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Discussion in 'The 10 Ring' started by post-apocalyptic, Nov 15, 2011.
SF is no more...
Yes I've been to their website, read about them on this forum and even emailed them to ask a question. My email was not replied to. Careful with your assumptions. AT NO POINT DID I SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT SWAPFOX other than the cost.
So I just takes someone's word on this (who doesn't have a chono)? Proof not needed. It's up to me to disprove it someone's unverified claim? That's interesting. You didn't take science in school did you?
Either way, assuming he is right. It's still very expensive by comparison.
I didn't insult anyone with my posts (until now). Why make this a personal attack on me?
*EDIT* reading the other posts it appears Mike of SF passed away. RIP
Nobody said you said anything bad about Swamp Fox. I'm not sure how you came up with that...
Anyway, my point was you seem like you are unfamiliar with SF's ammo. If you have been reading the 10-Ring of any amount of time you would know his reputation is stellar as is his ammo.
What started this was you giving advice to use a fully supported barrel with Underwood's ammo... when I already shoot "hotter-than-underwood" ammo with my setup ... which is listed in my sig line (LOL). It was from that discussion onward that I assumed you were unfamiliar with SF. Nobody said you were dissn' him.
As far as needing "proof", I agree. I have however read a lot of posters on this board rave about how hot his ammo is. If he was falsifying his numbers, he probably would have been crucified (like Double Tap) by some. I have yet to read anything about his ammo other than WOW. If you ever shot his ammo you would understand. It really was above and beyond anything out there.
Was it expensive? Sure. But it was the hottest out there AND it was cheaper than Buffalo Bore (another often cited premium brand). SF ammo was never meant to be target/plinking ammo. It was the hottest premium ammo for hunting, personal protection, etc.
I am excited to try out Underwood's offerings now...
This was an underwood post. Kevin is great guy and it's a easy place to buy arms. I'm not knocking others arms just on the side of the little guy that like really good ammo at half the price.
Heart attack at 50 kind of makes you think. And sad indeed.
Not sure which part of my post was attacking you? You get defensive very easily...
When I said YOU have to prove they dont meet his stated velocities, I meant you in general...
Im well aware of the scientific method, I have a bachelor of science degree...and it is because of this knowledge of the scientific method that I can say what I did. The claim is not unverified, quite the opposite! You asking for proff is like asking for proof that the earth is round. Umm, I could get proof that the earth is round for you, but it has been proven so much, and is so obvious by now that it seems pretty silly!
His velocities have been proven and gone over again and again on here, by several people, there are even videos on youtube showing his ammo in action. Being that the thorough experimentation has proven my theory, I can say what I did, and unless someone could have proven otherwise, his stated velocities are correct. We obviously did not take this on blind fact, we studied it, like we did everyone else's ammo.
All of this is why I said, you have to prove otherwise...
So, before you go running your mouth about needing proof and numbers backed up, why dont you do just a little bit of research yourself? If you had, you would have known that swampfox's ammo has been proven several different ways, over and over again to be what we, and swampfox, say it is!
Just youtube swampfoxammo and you will see plenty of videos of his ammo beinging chronographed. Do some research. Doesnt matter now anyway cause nobody will be getting his ammo. So looks like underwood is the source now
OK, who is the guilty one? I get an email from Underwood saying the 135 gr. 10mm is available. I didn't see it for a couple hours. By the time I get to the website, they are sold out.
Which one of you bought all they had??????????
Trey did it all! I swear!
My bad sorry. I wish, i havent got a chance to buy any yet. Hopefully they will have some more soon.
I dunno.. I also procrastinated this time and missed out.
I think this will be Underwood's most popular 10mm loading, and backordering a few boxes might be a good idea.
I ordered (backordered) two boxes on 11/15, however my order is still pending ("received" status). I only orderd two boxes so I didn't do it!
We need to lobby Kevin Underwood to make a 200grn hardcast, or even a 230grn.
I would love to know the thinking of 220gr vs 230gr in 10mm. DT offers a 230gr cartridge (don't know if it is really 230gr though), however Buffalo Bore states that 220gr is the biggest you can use in the 10mm.
Don't know who to believe and what their logic is.
I have even read about bullet tumbling from 230gr DTs.
The more I get into all of this, the more I want to reload!
But yes, I think Underwood (Keith I believe is his name) has a great opportunity here.
From what I've seen, (Hickok45's videos), any 10mm bullet heavier than 220gr will tumble when fired from a Glock barrel.. but the aftermarket barrels will stabilize up to 230gr, (because of the difference in rifling).
I'll stick with my Glock barrels and bullets 220gr or lighter. They get it done just fine.
Awesome I gotta give em a try, I just picked up a 22lb captured recoil spring assembly for my G20Sf
I was going to say that. Aftermarket barrel for a 230gr. A hunting/animal defense round.
According the business card in my lap his name is Kevin. I've got a lot of his .45acp 230gn JHP and FMJ and 10mm 180gn JHP rounds in storage (and in my guns).
That is right... my mistake. I remember seeing that now that you mention it. Thanks.
135s are back in stock, at least for now. I just ordered 200rnds myself.
Is there consensus on what the bullets are uses? I hear maybe Montana, maybe Winchester, ??????
Also what are you guys using the 135grn for ? Just curious.
He said in another thread he uses winchester hollowpoints, not sure about fmj's...
I use 135 for home defense, it pretty much blows up when it hits anything, so less of a chance they'll overpenetrate and hurt someone...


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I feel like this is blue anon 25-29 telling me that I'm beta on my threads.
Most Helpful Girl
I'm totes the most athletic G@Ger on this site, everybody mirin and pink anons keep sending me unsolicited nudes.
Blue anon is just jelly because he was told it was okay to cry as a child and now he's unable to be as alpha as you.21|10|0
Lol damn. I'm mirin hard. Repd
- Show AllShow Less
Oh sorry. Rape culture isn't cool. Pls don't report me.
I'll let it slide this time.
Most Helpful Guy
Yea if by athletism you mean being small and weak af and never stepping outside the house and being virgins at 20s
Don't forget to follow C ville this time doe 👽10|10|0

subset: commoncrawl


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2012 ACM New Artist Nominees: Semi-Finalists Revealed
This is going to be one tough race! Brantley Gilbert, Hunter Hayes, JT Hodges, Scotty McCreery, Justin Moore, David Nail, Jerrod Niemann and Thompson Square are the semi-finalists for the 2012 ACM New Artist of the Year trophy. Who will be the final three to go on to compete for the award is up to you! The finalists in this coveted category are decided by the fans, with the first round of voting starting at 9:00 AM ET this Monday, Jan. 16, at VoteACM.com and GACTV.com/ACM. You can vote once a day until 12:00 PM ET on Jan. 30.
The Band Perry took ACM New Artist honors last year. Since then, the category has changed a bit in its voting procedures. The Academy used to have Top New Solo Vocalist and Top New Vocal Duo or Group categories, with winners announced before the show. Then, those two winners would compete for the Top New Artist trophy on the live broadcast. But this year, there's just one, all-inclusive category. Thompson Square is the only duo or group in the mix, with Shawna Thompson being the only female nominated this year. Voting for the final two rounds will consist of a combination of industry and fan voting.
The 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will air live from Las Vegas, April 1 at 8:00 PM ET on CBS.
Watch Thompson Square's 'I Got You' Video


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Acclaimed Stonington author Jim Henry dies at 99
Stonington — It seemed only appropriate that Jim Henry died peacefully early Sunday morning at The William W. Backus Hospital surrounded by the two things that meant the most to him — his family and a good book.
Henry, the Stonington man who gained international acclaim when he learned to read at 91 and published his first book at 98, died shortly after his family had gathered around his hospital bed to read the book "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" to him. He was three months short of his 100th birthday.
"He's been such a wonderful example of strength, dignity, pride, faith and good old fashioned hard work," said his granddaughter, Marlisa McLaughlin, who said Henry had been suffering from pneumonia for the past week. "We realize how blessed we were to be his grandchildren."
Henry, a former fisherman, taught himself to read and write after being inspired by the story of the grandson of a slave who also learned to read and write in his 90s.
"It changed him so much and made his life come together," McLaughlin said. "He just loved books and loved literature."
With the help of Mark Hogan of Literacy Volunteers of Eastern Connecticut, Henry wrote and published a collection of short stories about his life called "In a Fisherman's Language" in 2011.
Henry received many accolades includes a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama. His book was accepted into the collection of the Library of Congress, stories about him appeared in People magazine and on CNN and a New York independent film company was signed to make a movie about his life. But most of all he received letters from people around the world who said they had been inspired by him to learn to read and write. He became friends with a class at Ledyard Center School.
"He really wanted people to improve themselves, overcome their weaknesses and make changes," McLaughlin said.
Hogan, a retired East Lyme teacher who lives in Mystic, said Sunday that the man he was assigned to tutor turned out to not only become his favorite client but a good friend.
"We had special kinship," he said. "I can't say enough about my friend. He will be missed. I'm just sorry he couldn't make it to 100."
Hogan called Henry an "amazingly brilliant man" even though he didn't think so.
Hogan said he was surprised by the acclaim Henry received because he never thought the word would get out about him.
"But man did it ever take off. I was just along for the ride," he said.
When Henry's book was published in 2011, he said that becoming an author made him feel like he was just born.
"Here I am, nothing but a fisherman before and now everyone is looking up to me. It makes me feel so happy," he said. "I have tears in my eyes when I go to bed at night and think about all the nice things that have happened to me lately."
When Henry was a third-grade student, his father made him and his brother quit school so they could work odd jobs.
When he was 18 he moved to Stonington Borough, and he went on to not only captain a lobster boat, but also work at Electric Boat and serve in the National Guard. He became a skilled carpenter and plumber and even designed and built his own home in Stonington. He helped found the annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony and ran it for years.
Over the years, he hid his illiteracy from friends and relatives by employing a variety of tricks, such as ordering what he heard someone else ask for when he went to a restaurant. He could write his name just well enough get by. He felt ashamed he never learned how to read.
Then, seven years ago, at 91, Henry was inspired after learning about the story of George Dawson, the grandson of a slave who wanted to earn his high school diploma by learning how to read and write at 98. Dawson went on to write the book "Life is So Good."
"He had the same problem I did. It was identical. I figured if he could do it, I could do it. So I said, 'I'll try it,'" Henry told The Day in 2011.
He began by reading books designed for first-graders and spent countless hours practicing how to write, first the alphabet and his name, then small words.
He was also inspired by grand-nephew Bobby Henry, who when he learned about Henry's desire to read and write told him he would no longer take phone calls from him. He wanted a letter. Henry finally wrote that letter.
Henry's family is finalizing his arrangements and plans to start a literacy fund in his honor.
McLaughlin said Henry had been working on a second book right up until he died.
"One of the last thing he said to us, was a book gives you life," she said.
Costco a no-go in East Lyme and controversial shellfishing in the Niantic River
Thanksgiving Football part 1: Jim Buonocore, Juan Roman, Ken Daniewicz, and Troy McKelvin
Though they often make him mad, Falcons never hear Mike Ellis curse
Police: More than 125 underage patrons were in New London bar
Selective outrage: Trump criticizes Franken, silent on Moore
More subs if Trump signs $700B defense bill, but funding uncertain


text:
Over 1.8 million nonprofits and charities for donors, volunteers and funders
Causes: Cancer, Human Services
Mission: LINC eases the burden of cancer for patients and their families by providing assistance and referral to legal, financial and community resources.
Geographic areas served: Greater Richmond Area and Central Virginia
Programs: LINC provides assistance and referral to legal, financial and community resources. This support enables cancer patients to sustain themselves and their families by dealing with the non-medical issues surrounding diagnosis and treatment. Support is individual and provided with care, compassion and respect. Legal and financial counseling are provided at no charge to approximately 90% of LINC's clients (there is a sliding fee schedule for those with ability to pay); social services are provided at no charge.In addition, LINC provides educational opportunities for cancer patients. Education helps our experts reach more people and enables individuals to be more effective advocates on their own behalf.


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|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|18 Mar 2008
|Filing date
|9 Jun 2004
|Priority date
|9 Jun 2004
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Karamadai Srinivasan, Thomas M. Tripp, Rajpal Gill
|Original Assignee
|Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (26), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (13), Classifications (8), Legal Events (6)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
This specification includes, and hereby incorporates by reference for all purposes, a CD-R Program Listing Appendix which resides on a "Compact Disc-Recordable" (or "CD-R"). Two copies (respectively labeled "COPY 1" and "COPY 2") of this CD-R were filed simultaneously with the printed portions of this specification. Here is a listing of the source code program file contents of this CD-R:
OPERATING SYSTEM COMPATIBILITY: MS-Windows (XP)
Text Document
May 2, 2004
(contains all of the portable device API routines 536 shown in FIG. 5)
Text Document
May 2, 2004
(contains the check port routine 520 shown in FIG. 5)
Text Document
May 2, 2004
(contains the selfhelp active X control 518 shown in FIG. 5)
Text Document
May 2, 2004
(contains the selfhelp web page 516 shown in FIG. 5)
Text Document
May 2, 2004
(contains the gather information program 558 shown in FIG. 5)
The present invention relates generally to the field of computer installation and repair.
Synchronization is the task of interconnecting two personal computers and transferring information between them to cause each of them to have a full complement of up-to-date information. For example, if an individual has a pocket PC or other comparable portable computer or device (hereinafter "portable device") and also a portable or desktop office computer or workstation or other host (hereinafter "host"), a synchronization program would transfer information back and forth between them, causing the two computers to exchange names, addresses, calendar entries, notes, e-mails, word processing documents, etc., until both computers contained complete, matching sets of this information. An essential part of this task is the establishment of a data path between the two computers. Just as essential is the establishment of data paths through the layers of software, given the many differing protocols and settings.
Synchronization must be accomplished over some communication path between two computers. Virtually every computer made today has, or can be equipped, with what is commonly called an EIA Standard RS-232c serial port that can send information out of pin 2 and receive back information on pin 3 of an industry-standardized connector, with pin 6 serving as the signal ground (other wires provide flow control). More generally, "serial communication" involves sending a standardized coding of characters over a wire or cable connecting standardized ports.
In recent years, other standardized ways to transfer data between computers have emerged. "Parallel communication" can be carried out over a multi-wire cable having eight bidirectional data carrying wires (plus additional control wires to provide timing and flow and direction control) such that an entire byte of eight bits can be transferred all at once, in accordance with several upwardly-compatible protocols known as: Centronics (a bidirectional parallel printer port standard and connector developed by the company Centronics), SPP (standard parallel port, also known as the IBM PC and IBM PC AT parallel port, using an RS-232c connector), PS/2 (bidirectional parallel port design introduced on the IBM Model PS/2 computers), EPP (enhance parallel port), and ECP (extended capabilities parallel port), all of which have been subsumed as component parts of the standard IEEE-1284.
Modern operating systems, such as Microsoft's WINDOWS XP and Apple's SYSTEM X, automatically catalog and keep track of serial and parallel ports, assigning them symbolic names such as COM1 and COM2 for serial ports and LPT1 and LPT2 for parallel ports, and also requiring programs to register to use them and reporting to programs whether a given port is or is not locked for use by some particular software program. Thus, software layers are added to these two hardware protocols, increasing their complexity. A port may be unavailable to program A because the operating system has granted its use to program B.
Recently, both the serial and parallel communication protocols just described have given way to faster serial communication protocols, having their own special physical connectors or ports (as they shall be called hereafter), that can interconnect multiple computers and other devices such that data sent serially may be addressed to a particular computer or device sharing the serial communication path. Such protocols are defined by both hardware standards for ports and cables and also by software protocols including protocols for the packetizing and addressing of data.
Ethernet, the granddaddy of the so-called LAN (local area network) protocols, was developed years ago for interconnecting computers and printers and servers as well as communication routers into local area networks. Ethernet may also be used for direct computer-to-computer communication. Layers of communication software implementing higher- and lower-level communication protocols are normally required when Ethernet is used. For example, programs wishing to communicate via Ethernet may call upon one of the program-callable protocols Winsock (Windows sockets network programming) or NetBIOS (network basic input and output system). These, in turn, send out messages utilizing the TCP (transmission control protocol) and UDP (user datagram protocol) protocols which in turn break the messages up into addressed data packets using the IP (Internet protocol) protocol. The IP packets are finally broken up into Ethernet protocol packets which are delivered over the Ethernet network. Each of these protocols adds a layer of software as well as a layer of complexity to the resulting communications system.
The Universal Serial Bus or USB protocol, both in its original version and in its newer high-speed version, has recently become the most widely used protocol for interconnecting computers and other devices over short distances. USB connectors require only two wires, and the ports are very compact. Connectors may be plugged in and later unplugged while the computers are running. As with Ethernet, multiple devices may be connected to a computer's USB ports, and addressed and packetized messages may be sent from one device to another.
When either the Ethernet or the USB protocols are used in conjunction with modern operating systems, the operating systems are able to learn the identities of all local devices that are connected into the Ethernet or USB network. For example, when a new computer or device is plugged into one of a computer's USB ports, the operating system immediately identifies the connected computer or device and then prompts the user through the process of installing any required device driver software. The operating system also keeps a record of what devices are connected to each computer's USB ports through use of special software called a device manager. This feature of Windows XP is called "plug and play."
Several wireless communication protocols have recently become standardized and are now widely used. The first of these is the IrDA (infrared Data Association) infrared protocol which supports wireless communication over short "line of sight" distances (typically 3 to 6 feet). IrDA systems generally use a fairly simple serial communications protocol such that they generally operate from the perspective of application software running on a computer as if the IrDA linkage was simply a serial port interconnection between two computers or between a computer and a device (for example, a printer).
Quite similar to IrDA in its basic protocols is the Bluetooth wireless radio protocol which also is designed to work over short distances, providing intercommunication between a limited number of computers and other devices that are close together. The software protocols associated with Bluetooth, most notably the RFCOMM protocol which can emulate the various signals associated with RS-232 serial communication, are able to emulate serial port communication much as do the protocols of IrDA. Hence, a Bluetooth wireless radio connection, like an IrDS wireless infrared connection, may be used as a direct replacement for a serial communications interconnection between two computers or between a computer and a device.
The Bluetooth protocol also supports several higher-level protocols which have yet to come into widespread use. A Service Discovery Protocol (SDP) can provide a discovery process by which devices and services can be located over a Bluetooth network. A Serial Port Profile (SPP) defines operations to establish RFCOMM serial communications between two peer devices. A generic object exchange profile (GOEP) can facilitate synchronization operations, such as those discussed below; and the related synchronization profile (SP) can facilitate synchronization of files, notes, calendars, etc. between computers and also between computers and cellular telephones. A file transfer profile (FP) can facilitate the exchange of files and documents between computers.
The Bluetooth protocol is now appearing on desktop and portable host computers and also on handheld computers or pocket PCs as well as on cellular telephones and other such portable devices. Cellular telephones are acquiring pocket PC features, including the management of address books, notepads, and calendars and also e-mail and voice-mail messages. A new generation of portable devices is emerging with hard disk drives as well as all the features of cellular telephones and pocket PCs.
Another wireless radio protocol is IEEE 802.11b and its newer, faster counterpart, IEEE 802.11g. These two wireless protocols are normally used to extend TCP/IP local area networks to portable computers, to portable devices, and to computers and printers located away from Ethernet cabling. This protocol is also used for direct computer-to-computer communication for such purposes as file sharing and synchronization. Generally speaking, this protocol links computers together into a TCP/IP-UDP/IP type of network, where each computer has an assigned IP (Internet protocol) address and where communication between two applications running on two different platforms is by means of TCP messages and UDP datagrams carried by addressed IP packets.
When a program running on a portable or desktop PC equipped with the Windows XP operating system communicates with a pocket PC or other portable device equipped with the Windows CE operating system, the program may typically calls a set of functions named RAPI (remote access programming interface) or another set of functions named Winsock (Windows sockets network programming) that utilize the TCP messaging protocol and UDP datagram protocol which in their turn utilizes the IP addressed data packet protocol to communicate over whatever communication linkage has been established between the two PCs. The linkage could be an Ethernet cable, an IEEE 802.11b or g radio linkage, some combination of these two with a radio base station or Ethernet hub, a USB cable, a serial communications cable, an IrDA infrared optical linkage, or a Bluetooth radio linkage. Other types of cables and linkages will undoubtedly be developed in the future. Any such linkage may be used, and the communicating programs are normally unaware of which type of linkage has been selected by the user.
The examples presented in the discussion which follows illustratively focuses upon the use of either RS-232c ports and cables or USB ports and cables to provide communications between a PC or, more generally, a host, and a pocket PC or, more generally, a portable device for the purpose of synchronization. The use of Ethernet cabling and IEEE 802.11b or g, possibly in combination, is also discussed as another example. The IrDA infra-red and Bluetooth radio protocols are treated in this discussion essentially as alternative serial communications linkage protocols, since that is how they are normally used today. Bluetooth usage is likely to evolve into something more similar to the USB protocol, and special features of Bluetooth designed to optimize synchronization tasks are likely to be adopted as Bluetooth matures. The IEEE 802.11b and g radio protocols are essentially indistinguishable from Ethernet cable connections once they are properly set up and operating. While synchronization is the primary application discussed below, other applications involving intercommunication between two or more computers to coordinate operations, particularly in client-server applications, can also benefit from the teachings presented below.
In brief summary, there are a number of different, standardized ways in which communications may be established between, for example, a desktop or portable computer or other host and a pocket PC or other portable device by means of cable or optical or radio linkages. Once such a communication is established, then compatible applications should be able to communicate back and forth between the two computers, exchanging commands and data or files as necessary to perform tasks.
However, many problems can arise that can prevent or interfere with such communication—so many different types of problems that ordinary users of computers are frequently baffled in their efforts to solve all of the problems. For example, the task of synchronizing the calendar entries, the contact information, the task lists, and the notes contained on a portable device with those contained in a desktop or portable PC often fails because of hardware problems, software problems, and user-adjustable settings problems. Support personnel receive many more calls from computer owners seeking help in getting their portable devices to synchronize properly with other computers than they do from PC owners generally.
To figure out what is wrong and to correct problems of this type, the computer user, or the support person, needs information that may have to be gathered from many different sources—information defining the specific settings of the two application programs which are trying to communicate, information indicating whether the installation of those programs was properly done and whether the correct versions have been selected, and information defining the communication parameters and user settings buried within layers of communication software. Some information may have to be obtained from the registries of system and application settings or from the logs left by programs to show whether they were properly installed and tracking what they have tried to do and with what degree of success. Additionally, tests may have to be run on both of the computers to determine whether they can actually communicate. All of this information must be analyzed and reported in some meaningful fashion, understandable to users and to support specialists. Is the serial port or USB cable broken or not plugged in properly? Is a radio or infra-red linkage not working? Are the application programs mis-configured by the user? Are they installed properly? There may even be problems relating to the specific order in which the computers were linked together and then turned on.
One embodiment of the invention relates to an automated method using at least one computer program for troubleshooting the potential or actual inability of programs installed upon at least first and second computers interconnected by wired or wireless linkages to share or manipulate sharable information. This method comprises using at least one program installed on the first computer for testing to see if at least one hardware or software element on the first computer essential to sharing or manipulating sharable information is properly installed or configured or both, and for testing to see if information can actually be sent between the two computers. Then, if possible, that same program is used for initiating or performing testing to see if at least one hardware or software element on the second computer essential to sharing or manipulating sharable information is properly installed or configured or both. Finally the results of the testing are reported.
The present invention will be described in the context of a specific exemplary system, illustrated in
A. System Hardware and Software Components
An individual, referred to hereafter as the "user," has a host (or portable or laptop PC) 506 of the IBM PC variety (it could just as well be a MACINTOSH computer or a SUN workstation), equipped with a PENTIUM IV Intel central processing unit. This computer is assumed to have some type of access to the Internet 504. This computer has one (or more) USB port 524 and, optionally, one (or more) RS-232c serial port 528. A Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11b or g wireless radio port or IrDA infrared port or Ethernet port, indicated collectively as a wireless/Ethernet port 530, may also be present. If the host 506 is a portable, the port 530 may be a PCMCIA port containing an Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b or g, or Bluetooth card. Alternatively, these devices, as well as an infrared transceiver, could be built into the host 506 or plugged into a USB port or inserted into a PCI bus slot on a portable or desktop host 506.
Installed on this computer is Microsoft's WINDOWS XP operating system. This operating system includes a feature named "Plug and play" which enables it to detect many peripheral devices when they are connected to a computer. The operating system includes a device manager 522 that keeps track of what devices are connected to the computer's USB ports. The operating system also keeps track of which application program may be using its serial ports, and it locks out other applications from using a serial port that is in use. The operating system may also keep track of the usage of any Bluetooth wireless radio port or IrDA wireless infrared port, treating these ports essentially as if they were serial ports. An IEEE 802.11b or g wireless radio port or an Ethernet cable port is managed by a communication protocol stack (not shown) in accordance with the well-known TCP, DGP, and IP protocols and other similar protocols without the device manager 522 necessarily participating. Such protocol stacks may also be associated with the other types of ports as well.
The host 506 also includes a web browser 514, in this case Microsoft's INTERNET EXPLORER 6, and the installation of EXPLORER includes the installation of all the necessary drivers for Microsoft's Active-X control system of browser programming extensions. Some other browser could have been used, such as the Netscape browser; and some other browser extension or programming system, such as the JAVA programming system from Sun Microsystems, also could have been used, and then some of the programs (such as 536 and 522) used to implement the present invention would have been written in Java or in some other language compatible with the chosen browser extension system, rather than in an Active-X compatible version of C++.
Also installed on the host 506 is a suite of programs (not shown) that may generate files and documents, typically including word processing documents or files, spreadsheets, presentations, and possibly data bases. An example of such a program that can be purchased in versions designed for IBM PC compatibles or for the Macintosh is Microsoft's OFFICE Suite (currently, version 2003 for IBM PC compatibles and version X for the Macintosh). Corel also provides a suite of such programs named WORDPERFECT OFFICE (currently version 11). Sun also has a STAR OFFICE suite of such programs (currently version 7). The PC may also contain graphic or picture files, video files, music files, and other types of files as well as software for creating, revising, managing, printing, and displaying such files. The many files created by these programs typically are stored in a My Documents folder or in sub-folders within this folder, and they may need to be synchronized between two computers.
Another program installed on the host 506, and possibly also part of such an office suite, is a business information management program 532 that can manage business and other information. Such a program may be used to keep track of the user's calendar, contacts (names, addresses, telephone numbers, etc.), tasks, notes, Internet links, and e-mail or voice-mail messages. Sometimes this information may be contained in individual files and documents, but sometimes many small data items may be stored together within a single file or a small number of files, possibly organized as a single file database, and possibly partly or fully compressed or archived or both. An example of such a program is the Outlook program which comes as part of Microsoft's OFFICE 2003 Suite and which provides for the management of tasks, a calendar, contacts, notes, and e-mails. Included as part of Microsoft's OFFICE X Suite for the Macintosh is a similar program named Entourage. And a comparable set of programs in Corel's WordPerfect Office 11 Suite is the Corel Central suite of programs for managing a day planner, a calendar, a card file, memos, alarms, an address book, and e-mails.
The user also has a pocket PC or other portable device 508. In the discussion below, it is assumed that the user possesses a Compaq IPAQ H3800 series Pocket PC. Of course, there are many other types of small personal computers that could have been chosen in this exemplary system. The pocket PC is equipped with the WINDOWS CE operating system 522 as well as with companion Microsoft software that implements a business information manager 556 which, for example, manages a calendar, contacts, tasks, notes, Internet links, and possibly an e-mail or voice-mail system or both. The Pocket PC also may contain other files that may be in need of synchronization, such as word processing, spreadsheet, and graphic or image files as well as music files, video files, and possibly general-purpose database files as well.
The portable device 508 may be equipped with a single port that serves as both a serial port 546 and as a USB port 548. Other pocket PC models may have separate ports 546 and 548 supporting these two protocols, or they may have only one of these two ports. The portable device 508 typically comes with a matching set of connecting cables 526 and 540 one of which 540 is wired as a serial communications cable and the other of which 526 is wired as a USB cable. Both of these cables have industry standard PC connectors at one end, and both share a single special pocket PC connector at the other end. Alternatively, the two cables 526 and 540 may be entirely separate. Either of the two cables 526 and 540 may be used to connect the portable device 508 to the user's desktop or portable computer or, more generally, host 506.
Optionally, the portable device 508 may be equipped with a PCMCIA accessory port into which an IEEE 802.11b or g radio, Bluetooth radio, or Ethernet PC Card may be inserted, this accessory port and the chosen card together forming the wireless/Ethernet port 544. Or the radio logic and antenna or an Ethernet port can be built directly into the portable device 508. Alternatively, the port 544 may be an IrDA infrared transceiver that is built into the portable device 508 or otherwise attached to it. A pocket PC may have both a radio port and also an IrDA port as well as a separate Ethernet port.
A direct radio linkage 538 between the two PCs 506 and 508 can be established using the IEEE 802.11b or g protocols without the need for any wireless base station, as is commonly done with the Apple AIRPORT radio communication system. But more commonly with the IEEE 802.11b and g protocols, a wireless radio base station (not shown) is provided as an intermediary that can communicate with both PCs 506 and 508 by radio. The base station may also communicate with either or both PCs 506 or 508 by Ethernet cabling, or it may communicate with one PC by radio and with the other by Ethernet cabling. Hence, the communication linkage 538 can include a wireless base station (not shown) and possibly some Ethernet cabling as well. If the entire linkage 538 is established by means of Ethernet cabling, then a base station or Ethernet hub may be present, but such a hub or base station may be omitted and a direct cable connection may be established through the use of a special Ethernet cable that has its electrical connections reversed so as not to require any intervening hub or base station. A common user error is attempting to connect two computers together by means of a standard Ethernet cable, rather than such a special cable.
If the PC's port 530 and the pocket PC's port 544 are both built-in IrDA infrared ports, the user must position the two computers near each other, reasonably close together, with the ports 530 and 508 aligned so as to "see" each other. The user thereby establishes an infrared light linkage 538 between the two computers. If a radio linkage is used as all or part of the linkage 538, the user must arrange for the transceivers to be reasonably close together and not separated by any metallic barrier that can block radio signals.
To achieve synchronization between the files, tasks, calendars, contacts, notes, e-mails, etc. of the portable device 508 and the host 506, it is necessary for the user to install synchronization programs 534 and 554 on both computers. In the case of Microsoft programs, the synchronization programs are named ACTIVESYNC. Versions 3.5 and more recent versions of these programs support synchronization using a wired serial cable interconnection, a wired USB cable communication, a wireless IrDA infrared protocol interconnection, or a networked (Ethernet or wireless radio IEEE 802.11b or g) interconnection between the host 506 and the portable device 508. The most recent version 3.7 of ACTIVESYNC also provides support for a Bluetooth radio interconnection.
The user's host 506 is presumed to have some access to the Internet 504, possibly by Ethernet cable or IEEE 802.11b or g wireless radio linkage to a corporate LAN and WAN, to a telephone line by means of a DSL or conventional (dial-up) modem, or to a cable TV line by means of a cable modem. Using the browser 514, the user may gain Internet access to some form of support service. For example, a web-based user support service can provide self help to the purchasers of a particular model of pocket PC. This service could comprise web pages 510 and various downloadable materials 512, including programs and documentation as well as help materials, all set up on a central server 502. Another service that may be provided is a "chat" type of support service that enables a user to "chat" in real time with a service representative. To enhance such a "chat" service, a program such as the active chat 564 program shown installed on the host 506 may be downloaded by the user and installed on the user's host 506 to gather status information concerning the state of the user's computers. This information can be forwarded directly to the service representative prior to the commencement of such a "chat" session. For example, Motive Communication's SERVICENET Platform, which includes programs such as MOTIVE CHORUS, MOTIVE INSIGHT, MOTIVE DUET, and MANAGEMENT CONSOLE, can be used in this general manner. For use with the present invention, such a program would preferably be extended to supply the service representative with reports such as that illustrated at 600 in
The present invention comes into play only after the user has set up the host 506 and the portable device 508 with some or all of the software just described, and after the user has used both computers in the normal course, possibly creating files containing word processing and other documents; downloading graphic, music, and audio-visual files; creating e-mail and voice-mail messages; and creating or receiving contacts, task, notes, web links, and calendar information.
At some point, the user decides it is time to "synchronize" the two PCs 506 and 508 so that both PCs will have, for example, identical sets of files in their "My Documents" folders and subfolders; identical sets of e-mail and voice-mail messages; and identical calendar, contact, task, note, and web link information. To accomplish this, the user interconnects the two computers by means of: a USB cable 542; a serial port cable 540; or a wireless/Ethernet linkage 538. The wireless linkage might be an IrDA infrared linkage, an IEEE 802.11b or g TCP/IP radio linkage (possibly including one or more Ethernet segments, hubs, routers, and/or wireless base stations, as was explained above), or possibly a Bluetooth radio linkage.
The user then powers up both of the computers 506 and 508, starts up each computer's synchronization program 534 and 554, and commands the two synchronization programs 534 and 554 to begin the synchronization process, passing data and/or files back and forth over the linkage or cable to synchronize some or all of the files and data within file-based data bases on the two computers 506 and 508. Given the complexity of the systems on the two relatively incompatible computers, there is a high likelihood that synchronization will fail. Layer upon layer of software and hardware elements provided by multiple design teams must have been set up properly to work in precise synchronism and harmony if this task is to be carried out successfully.
It is the failure of this synchronization operation that causes the user to place the present invention into operation.
The user uses the browser 524 to access service self-help web pages 510 maintained on the central server 502. The user clicks on a web linkage labeled "Pocket PC Synchronization Diagnostic" (or an equivalent title) that initiates the downloading of an html selfhelp web page 516 (the HTML source code for this web page program is contained in a file named "iPAQSelfHelp.fma" which can be found in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix, where the file has been renamed "iPAQSelfHelp_fma.txt"). This web page program is designed to guide the user through the complex process of figuring out why the synchronization operation has failed; and then, if possible, guide the user through the process of correcting whatever problems are found. And if the problems are beyond the scope of user self-help correction, then this web page 516 invites the user to click on another linkage that initiates a "chat" session with a service representative, using the active chat program 564 as was explained above.
Selection of the "Pocket PC Synchronization Diagnostic" web page causes the selfhelp web page 516 to be downloaded onto the user's computer 506 and into the browser 514. The web page begins by displaying a message on the screen explaining that diagnostics are about to be preformed, and it asks the user to click on a "start" button (or its equivalent) and then to wait while this is done.
As various systems and devices are tested, messages such as those shown at 600 (
When all of the tests have been completed, the message "The Preliminary Diagnostics is Complete" appears, as is shown in
The selfhelp web page 516 is an html web page that includes embedded control scripts that invoke callable procedures within active-X controls. The web page 516 includes all of the graphic user interfaces (GUIs) and control scripts required to run the diagnostics that help to resolve the PC to pocket PC communication issues. Once activated, this web page begins by downloading (from the central server 502) and installing on the host 506 a signed active-X set of control programs which are delivered in the form of a single, compressed, multi-file "*.CAB" file. The *.CAB format permits multiple files, including DLL files and EXE files (for example), to be delivered in a single download operation. Once downloaded, the *.CAB file is opened, the files that it contains are separated and expanded, and the files are installed as operative software elements of the host 506 and of the portable device 508. These active-X software elements give the control scripts within the web program 516 complete access to the data and callable procedures of the user's host 506 and portable device 508. Four of these software elements are described next.
A first downloaded file is an active-X control program which may be called the selfhelp active-X program 518. This control or program 518 serves as the main component of the active-X control. It is written in C++ and is compiled into a Windows 32-bit dynamically-linked library (Win 32 *.DLL file). (The source code for this program is contained in a file named "iPAQSelfHelp.cpp" which appears in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix slightly renamed as the file "iPAQSelfHelp_cpp.txt"). The selfhelp program 518 exposes the methods and controls that the control scripts within the web program 516 are able to invoke to run all of the diagnostics needed. In response to the web program 518 invoking a method in this active-X control, this program 518 in turn may call upon other dynamic link libraries of programs (DLLs) or other executable programs (EXEs) and then return the results back to the invoking control script within the web program 516. Communication back to the web program may be carried out through the creation and use of XML structured data files 562 which the selfhelp program 518 and programs that it calls create and save and which the control scripts within the selfhelp web program 516 may then read and parse for data values. In this manner, tests are performed, data is gathered, and the data is fed back to the selfhelp web program 516 and is used to guide the assembly of the report that is displayed to the user, such as the illustrative report 600 (
A second downloaded file is a Win 32 executable program (*.EXE file) which may be called the check port routine 520. (The source code for this program is contained in a file named "devcon.cpp" which can be found in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix as a file with the slightly altered name "devcon_cpp.txt". This file is compiled into an executable program with the altered name "devenum.exe"—a name derived from the phrase "device enumerator.") The routine 520 is invoked when a control script within the selfhelp web program 516 gives a call to a particular method in the selfhelp active-X program 518, and that method initiates execution of the routine 520. Once placed into operation, the routine 520 calls upon the operating system's device manager 522 to provide a list of the status of all the plug and play devices that are currently registered by the operating system. This list is saved in the form of an XML formatted file that is included among the files 562 and thereby passed back to the selfhelp web page 516. A control script within the web page 516 may then open and read this file, parsing the file to check for the status of the pocket PC as a registered device attached to the USB port 524. This information will indicate whether the portable device 508 is connected to the host 506's USB port 524, and whether the cable 526 and ports 524 and 548 are functioning properly.
The routine 520 is only invoked if the operating system controlling the host 506 is one that supports the plug and play automatic device identification and registration protocol, such as WINDOWS XP. If the operating system is one that does not support plug and play, such as Windows NT version 4.0, then the routine 520 is not utilized, and some of the tests described below may not then be performed.
A third downloadable file is also an active-X control program which may be called the pocket PC API (application programmer interface) routines 536. This control or program, named "asyncdiag.cpp" (reproduced in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix, where this file is slightly renamed "asyncdiag_cpp.txt") is also written in C++. It is compiled into a Win 32 DLL (Windows 32-bit dynamically-linked library). These API routines 536 are invoked by control scripts within the selfhelp web program 516 through various methods in the selfhelp active X control program 518. Illustrative source code for all of these routines 536 is set forth in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix. At the end of this specification, a summary description of each of these routines is presented together with the first line of each routine, to serve as an aid to finding the individual routines within the source code file "asyncdiag_cpp.txt" on the CD-R Appendix.
A fourth downloadable file is transferred from the host 506 to the portable device 508 and is then installed as the gather info program 558 (
B. Method Steps Carried Out by the Programs
The method steps 100 that are performed by this embodiment of the invention are presented in the remaining figures,
The method steps described here are carried out by the selfhelp web page 516. This web page 516 invokes methods defined within the selfhelp active X control or program 518, and these methods in turn make calls to methods or functions included in the set of pocket PC API routines 536 (the source code for which appears in the file "asyncdiag_cpp.txt" on the CD-R Program Listing Appendix). Some of the API routines install the gather info program 558 (the source code for which is also described in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix in the file named "ISPEInfo_cpp.txt") on the portable device 508 and then call upon the program 558 to gather information from within the portable device 508. The selfhelp active X control also places into execution the check port routine 520 which calls upon the operating system's device manager 522 to determine device status and registration, and this data is returned to the selfhelp web page 516 contained within an XML temporary file that is saved temporarily among the files 562. After all the tests have been run and all the data gathered, the selfhelp web page 516 generates the report 600 (
The method 100 proceeds as follows:
After the user clicks the "start" button, the information gathering and diagnostic tasks begin. These tasks are summarized in
Referring now to
First, a check is made for possible hardware or device problems in the host 506 (step 203). The device manager 522 is called upon to report whether the USB serial controller and the "communications" (or parallel) port are working properly, and a check may also be made to see if the host 506's network connection to the external TCP/IP network is up and running (step 204). Other hardware and device checks may also be performed, but in this embodiment the testing is limited to devices that are possibly relevant to the failure of the synchronization process.
If all appears to be well, then testing continues. On the tentative assumption that communications may be by means of the USB bus port 524, a check with the device manager 522 is made by the check port routine 520 to see if the portable device 508 is formally registered as connected to the USB bus, signaling that the user is actually using the USB connection to connect the two computers (also step 204). The result of this check is saved for possible later use.
If the hardware is not reported to be OK, then no further diagnostics are performed. The user is invited to link into an active chat session with a support specialist, or the user may be referred to a hardware diagnostic procedure or asked to have the computer serviced (step 208).
If the hardware is OK, then at step 206 a test is made to see if the synchronization program 506 has been downloaded and installed on the host 506. If the program 506 has not been installed, then no further diagnostics are possible. Once again, the user may be invited to link into an active chat session with a support specialist (step 208), or the user may be directed to a file download web site from which a copy of the synchronization programs 534 and 554 for the host 506 and the portable device 508 may be downloaded and installed. The user may be stepped through the process of ascertaining that either the USB port 528 or the serial port 524 is up and running and communicating with the portable device 508, since one of these ports 524 or 528 will be needed when the portable device 508's synchronization program 554 is installed on the portable device 508 for the first time.
Next, at step 210, a further check is made to see if the synchronization program 534 is properly installed on the host 506. If not, at step 212 the user is presented with a set of "frequently asked questions" relating to the process of installing the synchronization program, and the user is invited to try and cure the installation problem. The installation might be incomplete, for example. The user may be prompted through the process of uninstalling and then reinstalling the active synchronization program 534 (FIF. 5) and doing so using an administrator account on the host 506. The user may also, at this point, move into an active chat session with a support specialist.
Then, at step 214, the version of the installed synchronization program 534 is obtained from the registry and is checked (step 214). An upgrade may be required. For example, versions prior to version 3.5 do not support WINDOWS XP nor Office XP Outlook nor an IrDA infrared linkage to the portable device 508. If the version is incorrect, step 216 invites the user to transfer to a download site from which the latest version of the synchronization program may be obtained.
These checks are carried out by a call made to the method or function "checkActiveSyncInstallation," which both checks for the installation of the program 534 and also determines (if possible) which version is installed. A listing of this program appears in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix, and a summary description of it, appears in the final portion of this specification.
The final check shown in
Next, the method proceeds to the step 300 which is set forth in
At the outset of step 300, a call is made to the method or function "checkConnectionSetting" (a description of which appears in the final portion of this specification and illustrative source code for which is set forth in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix in the file "asyncdiag_cp.txt), to determine which connection paths the user has explicitly configured the synchronization program 534 to permit. In the case of Microsoft's ActiveSync program, the user can, by clicking the mouse button in a "Connection Settings" window of this program, allow one or two or all three of the following communication paths to be established: serial cable or infrared communications, and specifying the port "COM1" or "COM2" or "Infrared Port (IR)"; USB communications; and "network (Ethernet) and Remote Access Service (RAS) server connection." The information gathered by this function is used in several of the steps that follow. It is possible that these settings may prohibit all communication, and this will need to be adjusted. Or these settings may prohibit the specific communication technique that the user is now attempting to use.
Beginning at step 302, the tentative assumption is made that communication will be between the host 506's USP port 524 and the portable device 508's USB port 548 over some form of USB connecting cable 542. If there are no hardware problems with the cable or ports or connectors, and if the portable device 508 has performed the usual initial USB identification handshake with the device manager 522 to establish the portable device 508's identity within the host 506, then the check port routine 520 will discover that the portable device 508 is registered with the plug and play operating system of the host 506. This step is carried out by the check port routine 520 gathering this registration information from the device manager 522. (This step may have been carried out previously as part of the step 204 in
If a USB registration is found for the portable device 508, then this confirms not only that the user plans to use USB communications over the cable 542 but also that the pocket PC is running and that the cable and its connectors are working. Accordingly, control proceeds to the step 304 where a check is made for any operating system record pf errors in the USB communications devices. If errors are found, then at step 306 the user is presented with instructions on how to fix the errors found and is also given the option of starting an active chat session with a support specialist.
If no errors are found, then communication with the pocket PC is actually tested out by calls made to what are called the Win CE RAPI (remote access programming interface) functions (step 308). More specifically, these calls are made by a method or function that tests out communication between the host 506 and the pocket PC. This function is named "checkCommunication" and is described in the final portion of this specification—an illustrative program listing appears in the file "asyncdiag_cpp.txt" in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix. If this communication test is passed, then the next steps performed are the steps 400 presented in
Returning to the step 302, if a USB registration for the portable device 508 is not found, the next step 310 checks to see if the user has enabled serial communication and designated a serial path—either COM1, COM1, (etc.), or infrared. A "ckeckserialport" method or function (described in the final portion of this specification—source code can be found in the file "asyncdiag_cpp.txt" in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix) makes a call to the operating system and asks for permission to use that same designated port. If the call fails, this signifies that the designated serial port has been reserved by the synchronization program 534 for its own use and that the portable device 508 is probably connected to the serial port 528 by means of a cable 540 or, if the infrared port is designated, by means of the wireless ports 530 and 508 and an infrared linkage. In other embodiments of the synchronization program 536, a Bluetooth wireless radio port may be listed as a designatable serial port, possibly handled in much the same way as a designated IrDA infrared wireless serial port.
If the designated port is locked, then the actual test of the communication channel (described above in step 308) is performed in step 312. If the communication test is successful, then the designated port works, and the next step performed is step 400 presented in
AT step 310, if the designated serial port is not locked, then either a wireless radio IEEE 802.11b or g protocol is in use or else a USB or serial port (or infrared or Bluetooth) communication channel is not operative for some reason. If a wireless radio or infrared linkage is a possibility.
The next step is step 314. At step 314, the user is asked which connection type the user has selected: a wireless linkage or a cable linkage (either serial or USB). If the user answers the linkage is a wireless linkage, then if it is an IEEE 802.11b or g radio linkage (possibly partially implemented using Ethernet cabling and possibly also including a base station or hub, as was explained above), at step 316 the same actual check of communication described with reference to steps 308 and 312 can be carried out. If this communications test is passed, then the next step is step 400 in
If, at step 314, the user had indicated that a serial or USB cable communications protocol had been selected, then at 318 the user is asked to check the cable, the cable connectors, the ports, and any cradle for possible physical damage. Instructions explain how this can be done. If there is no physical damage, then the next step is step 320, a step shared by all cable and wireless protocols that have failed the live communication check.
At this point, it is known that the communication channel does not work, and so a number of possible reasons for this need to be checked out. At step 320, the possibility of firewall interference with communication is checked out. The two synchronization programs 534 (on the host 506) and 554 (on the PC 508) communicate with each other using the Internet TCP/IP (or possibly UDP/IP) protocol ports 990, 999, 5678, and 5679. Other similar synchronization programs might make use of the NetBIOS ports 137 and 138 or other TCP or UDP communication ports (sometimes called "sockets"). If the user has enabled a firewall on the host 506 to prevent the entry of hackers and the like from the actual Internet, that firewall could be blocking these needed communication ports, preventing any TCP or UDP communications even though the communication channel is otherwise clear and fully operative for the passage of IP addressed packets (performing such tasks as fetching web pages or e-mails).
Accordingly, at step 320, the user is asked to check for any possible firewall interference. On an XP machine, the user is asked to open up a window "Local Area Connection Properties," click on the "Advanced" tab, and then remove any checkmark from the square box that enables the WINDOWS XP built-in "Internet Connection Firewall." The firewall might also be found within add-on protective software obtained, for example, from McAfee or from Symantec. Preferably, instructions would be included for disabling, or for creating passages through, the most commonly-available firewall software products. If a firewall is found, the user is instructed to turn it off at step 322, and then the live communication check is performed again. If this check is passed, then the next step is step 400 in
If, at step 320, there is no firewall, or if, at step 322, the firewall has been turned off but the communication check still fails, then at steps 324 and 326 the user is asked to perform some tasks that sometimes serve as workarounds of remaining bugs either in the synchronization programs 534 and 554 or in the two PC's operating systems or communication software. At step 324, the user is instructed to soft reset the portable device 508, and the live communication check is then performed again. If this fails, then at step 328 the user is instructed to turn off the portable device 508, re-boot the host 506, and only then turn the portable device 508 back on again. (Disconnecting and re-connecting the portable device 508 may also solve this particular problem—see Microsoft Knowledge Base Article 321935.) Then the live communication check is performed again. If the communications check is now passed, the next step is step 400 in
If success is not achieved, then at step 326, the user is invited to initiate an active chat session with a support specialist. But first, the function "getModelInformationFromDesktopReg" (source code can be found in the file "asyncdiag_cpp.txt" in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix, and a brief description is presented in the final portion of this application) is run in an attempt to gather from the host 506's registry the4 portable device 508's model number and other such helpful information, if that information can be found recorded there from past successful communication sessions between the two PCs 506 and 508. This information is passed on to the support specialist along with other useful configuration information and the report 600.
The step 400 shown in
In some other embodiments, the step 402 might need to check to see that the synchronization program 554 is properly installed on the portable device 508. In an embodiment employing an IPAQ Pocket PC with Windows CE in ROM, the synchronization program is part of the operating system and is located in ROM at all times, so such a check is probably not be necessary. A check is made to see if the synchronization program 554 is operative, that is, actually working properly. If not, then as noted at step 404, a check is made to see if, perhaps, more than or close to 32 programs are running simultaneously on the Pocket PC, which is the maximum permissible number of simultaneously running threads on the current version of Windows CE. If too many program threads are running on the portable device 508, the user is advised of the problem and is instructed to shut some of them down. To gather this and other portable device 508 information relevant to servicing, such as the model number, OEM number, serial number, and ROM upgrade version, a gather information program 558, named ISPEInfo.cpp (source code appears in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix in the file named "ISPEInfo_cpp.txt") is downloaded into and installed on the portable device 508 and can then be called upon by the method or function getIPAQModelInfo (source code for this function appears in the file "asyncdiag_cpp.txt in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix) to gather information of this kind from the portable device 508.
Next, at step 410, the synchronization program 554's settings are checked to see if synchronization is permitted on the portable device 508. In the present embodiment, the synchronization program 554 is queried to see what events trigger synchronization. It can be set to provide manual synchronization only, thus not synchronizing the two PCs automatically but only when the user actively commands the program 554 to perform synchronization. It can also be set to provide fully automatic synchronization whenever the two PCs are coupled together and a change is made in one or the other. It can be set to synchronize only with the portable device 508 is shut down, or only when the pocket PC is first placed into its cradle or is otherwise first connected by cable to the host 506. Whatever the setting, the user must be advised of this setting and offered an explanation (step 412) of how to alter this setting if the user is dissatisfied with it. For a coding example, see the functions "checkApplicationSyncSettings" and "CheckSyncEventSettings" (the source code for which appears in the file "asyncdiag_cpp.txt" presented in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix).
At step 414, the status of the portable device 508's power supply is checked by means of a method or function "checkPowerSupply" (source code for which appears in the file named "asyncdiag_cpp.txt" which appears in the CD-R Program Listing Appendix). If the portable device 508 is tested and found to be connected to an external source of supply, this test determines whether the battery of the portable device 508 is fully charged, and if not, whether the battery is actually charging. If the portable device 508 is not connected to an external power supply, this test reports the battery's state of charge. All of this information is reported to the user, and it is of considerable value to the user. For example, the user may think that the portable device 508 is connected to an external source of power, but the report may indicate that this is not true. In that case, the user needs to check the external power source for trouble, such as a bent contact pin or a bad connection to a 120 volt AC source or a blown fuse that may be preventing battery charging. Or the user may discover that the battery is not charging at all or is fully discharged. If the user perceives there to be any problems identified at step 414, then at step 416, the user may be offered assistance on how to resolve these problems.
Finally, at step 418, the report 600 (
C. Brief Description of the Computer Programs
This specification includes, and incorporates by reference, a Compact Disc-Rewritable (CD-R) Program Listing Appendix. The following paragraphs present a description of the five source code computer programs which this CD-R contains.
Please note that to comply with rules of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the names of the five programs were slightly modified: the period "." in each name was changed to an underscore "_", and then the suffix ".txt" was added to the name of each file. Accordingly, the names of the programs on the CD-R appear as follows:
The source program listing for the selfhelp web program 516 is named "iPAQSelfHelp.fma", and this listing appears in the CD-R as a file named "iPAQSelfHelp_fma.txt". This file is downloaded as an HTML program and is installed within the browser 514 on the host 506, where it controls and places into operation all of the other programs as well as generating the user report 600.
The source program listing for the selfhelp active X control 518 is named "iPAQSelfHelp.cpp", and this listing appears in the CD-R as a file named "iPAQSelfHelp_cpp.txt". This is the active X control which initiates program execution of all the other programs in response to commands received from the selfhelp web program 516.
The source program listing for the check port routine 520 is named "devcon.cpp", and this listing appears in the CD-R as a file named "devcon_cpp.txt". This routine obtains from the operating system device manager 522 information on what accessories are connected to the host 506, returning the results of this inquiry as an XML file at 562 which may, for example, be checked to see if the portable device 508 is registered as attached to the USB port 524.
The source program listing for the gather information program 558 (
The source program listing which includes the pocket PC API (application programmer interface) routines 536 (
The API routines 536 are referred to individually by name in the above discussion. Accordingly, the following paragraphs present the name of each individual routine together with a brief explanation of each routine's functions. Also, as an aid to finding the first line of these routines, their first lines are reproduced below following each of these brief explanations. The routines are also called methods or functions. They are invoked by control scripts within the selfhelp web program 516 through the intermediary of the various methods in the selfhelp active X control program 518.
The name of each routine (or method or function) within the set of routines 536, and also the source code for each routine, can be found in the file "asycdiag_cpp.txt". The name of each routine appears in the first line of the source code for that same routine. The routine's name is normally prefixed by "_declspec(dllexport)" followed by a type declaration such as "LPCTSTR". Thus, for example, the first line of the routine "checkCommunication" is: "_declspec(dllexport) LPCTSTR checkCommunication . . . ".
The pocket PC API routines 536 include the following routines or methods or functions (the word "function" is used here):
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|International Business Machines Corporation
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LAHORE: More than 5,000 policemen would provide security cover to observances in the city during the Chelum of Hazrat Imam Hussain and urs celebrations of Data Gunj Baksh.
This was announced by Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Ahmad Raza Tahir on Sunday. The CCPO said that police officials have been directed to maintain surveillance at hotels, bus stands and other public places.
CCPO Tahir has directed officials to deploy extra police personnel at entry points of the city.
He also ordered for parking stands and checking points to be made at a safe distance of preferably 200 metres from the venue during both processions.
He said that crisis management centres have also been established to work round the clock, to coordinate with other safety and security agencies.
Tahir also directed divisional superintendents of police to monitor security arrangements in their respective areas.
He said he would also personally make surprise visits to check the arrangements.
Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain will be held on January 15 and the three-day urs celebrations of Hazrat Data Gunj Baksh will begin on January 13.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2012.


text:
Jumping Back to 2004
Cidu Bill on Apr 25th 2008
I just came across this comic, which was on the CIDU page four years ago and was one of the rare comics that never really got explained ("Arlo jumped a lot of broads" was the most frequent guess, but I think we all hoped the explanation would be something better than that).
Filed in Arlo and Janis, Bill Bickel, CIDU, Jimmy Johnson, comic strips, comics, humor | 12 responses so far
12 Responses to "Jumping Back to 2004"
Terry Apr 25th 2008 at 12:39 pm 1
In track and field competition, a broad jumper takes a running start before the leap, and then lands on his rump in a sand pit, exactly as Arlo is doing, except without the pit. The humor presumably comes from the pain of his landing along with how it reveals he wasn't really a high jumper.
Lola Apr 25th 2008 at 12:39 pm 2
Well, the first thing I noticed is that, despite the assumption that his son is making, he isn't trying to do a high jump, but is in fact attempting a broad jump, at which he failed to execute the landing properly, much to his butt's dismay. There's a reason they land in sand pits. I guess the joke is in the "used to be" qualifier.
Rasheed Apr 25th 2008 at 12:46 pm 3
Ok, the standard Arlonian answer stands.
As to actual explanation, I'm assuming he was going for height in panel two, but when his son asks in panel four, he points out he was actually going for distance.
dd Apr 25th 2008 at 01:23 pm 4
Nah, I'm going with Lola. The two styles (high and broad) are different enough that he's definitely attempting a broad jump.
Now, whether the cartoonist knows the difference could be up for debate, but he generally seems pretty sharp. So - either Johnson doesn't know what a high jump looks like, or Gene doesn't.
That doesn't make it funny, however
Kevin Andresen Apr 25th 2008 at 01:50 pm 5
I'm with Lola, but the joke seems to be the having to correct Gene on top of Arlo's feelings about his all-out attempt to do an impressive broad jump without the sand pit; hardly any Olympian would fully go for it without one.
(It's all the more rich because, while this landing is in the wrong direction (a high jump is sideways), it more resembles a proper high jump landing than a broad jump one.)
The distance from the toe line at the launching point to the closest impression in the sand is what's recorded (preferably a heel, often a butt, sometimes a hand, …rarely a head.)
A triple jump, by the way, is like a broad jump only with a leap onto each foot before the final leap.
Bah humbug Apr 25th 2008 at 02:38 pm 6
I think the humor is supposed to be that - because of Arlo's lousy result - Gene can't even tell which type of jump Arlo was trying to do. It wasn't high, it wasn't broad, so Gene just takes a wild guess (and gets it wrong).
I'm sure we've all had those times when someone was showing off to us and they royally stunk, and we're faced with the choice of either faking it or just laughing in their face… Actually, it's usually ME doing the trying and stinking…
Bah humbug Apr 25th 2008 at 02:45 pm 7
By the way… Arlo might have been attempting an old-style high jump, which were of various types but generally had straight-on approaches. The "Fosbury Flop" was first used in the 1968 Olympics, and was not uncommon at the middle-school and high-school levels even waaaaaay back when I was in school (I graduated High School in 1981). So if Arlo was actually on a track tean and never learned The Flop, he's a lot older than I thought.
Frank Apr 25th 2008 at 06:13 pm 8
My guess is that at some point Arlo had told Gene that he had been a high jumper in school and it's come back to haunt him. He probably had just tried to hop over something and landed on his ass. Gene's making fun of him by brining it up the high jumping and Arlo is trying to save face by excusing his failure by saying he was a broad jumper. The doulble entendre is just cklsic ARLO. Very poignant strip to those of us who aren't as good as we used to be (and no where near as good as we'd like everyone to think we are/were.)
dd Apr 26th 2008 at 01:15 am 9
bah humbug - good point about it being so bad Gene couldn't tell the difference. That helps a bit.
Andrew Apr 26th 2008 at 03:07 pm 10
I'm with Frank, although I hadn't heard the term "Broad Jump" before. I think I know the event you describe as a "long jump" - although there may be some subtlety I'm missing. So I initially thought Arlo was making up an event to excuse his failure, with shades of the "jumped broads" idea.
Cidu Bill Apr 26th 2008 at 03:49 pm 11
Terry, my recollection was that there's both a running broad jump and a standing broad jump.
Back when I was in 7th or 8th grade, though I lacked any other athletic skills, I seemed to have had a knack for the standing broad jump. The gym teacher mentioned it to the school's track coach, who asked me to try out for the track team. I jumped 6 1/2 feet despite a total lack of technique, and the old redneck said "Damn, that's great for a white kid!"
At which point I told him thanks but no thanks.
Judge Mental Apr 26th 2008 at 07:33 pm 12
Its been nearly 100 years since the standing broad jump was an Olympic event. However, it has long remained a staple of grade school physical fitness. My speculation is that it is used in lieu of a high jump or regular (running) broad jump because it is much safer for a novice to attempt and because it requires no equipment (read no expense).


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Kiss Of The Lepers Buttress...
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Kiss Of The Lepers Buttress as seen from its base on the west side. The distinctive 2nd pitch of The Water Groove can be seen just right of photo's center - the "pipe" with the slit which widens at its top (December 2003).
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Welcome to the Kanrei Home for Wayward Lemmings. Please keep your Tin Foil Cap on at all times for your own safety. Occasionally, you may see something that appeals or intices you. We ask that you refrain from flash photography and/or feeding said things. Again, this is for your own safety. The gift shop is fully stocked with overpriced postcards of things you would never want a photo of so please feel free to visit it on your way either in or out. Both would be nice.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Did I Ever Tell You About How Cancer Fights Back?
2 comments:
- Anonymous said...
Wish there were some magic words, but there are none. Wish there was a magic wand, but there is not one this side of Harry Potter and we know if we quote Harry, you'll just paraphrase it and break the hearts of children everywhere. ( what?? lol ? )..wish there was a pill to send but you don't need the pills I have, they must have gone bad and turned BLUE!!..( ha ha ??? )
and now I have to prove I am not a robot. and now I have to prove I am not a robot. and now I have to prove I am not a robot. and now I have to prove I am not a robot.
- August 30, 2013 12:42 PM
- Anonymous said...
surely you can tell the texas accent in that...
yeah yeah I know...stop calling you shirly..
ba dump dump...crash...
- August 30, 2013 12:44 PM


text:
Proposed Local Data Mart Approach for Data Warehouse Architecture
A data warehouse is a data repository, containing historical data, prepared for analysis and supporting decision making process. Data warehouses are in use for more than a decade but companies are still finding it difficult to decide on the approach they should take for successful implementation. Data warehouse architecture plays a major role the successful construction of data warehouse. This paper proposes an approach of constructing local data marts at source and integrating them at enterprise level by creating physical data marts to give global view for the analysis.
Provided by: International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering (IJETAE) Topic: Data Management Date Added: Feb 2014 Format: PDF


text:
So much home in Sugar Camp. This large, 3 bedroom home was built in 2000 and hasn't aged a bit. The owners have taken exceptional care of the residence, adding seamless gutters just last year and a brand new roof in 2012. The master suite has a unique, open concept bathroom plus a grand walk in closet. There is a family room AND living room, a spacious kitchen with a giant island, and main floor laundry with storage. What makes this home special is the room for growth. In the basement is a tall, dry 1,800 square foot unfinished area with a double door walkout. Workshop area, more family space, or great storage area awaits you. The heat source options consist of a forced air natural gas furnace OR an exterior wood burning stove that was made even more efficient with the addition of insulted pipes just last year. The 3 car garage gives plenty of space and the large decks on both sides of the home are perfect for enjoying your Northwood's setting with great views. 8802
Features Residential
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|Site Influence: Driveway, Easy Access, Level, Private Setting, Quiet Area, Recreation Nearby, Rolling, Wooded Area
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