NC Network Connection Software Functional Specification


    Distribution: COMPANY CONFIDENTIAL

    Project:      Applications
    Issue:        0.01
    Author(s):    Owen Love
    Date:         18-Jul-96
    Last Issue:   none
  

Contents.


History

        0.01 OL 18-Jul-96 First created.

Outstanding issues


Overview

This document contains the software functional specification for the NC network connection procedure to be included in the system ROM of the Network Computer Model 1.

Italicised text is used where issues are still to be decided or where contents are liable to change.


Technical background

Start-up Procedure

Full details of the start up procedure can be found in the NC Start-up Software Functional Specification.

Modem NC's: The NC will contact the server using the details from the users smart card. Once contact has been made the NC will make a PPP connection to the server. If the server supports NFS then a read only NFS mount will be made.

Ethernet NC's: When the user turns on their NC it will perform a BootP request. If a BootPServer responds to the request then it will return details of a read only NFS mount for the NC to connect to.

General Operation

Modem NC's: The network connection between the NC and the server will remain in place until no network activity has taken place for 5 minutes, at which point the PPP connection will be dropped. Once modem activity is requested again the modem application will try and re-establish the network connection.

Ethernet NC's: No changes will be made to the network connection.

Standby Mode

On the pressing of the standby button (either on the NC or the remote control) the Standby module will broadcast a Message_PreQuit to allow open applications to prompt users to save any unsaved data. Full details of the standby mode can be found in the Standby Software Functional Specification.

Modem NC's: Once the standby process is complete the PPP connection will be dropped and the screen blanked. On the pressing of standby again the screen display will be restored but the PPP connection will not be restored until modem activity is required.

Ethernet NC's: Once the standby process is complete the screen will be blanked. On the pressing of standby again the screen display will be restored.

Smart Card Removal

On the detection of the removal of the smart card the registry module will send a service call informing the network application of the removal of the smart card.

Modem NC's: The modem application will dismount any user NFS mounts and then drop the PPP connection. The NC will then be reset to display the 'Insert Smart Card' screen.

Ethernet NC's: The network application will dismount any NFS mounts and the NC will then be reset to display the 'Insert Smart Card' screen.


External dependencies

None


Product organisation

The applications discussed in this document will be integrated into the RISC OS build tree and then built into the NC ROM.


Future enhancements

To be determined.