mobile station retains its IP address as long as that it is served by the RN, which has connectivity to the PDSN that assigned the IP address to mobile station. With the SIP, there is no IP address mobility beyond that PDSN, and as a result, there is no handoff between PDSNs.
MIP is a service in which the user is provided IP routing service to a public IP network and/or secure IP routing service to predefined private IP networks. A mobile station is able to use either a non-zero static IP address or a dynamically assigned IP address belonging to its home IP network HA. The zero HA address for an mobile station indicates that a dynamic HA allocation is required for the mobile station. If the mobile station requests a dynamic HA, then the mobile station should also request a dynamically assigned home address along with dynamic HA allocation. The mobile station is able to maintain a persistent IP address even when handing off between radio networks connected to separate PDSNs. A network (including a HA) may be any of a variety of known networks, such as a home IP network, private network, home access provider network (e.g., a IMT-2000 cellular network), or publicly accessible ISP network.
A remote authentication dial-in user service (RADIUS) is also included in the network and interfaces with the PDSN and IP network to perform accounting for a user's sessions. To aid in the accounting process, a PDSN is configured to support a PPP network session inactivity timer for each PPP session, which is typically set at 10 minutes in the prior art, but other settings may also be used. At present, there are many situations under which a PDSN user exits a call or loses radio coverage and, consequently, loses the packet session connection context. In such a case, that user could re-initiate another packet data call. If the re-initiated call is placed after expiration of the network session inactivity timer, each call is billed individually. That is, billing is accomplished by subtracting the start time from the disconnect time for each session.
Unfortunately, a problem occurs when the user re-initiates a new packet data call before the network session inactivity timer expires, i.e., prior to 10 minutes, in our example. In such a case, the two sessions can be viewed by the system as one continuous session having a start time corresponding to initiation of the first session and a stop time corresponding to termination of the second session, regardless of the downtime between sessions. The current IS-835 Standard provides that the packet session time, used in accounting, is determined based on the start time and stop time of a packet data session, which are stored according to the 3GPP2 Protocol. The disadvantage is that the user is billed incorrectly for the time between exiting the first PPP session and successfully getting a new second PPP session connection, as the first PPP session and second PPP session are treated as one overall PPP session. As a result, the user can be charged for the time that the user is not using the packet data service, and wireless operators could be accused of over-charging the user in such situations. To avoid this, most operators adjust the billable time by subtracting the maximum of the timer value (i.e., 10 minutes), since there is no method to determine or adequately approximate with finer granularity when the user has exited from the first session or when the radio coverage has been lost. The cumulative effect of such adjustments could cause substantial loss of revenue. If the operators do not make such adjustments, users get over-billed and that could cause a tremendous loss of user's trust.
To date, there is an ambiguity in billing the user when a plurality of sessions are viewed by the network as a single session. Hence, there is a continuing need for effective techniques to perform more accurate accounting for packet data communication service utilized by mobile wireless terminal equipment.
The inventive concepts alleviate the above noted problems in accurately accounting for and billing a user for use of a device in a digital network. In typical digital data networks, a user may be erroneously billed for usage of the device when the time elapsed between a plurality of sessions is less than the predetermined duration of a session inactivity timer included in the node or system that collects or manages billing information. Since the inactivity timer provides real session management benefits, it is preferable to maintain the inactivity timer having some realistic duration setting. Therefore, the inactivity timer may be maintained, while significantly improving billing accuracy of a user when, for example, a plurality of sessions are viewed by the network as a single session.
The techniques disclosed herein can be implemented with any session-based billing system, such as those systems typically implemented for wired or wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), e-mail devices, Internet enabled devices, Web enabled devices or some combination thereof, as examples. As a broad class, these types of devices and similar devices are collectively referred to herein as "mobile stations". As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a mobile station may be linked to service providers, content providers, serving nodes, accounting systems, and other mobile stations by any of a variety of wired or wireless communication and network means, or any combination thereof, such as land lines, satellite links, fiber links, telephone networks, the Internet, intranets, extranets, wide and local area networks, virtual private networks, the World Wide Web (the "Web"), and so forth.
In accordance with the present techniques, prior art billing problems are overcome by separating session (or connection) processing from billing processing. That is, even if two sessions on the same serving node (e.g., a PDSN) get bridged, the stop or termination time of the prior session is defined as a function of the last activity of that session, to allow for more accurate usage time adjustments and, therefore, more accurate billing. In the embodiments, this is true even if the same IP address is assigned to the user's device for the subsequent session. Therefore, regardless of how the serving node treats two or more connections for communication purposes, from a billing perspective each connection is treated as separate for billing. To accomplish this, the serving node detects and stores the time of last activity and the time of initiation for each connection, regardless of the state of the inactivity timer or whether sessions were bridged by the serving node.
In the context of typical digital data communication protocols (e.g., the 3GPP2 Protocol), the last activity stop time of a prior session is used as a termination time of that prior session for billing. In the 3GPP2 protocol, a new attribute is included for storage of the last activity stop time by the serving node. Additionally, a new value for the existing attribute F13 is defined, wherein the new value represents the existence of an event that requires a billing adjustment. These two new structures are introduced specifically to do billing adjustment and to improve the accuracy and integrity of the session time upon which the billing is based. Without this new parameter, the operator or carrier has to subtract the predetermined value of the session inactivity timer, which results in revenue loss for the carrier. The techniques disclosed herein will help to recover some of the revenue lost and at the same preserve the trust of subscribers.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following and the accompanying drawings or may be learned by practice of the inventive concepts or the specific embodiments. The objects and advantages may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The drawing figures depict preferred embodiments by way of example, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.
The various aspects of invention disclosed herein relate to techniques for providing improved accounting and billing services for digital data devices and to various equipment useful in implementing those techniques. The inventive concepts alleviate the problems of inaccurately accounting for and billing a user for use of a device in a digital network. In typical digital data networks, a user may be erroneously billed for usage of the device when the time elapsed between a plurality of sessions is less than the predetermined duration of a session inactivity timer included in the node or system that collects or manages billing information. Since the inactivity timer provides real session management benefits, it is preferable to maintain the inactivity timer having some realist duration setting in a session-based system. Therefore, the inactivity timer may be maintained, while significantly improving the billing accuracy of a user when, for example, a plurality of sessions are viewed by the network as a single session.
The inventive concepts can be implemented with any session-based billing system, such as those systems typically implemented for wired or wireless devices. Such devices include cellular telephones, pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), e-mail devices, Internet enabled devices, Web enabled devices or some combination thereof, as examples. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, a mobile station may be linked to service providers, content providers, serving nodes, accounting systems, and other mobile stations by any of a variety of wired or wireless communication and network means, or any combination thereof, such as land lines, satellite links, fiber links, telephone networks, the Internet, intranets, extranets, wide or local area networks virtual private networks, the World Wide Web (the "Web"), and so forth.
In the preferred form, the inventive concepts are applicable to a variety of different wireless networks supporting packet data communications services, such as GSM/GPRS, UMTS, etc., as may be implemented in a variety of different frequency bands. A logical evolution of IS-95A standard types of digital wireless communications, toward a third generation (3G) implementation, involves an upgrade of the digital technology toward CDMA2000-1x or 1x. The attendant 1x Radio Transmission Technology (1xRTT) may use a 1.25 MHz CDMA bandwidth to form a 1xRTT CDMA network implementation. Although there are many benefits associated with such 1x systems, the two most significant benefits are voice capacity increase and high-speed packet data. Studies and simulations have shown that voice capacity increase is between 1.5 to 2 fold over IS-95A and that data can burst at a raw speed of 153.6 Kb/s with a throughput of 144 Kb/s in the initial release.
A 1xRTT CDMA network implementation provides the ability for mobile professionals with their laptop PCs, Pocket PCs, Palm, and other wireless devices to access the Internet, their email, or corporate intranets in a wireless environment at higher data rates with broader coverage for a richer experience. It enables faster access, richer browser experience with graphics and images, and increased speed and mobility for laptops and PDAs. 1x can support vertical applications, such as telemetry, transactions processing, and database access. Hence, the preferred embodiments provide the inventive accounting and billing capabilities in a 1x system, such as a 1xRTT system operating in the 1.25 MHz band. To appreciate applicability of the billing techniques to such a network, it may be helpful first to consider the typical architecture of such a network and the operation thereof, particularly as it relates to providing packet data communication sources.
As previously mentioned, MS 103 and MS 105 may take one or more of several forms. For example, a MS may be an enhanced mobile telephone station with a display and user input capabilities to support certain text and image communications, for example, for e-mail and web surfing applications. Another mobile station may comprise a PDA with built-in wireless communication capabilities, such as shown with MS 103 and MS 105 in
Simple IP (SIP) is a service in which the user is assigned a dynamic IP address from a serving PDSN. A service provider network, such as networks 110 or 150, provides the user's mobile station (e.g., MS 103 or MS 105) with IP routing service. The user retains its IP address as long as it is served by a radio network (e.g., RN 111) that has connectivity to the PDSN (e.g., PSDN 119) that assigned the IP address to the user's mobile station. There is no IP address mobility beyond this PDSN, and as a result, there is no handoff between PDSNs.
Mobile IP (MIP) is a service in which the subscriber is assigned an IP address from a "home" network (e.g., home agent (HA) 123 of network 110). With MIP service, the assigned IP address does not change as the mobile station changes it's point of attachment to the network 100 (e.g. by roaming to a new provider network, or by roaming across a PDSN boundary within a single provider's network). If dynamically assigned, the IP address remains assigned to the particular mobile station until that station logs-off, is inactive for longer than some set period, or the data session is otherwise terminated. Therefore, with respect to
Each mobile station constitutes an interface between the mobile subscriber (or user) and the base station. Besides voice communications, the mobile station provides control and signaling functions. The mobile station is able to tune, under system command, to a logical channel in the frequency spectrum allocated to the system. Each logical channel comprises a pair of channels for two-way conversation. Power levels of the transmitter can also be controlled by the system.
BTS 113 is the part of RN 111 that sends and receives RF signals to/from the mobile stations (e.g., MS 103) it currently serves. BTS 113 contains the antenna systems, towers, transmitters, and receivers at a site. BTS 113 is responsible for the control, monitoring, and supervision of calls made to and from each mobile station within its serving area. BTS 113 assigns and reassigns channels to the mobile stations and monitors the signal levels to recommend hand-offs to other BTSs (not shown).
BSC 115 is a centralized processor that controls the functions of a number of the BTSs (e.g., BTS 113) and helps to manage how calls made by each mobile station are transferred (or "handed-off") from one serving BTS to another. Each wireless network equipment vender implements this function differently. Some vendors have a physical entity, which they call a BSC, while other vendors include this functionality as part of their mobile switching center (MSC). For convenience of illustration, BSC 115 is shown associated with or incorporated into MSC 117.
The network 110 also includes a packet data serving node (PDSN) 119, which is a fixed network element introduced in the architecture for 3G networks to support packet data services. The interface between one or more of the CDMA2000-1x radio networks and a PDSN is called a R-P Interface. In the preferred embodiment, PDSN 119 supports Simple IP and Mobile IP addressing. PDSN 119 establishes, maintains and terminates logical links to the associated radio network, in this case RN 111, across the R-P interface. PDSN 119 also supports PPP sessions with mobile stations, such as MS 103.
PDSN 119 initiates Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) communications for the mobile station client to a home AAA server 121. Home AAA server 121 is also referred to as a remote authentication dial-in user service (RADIUS) server. PDSN 119 receives service parameters for MS 103, as a mobile client, from the AAA server 121. PDSN 119 also collects usage data for accounting purposes, which it relays to AAA server 121. PDSN 119 also is the network element that routes packets to/from external packet data networks, for example through a network service provider 123 to and from the Internet. Network service provider 123 may be an Internet Service Provider (ISP), in this case for the home service of MS 103. Alternatively, the network shown at 123 may coincide with or connect to a private data network or "Intranet" to which the particular customer has secure access. Although shown as a separate link for convenience, the PDSN 119 typically communicates with the AAA server 121 and with the ISP network 123 via a private IP network, such as the network 171.
The "visited" access provider network 150 includes physical radio networks, such as RN 151 of
The access provider network 150 also includes a PDSN 159 and an AAA server 161, similar to those in network 110. For stations "homed" on RN 151, PDSN 159 acts as a home agent (HA) for packet service, and PDSN 159 interacts with an AAA server 161 in a manner analogous to that described above with regard to PDSN 119 and AAA server 121. However, for the roaming MS 105, PDSN 159 acts as a foreign agent (FA), and server 161 acts as a visited AAA server.
AAA servers are used for authentication, authorization and accounting functions for packet data calls in a CDMA2000-1X network. Both access provider networks 110 and 150 include one or more of such AAA servers (i.e., servers 121 and 161, respectively) and there may be one or more third party trusted AAA servers 141 that serve as proxies for communications between AAA servers of different access providers. The AAA servers provide authentication for both Simple IP and Mobile IP. These servers authorize service subscriptions, service profiles, and customized services. These servers also perform a variety of accounting functions, including starting an accounting record, maintaining an interim accounting record, and stopping an accounting record for a packet data communication service.
In the preferred implementation of the network 100, all authentication, authorization and accounting transactions are performed using a RADIUS protocol of the IS-835 standard. The RADIUS protocol has been in use for many years and is used widely in ISP networks. In the access provider network 110, RADIUS is implemented only as client-server in which PDSN 119 acts as the client and AAA 121 as the server. Similarly, in the access provider network 150, RADIUS is implemented only as client-server in which the PDSN 159 acts as the client and AAA 161 as the server.
During registration of roaming subscribers, it becomes necessary to conduct certain transactions between AAA servers 121 and 161. These communications may be conducted directly via the IP network 171 or the like. In many cases, however, the AAA server 121 or 161 in each respective network 110 or 150 will communicate via the IP network 171 with the secure broker server 141 acting as a AAA proxy server. The IP network 171 could be a public network, such as a portion of the public Internet. However, because of the mission-critical nature of the AAA communications and the security and finance-related issues involved in such communications, the IP network 171 preferably is a secure packet communication network operated by one or more carriers or their trusted service providers.
The mobile stations are provisioned to normally operate in the serving area of one wireless system operated by the user's access service provider, and this radio system is referred to as the "home" location or system. In our example, RN 111 within the access provider network 110 is provisioned as the "home" system for both of the exemplary mobile stations 103 and 105. Within the access provider network 110 providing the "home" service for MS 103 and MS 105 is a Home Location Register (HLR) 125 that stores subscriber packet data subscription service options and terminal capabilities, i.e., regarding subscription to CDMA2000-1x, IS-95, voice, packet data, dual mode, dual service voice and packet data. The home RN 111 uses the service information from the HLR 125 to provide the subscribed services to each user's mobile station, for example while the MS 103 is operating in the service area of the home RN 111. Although not shown, the access provider network 150 typically may include one or more additional servers for storing similar HLR service information for mobile stations homed to radio networks, such as RN 151, of that access network 150. All radio networks of one access provider network may utilize one server for the HLR function.
As shown, the customer using MS 105 has roamed into the service area of the visited access provider network 150. For MS 105, service information is downloaded from the HLR 125 to the Visitor Location Register (VLR) 165 in visited access network 150 during a successful registration process. Specifically, the visited wireless communication network 150 assigns a register in server 165, as a VLR, to a mobile station, in this case MS 105, during a period when the mobile station roams into the wireless serving area of the network 150 and remains registered on that visited system. By doing so, proper services to roaming MS 105 are provided.
VLR 165 communicates with HLR 125 to authenticate MS 105 and to obtain a copy of MS 105's subscriber subscription service information, including packet data service information, from the HLR during the registration process. Typically, this is accomplished by packet message exchange via a SS7 interoffice signaling network 173. This communication is analogous to roaming registration authentication conducted today in both analog and digital cellular communication networks, although the communication here includes the extra information relating to the subscriber's packet data service.
Subsequently, when the subscriber using MS 105 initiates a packet data session, BSC 155 first goes to VLR 165 via the MSC 157 to check subscriber subscription information prior to granting the service to the subscriber. If the mobile station is not yet registered, this would initiate the registration procedure. However, if registration has been completed when the subscriber attempts the packet data communication, VLR 165 will provide the requisite authorization based on checking the downloaded subscriber subscription information, and then allow communications to go to PDSN 159 for further processing specifically related to the data services. Although not shown, network 110 typically includes a similar VLR functionality.
The home access provider network 110 also includes a short message service center (SMSC) 127. The SMSC receives messages, such as e-mail, intended for transmission to mobile stations and forwards them to the appropriate MSC 117 or 157. The SMSC 127 receives the messages over an IP network, such as network 171 or the Internet. The links to the MSCs typically go through an SS7 network such as that shown at 173, although the link to the MSC 117 is shown separately for convenience. A similar SMSC server or control computer (not shown) may be provided in the visited access provider network 150 to allow that provider to offer short message service (SMS) to subscribers whose stations are assigned to home systems 151 within network 150. The SMSC 127 is a standard messaging computer used in cellular networks today to offer SMS services to cellular customers. Such SMSCs 127 will provide similar services to the newer mobile stations that also support the packet data services.
As another example, assume that the MS 105 has roamed across a PDSN boundary from network 110 to network 150 using a SIP service. Although originally assigned an address via PDSN 119, MS 105 will obtain packet data services via PDSN 159. As it roams across the boundary, the MS 105 must obtain a "care-of address" (COA) from a local "Foreign Agent" (FA), and register this COA with it's "Home Agent" (HA) on the home network. Although other control nodes or servers may perform these Agent functions, in the illustrative embodiment the PDSNs 119 and 159 serve as these Agents. The COA address allows the HA PDSN 119 to route packets with the assigned mobile IP address through the FA PDSN 159 to the visited RN 151, and hence, to the roaming MS 105.
In this example, PDSN 119, acting as the HA, will subsequently intercept all incoming traffic for the mobile station 105 and forward it to the mobile station at its new COA, that is to say via the PDSN 159. Outgoing traffic from the mobile station 105 is typically addressed as normal and routed directly from the PDSN 159 to the destination "correspondent node" (CN) from the "foreign" network. This routing path (CN=>HA=>MS=>CN) is referred to as "triangular routing". An option is for a "reverse tunnel" to be established between the FA and HA, so that all outgoing traffic from the mobile station 105 appears to originate on its home network 110. This behavior is described in RFC2002 et al., and the SIP messaging requirements for CDMA2000 are specified within the IS-835 standard.
The authentication of MIP nodes is achieved using authentication extensions to the MIP registration traffic. Three extensions are used to authenticate a mobile extension; the FA challenge extension, the mobile station to HA extension, and the mobile station to home AAA extension. A new and unique FA challenge value is passed to the mobile station from the FA PDSN 159 each time that the MS 105 registers, as a defense against a malicious mobile station hijacking a MIP session. The mobile station to HA extension is derived from a 128 bit secret key known only to the mobile station and it's HA. The mobile station to home AAA extension is derived from a 128 bit secret key known only to the MS 105 and it's home AAA server 121.
MS 105 is able to maintain a static IP address even for hand-off between radio networks connected to separate PDSN nodes, such as RNs 111 and 151 and PSDNs 119 and 159. Therefore, Mobile IP provides hand-off capability, and enables MS 105 to roam in the public IP network, rather than just within the footprint of its home access provider. Mobile IP may be important for subscribers who are served around PDSN border areas.
Architecture 100 of
A packet data session is an instance of continuous use of packet data service by the user. As shown by the discussion above, a packet data session begins when the user invokes packet data service. A packet data session ends when the Mobile IP user or the network terminates packet data service, wherein for a particular packet data session, the user may change locations but the same IP address is maintained. For Simple IP service, moving from the coverage area of one PDSN to another PDSN constitutes a change in packet data session because a new IP address is assigned by the new PDSN. For Simple IP service, a packet data session and a PPP session are concurrent. For Mobile IP service, a packet data session can span several PDSNs as long as the user continuously maintains mobility bindings at its HA and there is no lapse in Mobile IP registrations/re-registrations (i.e., the IP address is persistent). For Mobile IP service, the packet data session can exist through several changes of the PPP session.
A PPP session describes the time during which a particular PPP connection instance is maintained in the open state in both the mobile station and the serving PDSN. The PPP session is maintained during periods when the mobile station is dormant (i.e., no activity). If a user hands off from one radio network to another radio network but is still connected to the same PDSN, the PPP session remains. If a user changes PDSN, a new PPP session is created at the new PDSN.
Group F includes a parameter F13 called "Release Indicator". This parameter is used for storing an integer value corresponding to a reason for a "stop record". A stop record is a record that indicates termination of a session and is used in accounting. The presently defined integer values for parameter F13 consist of 0=>unknown, 1=>PPP/Service timeout, 2=>handoff, 3=>PPP termination, and 4=>mobile IP registration failure. The value 0 corresponds to cases where a session was terminated or failed to be established for an undefined reason. The value 1 corresponds to a timeout related to the expiration of the inactivity timer. Value 2 corresponds to a handoff from one PDSN to another PDSN for a roaming mobile station. Value 3 corresponds to a PPP session termination by the mobile station. Finally, value 4 corresponds to a failure of the mobile station to register (i.e., the PPP session was not initiated).
To allow a PDSN to more accurately account for and bill a mobile station when a first session is terminated and a second session is initiated prior to expiration of a typical inactivity timer, the 3GPP2 protocol is modified. A first modification includes defining a new parameter value for parameter F13. As an example, the value 5 (or F13=5) may be defined to indicate "billing adjustment needed". Therefore, when F13=5, the corresponding AAA server calculates the appropriate adjustment. However, presently, the 3GPP2 protocol does not include a parameter and/or value which allows the AAA server to more accurately calculate such an adjustment, without simply subtracting the value of the inactivity timer.
Additionally, in the preferred form, a timer-triggered interim UDR (every 10 minutes, for example) is maintained and a new attribute G17 (last user activity time) is added in PDSN Accounting Stop UDR record. An interim accounting record (or interim UDR) is maintained, which contains the attributes found in the Accounting Stop UDR, except for the Acct-Term-Cause attribute. The values of the attribute in the interim accounting record are cumulative since the Accounting-Request Start record. The attribute G17 is present in interim UDRs and STOP UDRs, and preferably has a specification similar to that of G4. For instance, G17 could have a specification of: Type=26, Vendor Type=(80 at present, could be G17 if and when 3GPP2 assigned it), 3GPP2 Vendor ID=5535, Payload Length=4, Format=time (to be implemented same as G4), Field=3GPP2_Last_Activity_Timestamp. If there is no user activity during the session, set G17=G4 (Start Record): and each distinct PPP session will have its own unique Accounting_Session_ID and Correlation_ID, designated by C1 and C2, respectively. Note that this attribute can be used in an interim UDR as the STOP UDR, should the real STOP UDR not be received by the PDSN.
Referring to
The network activity timer is shown with timeline 430. The inactivity timer begins to count at Tals1 and is set to expire at a time TO. Assume that before TO, the user initiates another connection request on the same PDSN at a time Ts2, shown as timeline 420. From the user's perspective, the start of the new session is similar to the start of a new call. Also assume an initial mobile station activity stop time of Tais2 and a last mobile station data activity stop time of Tals2 for the second session. Assume the user disconnects at a time Td2.
Presently, two things could happen to the new request for connection at Ts2. In a first outcome, a new PPP session (i.e., a PPP2 442) is given to the user at Ts2 and the prior PPP session (i.e., PPP1 440) is disconnected. In a second outcome, the old PPP session (i.e., PPP1) is maintained after Ts2 and assigned to the user for the subsequent connection. In this latter case, the connections are "bridged" into a single PPP session and the PPP session (i.e., PPP1′ 450) is terminated when the user disconnects from the second connection at Td2. Bridging in this manner gives rise to inaccurate billing, as previously mentioned. For accounting purposes, the network side (e.g., a PDSN) in the bridging scenario is not aware of the termination at Td1.
In accordance with the embodiment, and to prevent such billing inaccuracies, PPP processing is separated from billing. Even if a bridged PPP session occurs for two separate connections and the same IP address is used for each connection, such a bridged session will be treated as two separate connections from billing perspective. That is, regardless of how a PDSN treats PPP sessions (i.e., disconnect or bridge), the same accounting records are generated. Consequently, if the PPP session is bridged, an accounting stop record is generated for time Tals1 followed by an accounting start record at Ts2 with a different accounting session ID. The G17 parameter of the modified 3GPP2 protocol allows storage of the accounting stop record, thereby securing a more accurate record of termination of the first connection. With the G17 parameter of the modified 3GPP2 protocol, the PDSN can determine whether a PPP session is the result of a new PPP request or a continuation of an existing PPP session.
In a typical digital data environment, information and requests are sent by a packet control function (PCF) hosted on a device (e.g., a mobile station). If the second PPP request comes in from a different (PCF), the PDSN will know this is a new call by the absence of old PCF information. For inter-PCF, intra-PDSN handoff, the old PCF information is sent over the R-P connection setup request message per IOS standard. If the second PPP request comes in from the same PCF, no R-P connection request is necessary since an R-P connection already exists. However, the PDSN will know that this is a new call as a PPP setup procedure is initiated by the MS, which indicates that the MS does not have a PPP session. As a result, regardless of whether the PDSN bridges the PPP session or not, the PDSN will know that it is a new PPP connection request.
For the above example of
Under prior approaches, the billing time for PPP1 is inaccurately given by:
However, with the present techniques, an improved adjustment can be calculated for the time between connections, i.e., the time between Td1 and Ts2. In the preferred form this is accomplished by terminating the prior PPP session (e.g., PPP1) at the last activity stop time of the prior PPP session (e.g., TALS1) and starting a new PPP session for the next PPP session. This typically provides a small advantage to the user, since the user does not, in this embodiment get billed for the time between the last activity and the time of disconnect by the user's device. In accordance with the present invention, billing time corresponding to PPP1 is given by:
In the case of determining a billing time corresponding to PPP2, a billing adjustment time (BAT) is determined using the following equation:
If the BAT is less than the inactivity time (e.g., 10 minutes), regardless of whether the session was bridged the billing time corresponding to PPP2 is given by:
As previously mentioned, preferably a new value for parameter F13 is defined which advises the accounting server (e.g., a RADIUS or PDSN server) of the need to perform the above billing adjustment analysis. The corresponding downstream processing for billing adjustment using parameter F13 may be appreciated using the following logic:
If F13=3 (i.e., PPP termination initiated by client), then
Else F13=0, 1, or 5 (i.e., unknown, PPP/Service timeout, or billing adjustment needed)
Other values of F13 are not treated in downstream processing. For F13=2 (i.e., handoff) the downstream processing system will not see the F13 value because the accounting (e.g., RADIUS) Server will not pass this stop UDR. For F13=4 (i.e., Mobile IP registration failure), the downstream processing system will not see the F13 value unless Mobile IP is implemented.
As shown by the discussion above, certain elements of the embodiments entail execution of applications, the AAA, the RADIUS, and the billing adjustment, on a server or the like. The hardware of such a computer typically is general purpose in nature, albeit with an appropriate network connection for communication via an IP network or an SS7 network or the like.
As known in the data processing and communications arts, each such general-purpose computer (including servers) typically comprises a central processor, an internal communication bus, various types of memory (RAM, ROM, EEPROM, cache memory, etc.), disk drives or other code and data storage systems, and one or more network interface cards or ports for communication purposes. Such computers may also be coupled to or include a display and one or more user input devices (not shown) such as alphanumeric and other keys of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, touch screens, microphones, and so on. The display and user input element(s) together form a user interface for interactive control of the operation of the computer system. The user interface elements may be locally coupled to the computer system, for example in a workstation configuration, or the user interface elements may be remote from the computer and communicate therewith via a network. The elements of such a general purpose computer system also may be combined with or built into routing elements or nodes of the network, such as the PDSN the SMSC, the BSC or the MSC.
The functionalities referred to as "applications," such as an accounting (or AAA) application, involve software including executable code as well as associated stored data. The software code is executable by the general-purpose computer that functions as the particular server, e.g. 121 or 141. In operation, the code and possibly the associated data records are stored within the general-purpose computer system. At other times, however, the software may be stored at other locations and or transported for loading into the appropriate general-purpose computer system, or it may be dynamically provided. Hence, the embodiments involve one or more software products in the form of at least one machine-readable medium and one or more modules of code carried by the medium that are executable by a processor to cause the processor to implement the relevant application(s) in essentially the manner performed in the embodiments discussed and illustrated herein.
A machine-readable medium, as used herein, may be any physical element or carrier wave, which can bear instructions or code for performing a sequence of steps in a machine-readable form or bear associated data. Examples of physical forms of such media include floppy disks, flexible disks, hard disks, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, as well as media bearing the software in a scannable format. A carrier wave type of medium is any type of signal that may carry digital information representative of the data or the instructions or code for performing the sequence of steps. Such a carrier wave may be received via a wireline or fiber-optic network, via a modem, or as a radio-frequency or infrared signal, or any other type of signal which a computer or the like may receive and decode.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the techniques outlined above have a broad range of applications, and the embodiments admit of a wide range of modifications, without departure from the inventive concepts. For example, the illustrated embodiments show a particular breakdown of the AAA, agent (FA and HA) and DHCP functions. While these arrangements are presently preferred, those skilled in the art will recognize that different organizations are possible within the broader inventive concepts of these embodiments. In various embodiments, the AAA and DHCP functions could run as separate applications, for example, with the AAA for packet services implemented in the HA PDSN and/or the FA PDSN. As another example, the techniques described above may be implemented on other networks where it is desirable to bill for packet services at the packet session level, such as a wired network utilizing PPP over Ethernet type sessions.
While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and/or other preferred embodiments, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the invention or inventions may be implemented in various forms and embodiments, and that they may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the inventive concepts.
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Home > Research & Publications > Media Centre > Media Releases > Economics, Tax, Industry, Small Business, Sustainability > Small Business to Suffer
October 12, 2011
Statement by ACCI Chief Executive Peter Anderson
New, independent research shows that small and medium business people and their employees are likely to suffer the most under the carbon tax.
The research, from global economic and strategic consultants Castalia, finds that energy intensive SMEs are likely to suffer a cut in profitability of between 10% and 20% under the proposed carbon tax.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Australia's largest and most representative business organisation, is releasing this research on the eve of the crucial vote on the carbon tax in the House of Representatives on behalf of the more than 280,000 small and medium enterprises that are part of its membership base.
ACCI Chief Executive Peter Anderson said:
"The research points to small and medium businesses being significant losers under the carbon tax. They are unfairly squeezed by having costs passed down the supply chain but are less able than larger businesses to pass those costs onto consumers because of competitive pressures. And they don't get the government compensation that larger businesses or households are promised."
The research demolishes the idea that only 500 big companies pay the tax. It finds "a material impact on the profitability of SMEs with consequent flow-on effects for investment and employment", due to higher energy prices and a loss of competitiveness.
"Higher costs and lower competitiveness mean reduced profitability. For energy intensive SMEs, a profitability reduction of 10% or 20% is a blow to viability for no environmental or economic gain" Mr Anderson said.
"Armed with this research all parliamentarians should think again before burdening small business with the carbon tax, and giving them no way around it. Lower House members of parliament have on average between 5,000 and 15,000 SMEs in their electorates."
The research concludes that short term impacts on energy intensive SMEs fall disproportionately on jobs and create "a permanent loss of competitiveness", with medium term impacts spread across investment and employment.
The energy intensive SME sectors assessed by the research were in plastics manufacturing, food processing and chemicals manufacturing.
SME impacts are not uniform, but almost always adverse. In other non-manufacturing SME sectors the research finds that SMEs not exporting still compete with imports, and that "almost 80% of our imports come from countries that do not have a direct price on carbon."
The finding of a 10% to 20% reduction in profitability for energy intensive SMEs is across the three years of the fixed carbon price (2012-2015). The outcome would be higher or lower depending on floating price movements.
"The research finds that if the carbon price rose to $45 a tonne, which it says may be necessary to meet the 5% reduction target by 2020, the impact on these SMEs would reduce profitability between 20% and 50%" Mr Anderson said.
"It concludes with a sobering warning: 'The SME sector of the Australian economy has been largely ignored in the debate on the proposed carbon price. Australia's economic well-being is supported by the production of goods and services and continued investment by the SME sector – the very industries whose competitiveness will be hard hit by the carbon price'."
The Castalia research, which updates analysis originally conducted for ACCI in 2009, can be found here:
October 2011 - Castalia Report to ACCI on Carbon Tax
For more Information:
Chief Executive Peter Anderson
02 6270 2311
Mobile: 0417 264 862
Economics Director Greg Evans
02 6273 2312
Mobile: 0417 204 559
Communications Director, David Turnbull
02 6273 2311
Mobile: 0419 272 802
Castalia Strategic Advisors, Executive Director, Alex Sundakov
Mobile: 0433 043 337
Copyright © 2011 - Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Copyright 2010 - 2015 Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry


text: Synopsis: In what has widely come to be known as Theology of the Body, Blessed John Paul II offered a series of reflections at his Wednesday audiences in St. Peter's Square in the early 1980s. Theology of the Body for Every Body is rooted in those reflections. It presupposes that as Christians, each of us is called to be a disciple at every stage of our lives, and that our bodies are essential to responding to God's call throughout our lives. We serve with our hands, encourage with our lips, pray on our knees. Refreshingly written by a wife and mother who works in Church ministry, this thoughtful and topical book is not just for married couples, but for everybody who seeks to live a faithful Christian life.


text:
It makes sense that Tyler Perry only uses one-quarter of the title of "For Colored Girls" — because his movie only captures about one-quarter of the play.
I don't think that's completely his fault. The play, "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf" is probably impossible to film now, both because elements of its storytelling are dated (we've come a long way on topics such as abortion, female sexuality and men who have sex with men "on the down-low") and because its poetry and loose structure are so specifically tied to the stage. There, the free-flowing "choreopoem" had room to breathe, but it makes no sense transferred to a realistic space and time on film.
The play took place in a timeless, impressionistic dreamworld of African American women who may or may not have known each other but who reached out to each other for support. The movie takes place today, on the fifth floor of a New York apartment building where seemingly every African American woman in the city either lives or visits. That's more than a little ridiculous, as is the laughably over-the-top basement abortion shop that might have made sense when the play premiered in 1976 but is just goofy now: Surrounded by a giggling crazywoman, dirty bathtubs, barking pitbulls and drug addicts, the shop is presided over by a drunk, reeling nutjob who babbles while she wields her germy tools of the trade.
But — and the rest of this review will be buts — you can't take your eyes off that scene. The abortionist is played by Macy Gray and, although I'm not sure anything she says contributes to the story, everything she says is riveting. That's often true of "For Colored Girls" because director Tyler Perry clearly loves the actresses he has cast. Whenever Janet Jackson, Thandie Newton, Whoopi Goldberg, Kerry Washington, Minnesota native Kimberly Elise, Phylicia Rashad, Loretta Devine or Anika Noni Rose has a big moment — and "For Colored Girls" is practically all big moments — Perry holds the camera still for a closeup of the actress.
It's as if Perry is saying to us: "Look at her. Do you believe what she can do?" And he's right to do it. The actresses' loose storylines — involving date rape, unfaithful husbands and other topics right in Perry's sweet spot of strong-women-and-the-weak-men-they-attract — aren't especially revealing. But playwright Ntozake Shange's monologues, which were the meat of her play as well, are lovely and poetic. They don't necessarily fit in the scenes into which they're plunked — why, for instance, is Washington talking about roses and pyramids in the middle of fixing a snack in her kitchen? — but Perry's decision to go in for closeups divorces the monologues from their context in a way that, oddly, works.
It would be easy to pick apart the flaws of this passionate and earnest film, but I think I've done that enough. Does it work? Not entirely, or even mostly. But it has moments of beauty and power, and I'm glad Tyler Perry gave it a go.
Chris Hewitt can be reached at 651-228-5552.
Directed by: Tyler Perry
Starring: You name her
Rated: R, for strong language, domestic violence and partial nudity.
Should you go? These terrific actresses make it worth seeing. ** 1/2


text:
Results for 'C'
- Cambridge Journals
Selected online content for journals in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities from Cambridge University Press.
Digital collection of art museum images of fine and applied arts.
- Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
Indexes government publications from theô U.S. Government Printing Office.
- Christian Science Monitor
- CINAHL Complete
- Provides indexing and full text access to nursing and allied health journals.
- Civil War: Antebellum Period to Reconstruction
- Provides local and national coverage of American culture, politics, and society from 1840 through 1877 through newspapers, government documents, and other printed resources from that time.
- ClasePeriodica
Indexes humanities and social sciences periodicals published in Latin America.
- Communication and Mass Media Complete
- Indexes the full text of journals in the fields of communications, journalism and mass media.
- Compendex
See Engineering Village.
- Congress.gov
Provides legislation from the 107th Congress (2001) to the present, members of Congress profiles from the 93rd Congress (1973) to the present, and selected member profiles from the 80th through the 92nd Congresses (1947 to 1972).
- Congressional Publications
Indexes publications of the U.S. Congress since 1970 includingô bills, laws and legislation, as well as information about members of Congress.
- Consumer Health Complete
Provides information on health and wellness topics, including encyclopedia, fact sheets, videos, and images. (Supported by Provided by the Arkansas State Traveler Project. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Science.)
- CountryWatch
Provides detailed reports, overviews, and analysis forô recognized countries of the world.
- CQ Researcher
Provides full-text reports and analysis of current events and controversial issues.
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry & Physics
Provides tables and reference information on all aspects of chemistry and physics.
- Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text
Provides indexing and full-text access to journals, books, and government reports related to criminal justice.
Need help? Contact a Reference Librarian.


text:
For sale in our Chicago showroom is a 1939 Chevrolet Model JC Pickup. This is a very nice and solid example of a... More
1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Coupe Street Rod $84,990.00 Take a look at this outstanding Chevy Street Rod. This beauty is finished in Tuxedo black... More
Beautufuly restored 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Business Coupe. Deep Burgandy with an impecable burgandy mohair interior. 85 HP 216.5 cid OHV in-line 6 cylinder engine,... More
ONLY 800 MILES SINCE BODY OFF FRAME CUSTOM BUILD, ITS VIRTUALLY A NEW CAR. HAS NEW 355 CRATE MOTOR WITH ALUMINUM HEADS & INTAKE.... More
Being offered in our Detroit showroom is a custom 1939 Chevrolet Master 85. This 39 Chevy has come a long way since the days... More
CHECK OUT THIS BEAUTY! ALL steel body including... More
S#7341939 Chevy Master Deluxe, This car is powered by a 350 small block with a 350 automatic transmission with a shift kit. It has... More
Just Toys Classic Cars is proud to bring you another quality street rod. Before you is a 1939 all steel Chevrolet Master Deluxe.... More
Gateway Classic Cars is proud to offer a very sharp 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe 2 door sedan. Its amazing to think that in... More
1939 Chevrolet Club Coupe Only 1200 Models Were Built This one has been Upgraded With The TCI Front End With Tubeular Frame .Power Steering... More
Very nice RUNNING and DRIVING street rod project. Painted flat black now New 350 chevy and automatic trans New glass, shocks, gas tank New brake and fuel lines New... More
1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe 2-dr. (country sedan) street rod. A great older restoration of an old skool hot rod. Initially built in 1965 when... More
1939 Chevrolet 1/2 Ton Pickup, Short Wheel Base, Show quality, Blue Exterior, Gray & Black interior, Rebuilt 235 CID Chev. Engine, 4 speed with... More
Already a multiple award winner, this slick 1939 Chevrolet Master Deluxe 2-door is just the right custom rod if you're the family type. Room... More
Who wants to race???? This all steel old-school straight axle gasser with tilt front-end is ready to go. 396 cubes with forged crank and... More


text:
OpenTox API
OpenTox is a framework that can be used in the creation of predictive toxicology applications. It can be integrated with other APIs to provide users with access to a variety of distributed toxicological resources including data, computer models, validation, and reporting. OpenTox is working to meet the requirements of the REACH legislation for providing alternatives to animal experiments for toxicity testing.
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|OpenTok.js Library
|The OpenTok.js Library is a JavaScript code library for the OpenTok SDK and API by Tokbox. Tokbox...
|OpenTok Andoid SDK
|The OpenTok Android SDK provides an interface for Android applications to the OpenTok API, enabling...
|OpenTok iOS SDK
|The OpenTok iOS SDK provides an interface for iOS applications to the OpenTok API, enabling the...
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text:
United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
Winter in central Appalachia is harsh and can stress the region's livestock. AFSRC scientists are developing small-scale ruminant production systems for the humid temperate Appalachian Region by managing interactions among forages, environment, and grazers. Adequate nutritional supplies of stockpiled forages will relieve the stress on small ruminants carried over winter.
Photo by Doug Boyer
AFSRC Picture of the Week Index
AFSRC Home


text:
This 1977 AMC GREMLIN X with LEVI package is THE ONE! Best color, best interior and equipped just right with the original 258 2brl 6cyl engine, 4... More
- Believed to be 25,000 original miles- Original paint, unrestored car- Documentation including factory original bill of lading and copy of window stickerTo be... More
'71 Gremlin X, Beautifully restored ultra rare Gremlin X, Freshly rebuilt 360cid AMC V-8@300 hp, Close ratio 4 speed transmission and Hurst Shifter, Factory... More
AMC: 1975 Gremlin X, V8, automatic, Levis, a/c, many options, Bronze Award National AMO Convention 2013, asking $15,500. 718-979-3655, NY.... More


text:
If you are looking for a self-catering holiday in the Peak District, look no further than Cromford. A village in Derbyshire, on the southern edge of the Peak District, it is home to idyllic holiday cottage, 3 Mount Pleasant.
The village is 17 miles north of Derby, and about 20 minutes drive from the M1 motorway. The nearest towns are Matlock and Wirksworth. It's set in a valley, surrounded by wooded hills and cliffs and bordered by the River Derwent to the east.
It's a walkers' and cyclists' paradise for either a short or long break; there are many paths and trails giving extensive views of the village and beyond and it is also on the route of the Derwent Valley Heritage Way, a walking trail that extends for 55 miles from Ladybower Reservoir to Shardlow and runs through fields, woods, by river, canal and road.
Cromford has a long and varied history and is best known for its connection with Sir Richard Arkwright, who established a water powered cotton spinning mill here in 1771. Some of the cottages and farm buildings pre-date Arkwright's time, but a large part of the village was built to house the mill workers. They were provided with shops, pubs, chapels and a school. Cromford Mill itself is now a Visitor Centre.
The village has a vibrant community life – there are three pubs within 2 minutes of the cottage, two restaurants, two fish and chip shops, a grocery store and the infamous Scarthin Books (included in the Sunday Times' Top 10 bookshops.)
"Celebrating Cromford", a weekend festival celebrating the village and the talents of the people who live here, started in June 2005 and has become an annual event.
The village is also exceptionally close to many well-known and loved tourist attractions.


text:
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The Miami-Dade County Portal will be undergoing maintenance starting at 11 p.m. Saturday, May 3 and for all of Sunday, May 4. Intermittent outages may be experienced. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Thank you for your patience as we improve our online services.
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You are now leaving the official website of Miami-Dade County government. Please be aware that when you exit this site, you are no longer protected by our privacy or security policies. Miami-Dade County is not responsible for the content provided on linked sites. The provision of links to these external sites does not constitute an endorsement.
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text:
Germany profile - Leaders
- 24 December 2014
- From the section Europe
Chancellor: Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel, Germany's first female chancellor, won a third term in September 2013, leading her conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) to victory and only narrowly failing to secure an outright majority.
The CDU's election campaign focused on Mrs Merkel's image as a safe pair of hands amid financial turmoil in Europe.
Her coalition partner since 2009, the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), failed to win any seats in the election, so the chancellor formed a pact with her Christian Social Union allies and the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) - in a re-run of the 'grand coalition' she had formed on first becoming chancellor in 2005.
In 2009, her party secured another four-year mandate with enough votes to dump the previous awkward coalition with the SPD in favour of an alliance with the FDP.
The coalition faced the tough challenge of dealing with the fallout from the 2008 global economic crisis. Mrs Merkel won plaudits for her calm handling of the situation, but her ability to weather a storm was put to an even more severe test once the full scale of the crisis in the eurozone began to emerge early in 2010.
As one of the richest countries in the EU, Germany was faced with the prospect of having to make huge contributions to bailouts for debt-ridden countries such as Greece, and popular resentment over this triggered a political backlash at home.
Mrs Merkel has pressed eurozone countries with stricken economies to implement reforms and budget cuts in return for aid.
In December 2011, she told the Bundestag that Europe was working towards setting up a fiscal union in a bid to resolve the debt crisis. But she also repeated her opposition to the European Central Bank issuing "eurobonds" backed by all eurozone members.
Mrs Merkel also took a tough line with Russia in response to Moscow's hostility towards Ukraine's efforts to seek a closer rapprochement with Western Europe in 2014.
Angela Merkel became leader of the CDU in 2000 after her predecessor Wolfgang Schaeuble resigned in connection with the party funding scandal that also tainted her long-time mentor, former Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
She was born in Hamburg in 1954 but grew up in East Germany, where her father was a Protestant clergyman. She has a doctorate in physics.
She divorced her first husband Ulrich Merkel in 1982, and has been married to publicity-shy chemistry professor Joachim Sauer since 1998. She has no children.
President: Joachim Gauck
Joachim Gauck, a human-rights campaigner and former East German dissident, became president in March 2012.
The opposition Social Democrats and Greens nominated him after the resignation of President Christian Wulff in February over a housing loan scandal, and the governing centre-right coaltion parties agreed to support him.
Mr Gauck stood for the largely ceremonial presidency in 2010, losing to the government's preferred candidate Mr Wulff.
Mr Gauck, like the Christian Democrat chancellor, Angela Merkel, has a background in the Lutheran Church in East Germany - he was a pastor there, as was Mrs Merkel's father.
An active anti-Communist from an early age whose father was exiled to a Soviet forced-labour camp for several years, Mr Gauck was a leader of the opposition New Forum in the last days of the East German dictatorship.
He served in the first and last democratic East German parliament, which put him in charge of investigating the archives of the Stasi secret police.
He continued this task after the reunification of Germany, earning the admiration of all but diehard Communists for his work in exposing the crimes of the Communist era.
Mr Gauck describes himself as a "liberal left conservative", and has expressed support for the policies of both Social-Democrat and Christian-Democrat coalition governments on a non-partisan basis.
In recent years he has concentrated on campaigning against both left and right extremist threats to Germany's democratic system.
Born in Rostock in 1940, Mr Gauck has four children by his wife, from whom he is separated. His partner since 2000 is the journalist Daniela Schadt, who will take on the ceremonial duties of First Lady.


text:
2012 Rhododendron of the Year Awards
Elepidote Rhododendron: 'Nestucca'
Flower white with greenish-brown spotting in throat, openly funnel-shaped, frilly lobes, 5" across. Dome-shaped truss holds 14 flowers. Blooms midseason. Leaves elliptic, 4" long, glossy, dark green. Compact plant with spreading habit. Height: 3 ft. in 10 yrs. Tolerates heat and sun. Flower bud hardy to -10° F (-23° C). Hybridized by C. Smith.
|Photo by T. Lawrence Mellichamp
Lepidote Rhododendron: R. minus var. minus
Flower pink to purplish pink or white, sometimes spotted green, funnel shaped with deep cut lobes. Truss holds 4 to 12 flowers. Blooms early midseason to midseason. Leaves broadly elliptic to lanceolate, up to 4" long, apex acuminate. Compact to rather straggly plant habit. Typical height: 4 ft. in 10 yrs. Plant is hardy to -15°F (-26°C). Native to Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama
Photo by Boris Bauer
Evergreen Azalea: R. 'Coronado Red'
Flower deep red, unmarked, broadly funnel-shaped, 3" across. Truss has 2 flowers. Blooms early midseason. Leaves obovate, broadly acute apex, rounded base, about 1¾" long, semi-glossy, yellow green, retained 2 years. Spreading plant habit. Grows to a height of 4 ft. in 10 years. Hardy to -5°F (-21° C). Hybridized by Harris.
Photo Joe Coleman
Deciduous Azalea: R. calendulaceum
Flower shades of orange, scarlet and yellow, funnel shaped. Sometimes slightly scented. Truss has 5-9 flowers. Blooms late midseason to late. Leaves ovate or obovate to elliptic, up to 3½" long, deciduous. Grows as an upright, spreading plant. Reaches a typical height of 5 ft. in 10 yrs. Insect and disease resistant. Plant and bud hardy to -20°F (-29°C). Found in the wild growing from Pennsylvania to northern Georgia.
Photo by Sally and John Perkins
Prior Year ROY Selections for Southeastern USA
American Rhododendron Society


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Book your room at Knights Inn Big Bear Lake
Room, 1 Double Bed, Non SmokingMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child)
Standard Room, 1 Queen BedMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child)
Standard Room, 2 Queen BedsMax Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 3 children)
Room, 2 Double Beds, Non SmokingMax Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 3 children)
Family Suite, Non Smoking (1 King Bed, 1 Double Bed, 1 Twin Bed )Max Occupancy: 5 guests (up to 4 children)
Get an overview of this hotelHotel in Big Bear Lake with free breakfast and bar/lounge
Located in Big Bear Lake, Knights Inn Big Bear Lake is minutes from Pine Knot Marina and Pine Knot Park.
This hotel is within close proximity of Alpine Slide at Magic Mountain and Big Bear Solar Observatory.
Complimentary wireless Internet access is available to keep you connected. Conveniences include ceiling fans, and rollaway/extra beds can be requested.
Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge. A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily.
The front desk is staffed during limited hours. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference space and meeting rooms. Free self parking is available onsite.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. Guests can enjoy a complimentary breakfast each morning. Public areas are equipped with complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access.
Event facilities include conference space and meeting rooms. Complimentary self parking is available on site.
- Free RV, bus, truck parking
- Meeting rooms
- Conference space
- Bar/lounge
- Free breakfast
- Front desk (limited hours)
- Free WiFi
- Multilingual staff
- Free self parking
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking, Free RV, bus, truck parking
Room Amenities
- Ceiling fan
- Television
- Rollaway/extra beds available
- Free WiFi
Where to Eat
A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning between 7 AM and 9 AM.
Hotel Policies
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- A pet fee will be charged plus a one-time pet cleaning fee


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SLED agents called in to investigate Honea Path house fire
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has been called in to investigate a Friday afternoon house fire in Honea Path.
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Need Help? Call us at 1-864-260-1284.
Monday-Friday: 6am-4:30pm / Saturday: 7am-11am / Sunday: 7am-2pm


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Laura Ryan
June 5, 2014
ATHENS, Ga. --- Led by First-Team selection Laura Ryan, the University of Georgia boasts five members of the 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Division I Men's and Women's At-Large Teams, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday.
Ryan, a senior diver, was joined on the women's squad by junior tennis player Lauren Herring and senior swimmer Shannon Vreeland, each of whom garnered Second-Team status. Swimmers Andrew Gemmell, a senior, and Nicolas Fink, a junior, were chosen for the Second and Third Teams, respectively, on the men's side.
The At-Large Teams include the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, and water polo for both men and women, along with bowling, rowing and field hockey for women, and volleyball and wrestling for men.
Ryan, Vreeland and Gemmell recently earned NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. Vreeland also was chosen as the SEC's H. Boyd McWhorter Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for all sports and received an additional Postgraduate Scholarship.
Sporting a 3.79 GPA in Psychology, Ryan won the 1- and 3-meter springboards at the NCAA meet to become the first Georgia diver to claim national titles. She also came in third on platform and earned Diver of the Meet honors. Ryan medaled on all three boards (first on 3-meter, second on platform and third on 1-meter) at the conference meet and was chosen as the SEC Diver of the Year. Vreeland, who has a 3.83 GPA in International Affairs/Economics, placed second in the 200 freestyle, fifth in the 100 freestyle and sixth in the 500 freestyle at the NCAAs. During the SEC meet, she won the 200 freestyle and placed second in the 100 and 500 freestyle. Holding a 3.86 GPA in Economics, Gemmell placed sixth in the 1,650 freestyle at the NCAAs and finished third in the 1,650 freestyle, sixth in the 500 freestyle and ninth in the 400 individual medley at the SECs. Fink, who has a 3.73 GPA in Agricultural Engineering, finished second in the 100 breaststroke, third in the 200 breaststroke and seventh in the 200 individual medley at the NCAAs and won the SEC title in the 100 breaststroke for the third straight year at the SECs, becoming the first Bulldog to do so. He also came in second in the 200 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 individual medley at the SECs.
Boasting a 3.93 GPA in Sociology/Psychology, Herring was chosen as the SEC Player of the Year and earned All-America honors in singles and doubles. She finished the season ranked No. 7 in singles after posting a 31-6 record, including 17-2 at No. 1 in the lineup. Herring also paired with Maho Kowase and finished the year ranked No. 2 nationally with a 36-7 record as they advanced to the NC


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Are you interested in becoming a "Good Stuffer"?
Good Stuff Eatery is always looking for employees with a great work ethic, commitment to quality and outstanding customer service skills. We're a fast-growing, young company where opportunities are endless. We look for employees with great communication skills who care about our environment and support local farmers.
We are a family-run business that works with our employees to empower, educate and train to develop their careers within the restaurant industry.
If you want to become part of our family and work in a fun, hip, fast-paced environment where we serve American favorites to the greatest customers in the world, then Good Stuff Eatery is for you!
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Ningin | GirlyBubble | ZiggyTek | Wirebot | FlauntMe | SwanDiary | Rekuru | CrazySingleLife | HTCYou | OMGHaute | Reelwire.com | Funsauce.com
We've heard about concussions quite a lot lately around the NFL and within the Eagles' organization. Back in Week 7, RB Brian Westbrook took a knee to the head and has been sidelined since, and a shocking number of others have sustained concussions as of late–including Redskins' RB Clinton Portis, Steelers' QB Ben Roethlisbeger, Arizona QB Kurt Warner, and most recently, the Eagles' dangerous weapon at the WR position, DeSean Jackson (pictured, #10). More »
The New England Patriots know all too well the feeling the New Orleans Saints are experiencing right now. In 2007 it was the Patriots who were coasting along every week with consecutive wins as they went on to an undefeated regular season. The Saints however, are not nearly as impressive as the Patriots were this time two season ago. The Saints have four come from behind victories, where the Patriots were putting up close to 50 points on opponents and being accused of running up the score after a game was clearly out of reach for the opposing teams. More »
The undefeated New Orleans Saints face a tough task tonight facing the always dangerous New England Patriots. More »
On Saturday, I wrote my reasons why the Eagles would lose to the Redskins (right here). Pretty much all of those things I mentioned came true, luckily for us Jim Zorn and the Redskins abandoned the run and tried to make Jason Campbell beat us himself. It almost worked. The Eagles secondary is a patched-together unit made up of veterans and guys off the street. Campbell made some amazing throws and Santana Moss had a pretty good game, all I can say is thank the football gods that Chris Cooley didn't play or this could have been a very different game. More »
The best running back in football is Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, he's led the NFC in rushing as a rookie, 2nd in the NFL and has led the NFL in rushing the last two years and until Chris Johnson does that, Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the NFL. Now if the question is who is the best running back in the NFL "this season" or "in the last five games", then the answer would be Chris Johnson. More »
Football fans, get ready for an exciting new feature from all of us at BlitzNation. We call it "BlitzNation's 25 Days of Christmas" and you're going to love it. Here's how it will work. Each day, we'll give you one item on our Christmas wishlist, and we'll continue to do this all the way up to Christmas day. More »
The Chicago Bears lost yet another game yesterday in which they were embarrassed and exposed, and now fall to 4-7 on the season. Bears fans throughout the world are starting to point fingers. Is it management? Is it coaching? Or is it players? There's no right answer in this debate, but I'm here to break it down, and see who should receive most of the blame for this absolute disaster of a season for a once proud franchise. More »
If you were wondering why LenDale White was inactive yesterday against the Arizona Cardinals, well, now you've got your answer. It seems as though Mr. White was a late arrival at Saturday's walk-through, so Jeff Fisher sent a message and didn't allow him to play. More »
As we prepare for the showdown tonight between the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots, it's time to look back on all the great football action from yesterday, as there were some pretty good games and some exciting finishes. More »
Current: Coming Soon!


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Hotels in 16148 - Hermitage PA
Only hotels in 16148 zip code are listed below. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates in Hermitage, PA for your upcoming leisure or conference / group travel. We list the best 16148 hotels and motels so you can review the Hermitage hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. Hotels in Mercer county and area code 724 are also listed.
16148 Hotels/Accommodations
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mOTP API
mOTP is an open source, two-factor authentication service. It uses a missed call rather than SMS to send users a One Time Password (OTP) for use in two-factor authentication. This allows users to side-step the costs and delays that can be associated with SMS, which is used in most other two-factor authentication services. Developers can integrate mOTP into their own applications or web-based services using REST calls.
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This is the best way this kind of thing has ever been done.
GOOD JOB, EVERYONE! Everyone. It feels like we, as a society, willed this to happen. USA! USA! There is no other thing in recent history that has brought us together more than this talking dog video. What a nation wide catharsis. Whoo! Are you guys still jacked up? No way we're going to be able to fall asleep tonight. Let's all just enjoy this. You want to also give credit to George W. Bush for the dog talking video? Fine! Whatever you want! It doesn't matter, let's just all be happy about it for little.
Thanks, The Best Of YouTube.


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Fox Hunting
When the leaves turn, and start to fall and the frost graces the ground on early Sunday mornings, my mother and I head up to the bard to get the horses ready. Once we have everything packed up we put the horses in the trailer and drive up into the hills of Vermont to partake in the century old tradition of Fox hunting. When we arrive numerous trailers are parked in rows like sweet corn before its cut. Off in the distance the sound of hounds grace my ears to be met with the site of the hound truck pulling into the field. When all is ready and the hunt master is aboard we thunder off, down the field and disappear into the woods guided only by the sound of howling in front of us. Through mud and up steep slippery slopes, our horses trudge on. Though the scenes are beautiful from the tops of remote hills, high above the valley, there is little time to gaze, for before you know it you're galloping down the other side, back onto the muddy trails following the one in front of you. Every so often the world freezes around you and horses stop in their tracks, only the sound of panting horses can be herd, every straining their ears. A hound calls out from the distance and before you can grab your rains, the horses are off again. For hours we ride through the woods chasing an ever eluding fox upon powerful horses, but eventually we return back to the rows of trailers. It was a successful hunt that day though, because it wasn't catching the fox that was important, it was the journey that was the fun part. As we lay back on the porch of the house near by, eating beef stew and munching on bread we talk and mingle with the people fortunate to have been there on they day in the hills of Vermont.


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How well do you know Chuck Todd?
You might have known him as the host of MSNBC's "The Daily Rundown," but on Sunday, Chuck Todd will take his seat as the newest host of NBC's "Meet the Press." On Aug. 14, NBC News quieted rumors and speculation by announcing that Todd will replace David Gregory, making Todd the 12th moderator on the longest-running show on television. As we wait for his Sunday show debut, here's a quiz to test how well you know Chuck Todd.
1. Todd attended George Washington University for his undergraduate education but never walked across the stage for graduation. How many credits was Todd missing to earn his degree?
D. 6(Photo: AP Photo)
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Catnip Connection
Fostering human and cat connections through light-hearted tales and educational insight
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Lexie Lee's Meowlogue
No naps for me today. I decided to get my paws on the keyboard. I have had thousands of naps since you last heard from me. Mom Linda kept promising that tomorrow she'd help me. But tomorrow never came. Well, I am a competent cat and I can handle this today. She is busy getting […] [Read More]


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49 CFR 260.21 - Eligibility.
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The Administrator may make a direct loan to an Applicant, or guarantee the payment of the principal balance and any interest of an obligation of an Applicant prior to, on, or after the date of execution or the date of disbursement of such obligation, if the proceeds of such direct loan or obligation shall be, or have been, used by the Applicant for the eligible purposes listed in § 260.5(a)(1), (2), and (3).
Title 49 published on 2014-10-01
no entries appear in the Federal Register after this date.


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POSTED: April 25, 2005 by HHassist
Another Tuesday, that is. Is there another episode of Restaurant Makeover starring our favorite feathered forum friend tomorrow?
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As health science goes, prosthesis technology is one that creeps many people out. It's hard for most of us to imagine being without a limb and the way that science is able to make them realistic and usable is amazing while oddly offsetting at the same time.
If you're one of those people who gets freaked out by prosthetic limbs, do not continue reading this article.