±±±±±±Ü ±±Ü ±±±Üܱ±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±Ü ±±±Üܱ±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±Ûß±±Û ±±Û ±±Û±±Û±±Û ±±Ûßßßß ß±±Ûßß ±±Û ±±Û±±Û±±Û ±±Ûßßßß ±±Ûßßßß ±±±±±Ûß ±±Û ±±Û ßß±±Û ±±±±±Ü ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ßß±±Û ±±±±±Ü ±±±±±±Ü ±±Ûß±±Ü ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Ûßßß ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Ûßßß ßßß±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±±±±±Ü ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±Û ±±±±±±Ü ±±±±±±Û ßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßß ßß ßß ßß ßß ßßßßßß ßßßßßß --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------+ +---------------------------------+ | EDITORS FILE | | WHO'S WHO IN RELAYNET | | | | | +---------------------------------+ +---------------------------------+ by John Dodson, node ->CANTINA. This Month: James Spinelli - Steering Committee Member, Welcome to the third issue of the Conference Host of the Legal RIME Times. The newsletter is Conference , node->VMC. really stating to shape up! We now have more contributors willing to Well, it appears as if it's now my do monthly or semi-monthly columns. turn to provide you with some Doug Maclean will be submitting information regarding my background tutorial articles on the language and how I managed to get involved C, Jim Daly will have a 'Beginners with BBSing in general and with Corner' column, James Spinelli will RIME in particular. keep us informed on legal matters and Bonnie Anthony with all those I have been actively involved with statistics at hand will keep our computers and information systems heads filled with useless since 1965, when in college I information! Others have expressed developed an automated an interest in 'doing something for questionnaire processing system for the newsletter' and I once again the Sociology Department. Back in encourage you to do so. those days we wrote programs in machine code (and we called them It occurred to one of our members "data processing" systems). that there are many many software authors amongst us. We thought we We have certainly come a long way might provide a place for these since those days. authors to tell us about the software they write. Starting this I graduated college in 1967 and month we have a column titled went on to law school. I never "Unabashed Member Software Reviews' really indented to become a for those authors to review their practicing attorney (and never own software. Here is your chance really have), but I just wanted the to 'Plug' that latest and greatest degree and it certainly has opened BBS utility! a door or two in the last 20 some- odd years. The great thing about all these new contributions is that you have I have always enjoyed business and plenty to read and I can keep my management, and went for an MBA introduction short! degree in 1975. See you on the bit stream..... I did some freelance consulting between 1968 and 1970 (while in law school) and joined the staff of Page 2 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company several face-to-face sessions with in 1971. While at the Bank, I Andy Keeves. During these sessions, managed to gain a great deal of Andy managed to spark a desire on experience in the financial my part to use the BBS concept to industry and found myself a full- support our clients. So, in fledged Vice President by 1975. February of 1988, I started the Activity Bulletin Board Service, a In 1980 I decided that it was time company-owned BBS system. to once again try my wings. I started VITRON Management In March of 1988 I became Consulting, Inc., my present acquainted with Howard Belasco company, with three other partners. through our mutual use of the Within two years I bought them out Executive Network. We discussed and went about putting together a what was then a rather small, yet superb group of subcontractors and interesting network environment other freelance business problems that he, his sister Bonnie Anthony, solvers, doing most of my business and others started to assist one via consortiums. (I really did not another in exchanging mail and want the problems that went along messages, as well as to provide with a corporate payroll.) each participant an opportunity to share files. Well, as they say, the All of my company's business rest is history. involves the concepts, features and facilities of what John Diabold My company's BBS has, over the last once defined as Information two years, really grown. We Resource Management. We have been maintain two public nodes and six quite fortunate in providing private nodes. The private nodes products and services to hundreds (which a little over a year ago of corporations and businesses, and became my own ProNet network) was are proud of the relationship we set up specifically to service our have built with many of the Fortune clients. They love the mechanism, 1000. and we certainly find it extremely convenient. In 1986 I subscribed to Compuserve, and found it to be a rather I guess it's fair to say that I am interesting approach to one of those "charter" members of communicating with others and RIME. I can recall when the entire sharing both information and ideas. network consisted of little more I was fascinated with the whole than 25-30 boards. world and potential of on-line information services, particularly I can't help but giggle every time if it could be extended to enhance I see some potential problems the services we provided to our brewing in our current environment. clients. Talk about growing pains. Boy, we certainly had our share back in the It wasn't until December of 1987 (I early days. Yet, we came through think) that I discovered the it. fascinating world of BBSing. I had seen an ad in our local newspaper Today we have become a major force for a BBS called The Executive in the BBS network community. I am Network, located in Mt. Vernon, New very proud to have been a member of York. I became subscriber and had our network and to see first- Page 3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- handedly the growth and success we Don installed our first 30 meg have achieved. Truly a remarkable Seagate drive in his XT in October accomplishment. I honestly have of 1987, and I began to beg for a loved every minute of it. 'small part' of it for my BBS! He agreed, extracting a promise from +---------------------------------+ me that I not use more than 10 meg! | FOCUS: A RIME BBS | I promised faithfully and we moved | | the board software onto the 30 meg +---------------------------------+ hard drive of Don's XT. He showed by Lana Fox and Don Cheeks, Super absolutely no interest in the BBS Regional ->HUBZNE, node id at all until the day I listed him ->MODEMZNE. as co-sysop! That's all it took! Suddenly, he was busily looking for methods to improve the BBS and Here in sleepy Middletown, Ohio, in working on news, bulletins and a 104 year old, 10 room house, gathering files for download. who'd ever expect to find a Super Who'd ever have thought Don was a Regional Hub for RIME? closet sysop? I swear, the BBS was off-line more than it was on-line I always enjoyed calling around the while Don added doors and tried country and reading all the them out! messages on the big BBSs and longed to have a BBS of my own. I already In the spring of 1988, we both had a second phone line for my decided we wanted to run 'big boys' outgoing calls on the 300 baud BBS software and went off in internal modem that came with my separate searches for the right little computer. (Hey! 300 package. He came home with WildCat sounded like a LOT to a novice user and Opus the same day I decided on like me!) I met Rick Price at a PCBoard. We set up PCBoard 12.1 /E3 local computer store and he helped and began leaving the BBS on-line me to conquer the eccentricities of 24 hours. that awful modem! The summer of '88, we went to Modem Zone started out as a small, California for 3 weeks on vacation. part-time, local, messaging board Do any of you ever suffer in 1985. In those days, it was withdrawal from your computers? We called Lana's PC Patch and was run did! We'd even taken the (don't laugh!) on an IBM PCjr with precaution of carrying a laptop 512k and 2 floppy drives under with us and we called the Modem ProComm host mode. How soon we Zone EVERY night that we were away, forget! Today, I don't take anyone answering messages! who runs host mode for a 'serious' sysop! The day I didn't have Steadily growing into a BBS with enough time to download ProComm daily long-distance callers, we 2.4, I ordered a 2400 baud modem. soon began to add more and bigger The board software changed to hard drives to the system, as well MiniHost and later to GT Power. My as building another machine and buddy, Mike Schwab, wanted to use adding another phone line for a the PC Patch name, so I changed the second node. After carefully name to Modem Zone. shopping for network mail, we joined RelayNet in May of 1989. Page 4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The perfect 'excuse' to buy our first 9600 baud modem! The conference is currently shared with HyperLink with MetroLink We both enjoy our computers and one having just received permission to personal machine isn't enough! Node join in. With Colin's board and 1 is now a tower '286 with an presence joining in directly, Imprimis 326 meg SCSI and a 1440 things should become much more HST on board. Node 2 is Don's old active (as if it isn't enough XT with an Excel '286 accelerator already). card and 65 meg HD sporting an AT&T 4024 2400 baud modem. His personal All this and more is to be found in machine accesses the two BBS the Telix Support conference, plus machines via LANtastic and me, your sometimes-awful-punster, unlimited NOS, with my personal always helpful support host. I'm machine soon to follow! The done writing this article now, so computers recently had to be moved I'll save it and Exis to DOS. See out of the dining room into a large you in the Telix conference! room of their own. Modem Zone continues to grow and we BATCH PROGRAMMING CONFERENCE hope to add another node and more high speed modems in the near by Dennis McCunney, homeboard future. ->RUNNINGB +---------------------------------+ Just about every computer in | CONFERENCE SPOTLIGHTS | existence has a means of automating | | sequences of commands that you +---------------------------------+ would ordinarily enter from the by Jeff Woods, node id ->MUSICAL keyboard. IBM mainframes use CLIST's or EXECs, UNIX systems use TELIX CONFERENCE #67 shell scripts, and DOS machines use batch files. Every PC is likely to Greetings! I'd like to invite and have at least one batch file - the welcome you all to the wonderful AUTOEXEC.BAT file that tells the PC world of Telix 3.12 in RIME's Telix what to do when it boots up. Support Conference, net number 67. Batch files can be used for a good There are a lot of interesting deal more than that. MS/DOS things happening in the world of includes the basics of a complete Telix this year. There will be a high level language as part of registered code downloading door COMMAND.COM, and sophisticated available on two boards that will batch programmers can accomplish allow you to get your registered very interesting things. The code without waiting for a disk. problem, as usual, is that while Version 4.0, which will include MicroSoft put it in, they didn't multitasking and enhanced dialing exactly document it very well. directories among others, will be released. Colin will be adding an If you are confused about how to HST and possibly another node to handle variables in a batch file, his support BBS, and that support or the mysteries of the FOR BBS is in the process of becoming a statement, or simply wondering what RIME node in the near future. a batch file is, you should join us Page 5 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- in the Batch Programming | ENTER | Conference. All levels of skill __________| |____________ and experience are represented, and | < MAIN > | NEWUSER | you can find answers for the | Files DOOR | simplest and most complex | Bulletins |----------| questions. | News | | | Messages ProDOOR | If your BBS doesn't carry the Batch | | | Conference, ask your Sysop to add |_________ |__________| conference #130. We look forward | ENTER | to seeing you! | | __________|CASINO |___________ +---------------------------------+ | < CONFERENCE > | | | BEGINNERS CORNER | | POKER | | | | Files | DOOR | +---------------------------------+ | Bulletins (Scores) |-------| An OVERVIEW of a Typical Bulletin | News | SLOTS | Board System (BBS) | Messages DOOR | |_ |_______| by: Jim Daly, TREASURES-BBS | | Longwood, FL (407)831-9130 < HOST> <---- (G)oodbye | 21 | RIME, FL-SYSOP Conference, node id _ DOOR | ->TREASURE |_____________________|_______| NOTE: The Diagrams pertain in Got the Picture? particular to Bulletin Boards that are running under the PCBoard So now you know that you Enter the system. Other BBS Systems will have MAIN room when you Log On. While a similar layout. there you can Read the Messages, News, and Bulletins or you may OPEN New BBS Callers are often confused one or more of the DOORS, or you as to how to get from place to can leave that Room and ENTER the place (or for that matter just what CASINO Conference and do similar place are they in) when they first things! log on to a Bulletin Board. OK, so what is the difference The easiest way to feel at home is between DOORS, CONFERENCES, and to imagine yourself actually going FILES? into a house. Let's draw the floorplan of a typical PCBoard 1.> DOOR system: ---- A DOOR is essentially another Program that you can run while you are in a Room (Conference). When you Open a DOOR, you are actually "shelling" out of the PCBoard program and running a completely different program! In our MAIN Room example, you can Open the NEWUSER Door or the ProDOOR. Both DOORS are still being run from MAIN, so when you close them, you Page 6 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- will be returned to the MAIN Area of the BBS. The PCBoard BBS Menu command to look at the available Conferences The PCBoard BBS Menu command to is "J". This single stroke command look at the available DOORS is generally gives you a listing of "OPEN" or "DOOR". This command all the available Conferences generally gives you a listing of (usually by #). the available DOORS (usually by #) located in the Area of the BBS you 3.> FILES are currently visiting. ----- In most cases, you will find 2.> CONFERENCE Collections of FILES available for ---------- you to DOWNload in MAIN and in the Most Bulletin Boards will have various Conferences. The Files additional Areas off the MAIN board found in the Conferences will, like that are specific to Special the Conference DOORS, be specific Interests. These areas are called to that field of interest. In our CONFERENCES. If you will notice example, the FILES found in the from the floorplan, this BBS has CASINO Conference would probably only 1 Conference called CASINO. include GAMBLING programs, LOTTO This Conference is obviously Number Selection programs, LOTTO specific to Gambling. In fact, it results (Text files), etc. even has DOORS for 3 popular Casino games. Whereas the FILES in MAIN would likely be a bit more Generic such You will notice that when you close as: a Casino DOOR you will find yourself back in the CASINO Area. 1. DOS UTILITIES From there, you can either go back 2. BUSINESS PROGRAMS to MAIN or say (G)oodbye and Log- 3. COMMUNICATIONS Off. 4.SPREADSHEET TEMPLATES (123,SCalc-5,etc.) Here are a few examples of 5. FILE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS Conference names, which by 6. NEW UPLOADS themselves are usually are (Not checked by SYSOP!!) descriptive enough for you to determine the general theme of the NOTE: MOST PCBoard SYSOPS will Conference: have a list of ALL files available for DOWNloading. It is normally ADULTS named ALLFILES.ZIP and is usually CASINO located in the NEW UPLOADS NAVAIR DIRectory. POLITICS/DEBATE QMODEM The PCBoard BBS Menu command to SPORTS look at the available directories TRADEG is "F". This single stroke command generally gives you a listing of Bulletin Boards will often have a all the available Download SigOP (Special Interest Group directories (usually by #) located Operator) handling the day-to-day in the Area of the BBS you are operation of the various currently visiting. It is Conferences. important to note that the FILES Page 7 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- located in Conferences can NOT be accessed EXCEPT WHILE you ARE IN The Main Menu permits access to the THAT CONFERENCE! Depending on how other menus, allows callers to view your SysOp has PATH'd his File and change their stats, and DIRectories, you may be able to features functions that are access the MAIN Area Files from descriptive of the BBS. some or all of the Conferences. Questionnaires, a Newsletter, Check the (F)iles listing for each Bulletins, and information about Conference. If the MAIN other BBSs and callers can be DIRectories are listed in addition accessed there. On-line help is to the Conference "specific" available for all menu selections DIRectories, then you can gain on this and all other menus. Access to them. The File Menu allows callers to !! ENJOY - ASK QUESTIONS !! upload, download, list, find, extract, erase, and read files depending upon their security +---------------------------------+ level. Several compression formats | SOFTWARE REVIEWS | are supported for on-line text | | viewing and extraction. Up to ten +---------------------------------+ internal protocols are available SPITFIRE BBS - A Profile for file transfers. Protocols requiring error correcting modems By Ira Lichtenstein, (Node ID - are only displayed to those callers >SINGSING) Host Of RIME Spitfire who are using such modems. Support/Spitfire Sysops Conferences The Message Menu allows callers to My BBS is a SPITFIRE BBS. SPITFIRE read, enter, browse, delete, is written by Mike Woltz of West search, and reply to messages in as Des Moines, Iowa (NODE ID - many as forty conferences depending >SPITFIRE) in Turbo Pascal. For upon security level. Message those of you who have never logged threads can be followed forward, on to a SPITFIRE BBS, I will backward and from the starting describe its features and message. Nonstop message capture is capabilities. also available. SPITFIRE 2.8, the current version, The Door Menu allows up to twenty is a single node BBS capable of 40 four on-line doors to be directly Conferences. SpitMail and MegaMail connected to the BBS. Through off-line mail systems are available various third party converters and on many of the nearly 350 BBSs shells, a much larger number of using SPITFIRE. As many as nine doors written for many different external protocols as well as a BBSs can be installed. virtually unlimited number of on- line doors can be connected with SPITFIRE BBSs are known for their various software. Speeds of 300 to configurability. Over 200 38400 baud can be used with a ANSI/ASCII screens can be designed variety of modems. for the board, but it will run with less or none without any problem. A SPITFIRE BBS consists of four (This feature is a personal menus, Main, File, Message and favorite!) All functions can be set Door. by security level. This makes it Page 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- possible for the sysop to limit SPITFIRE has always been released access to younger callers, increase in a fully-functional shareware access to callers who have version. Registration of the subscribed, monitor file transfer current version is available for ratio, etc. Hundreds of utilities $70. Sysops register this software written specifically for SPITFIRE because of its great value, are available and often updated. powerful features, and excellent support. SPITFIRE Sysops are known for their fraternity and technical The SFUTI is known to be the most excellence. Unlike some other BBS powerful and user-friendly UTI of software, SPITFIRE offers personal, all! In a matter of minutes, a readily available support from the SPITFIRE Sysop can connect their author and many other talented BBS to a PCRelay type Network and Sysops on their boards, on begin to receive messages. Mouse networks, via publications, and support, screen feedback and user through annual meetings. SPITFIRE support are unmatched in the is reportedly the fastest growing network community. Powerful mail BBS worldwide. readers and doors allow quick, configurable access to mail and The next version of SPITFIRE will off-line reading/replying with many bring multinode capability. With graphics and CPU configurations. this powerful feature, many more callers will be able to use popular BBSs in at least five continents BBSs at the same time. Local Area and some of the largest Networks as well as multitasking corporations have chosen SPITFIRE software will be supported. There as their BBS. I join them in the are always many wonderful surprises belief that considering its in updates! features and capabilities, SPITFIRE is in a class by itself! Call a SPITFIRE BBS today!!! --------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------+ | 'C' TUTOR' | | | +---------------------------------+ by Doug Maclean, C conference host, homeboard ->RUNNINGB void setlst(s) char *s; { struct list *cp,*curr; /* Allocate memory for list structure and string */ if((cp=(struct list*)malloc(sizeof(struct list))) == NULL || (cp->str=malloc(strlen(s)+1)) == NULL) { fprintf(stderr,"Out of memory\n"); exit(3); } Page 9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- /* Initialize new stucture */ strcpy(cp->str,s); /* first time - anchor with first entry */ if(croot == NULL) { croot = clast = cp; cp->next = NULL; return; } /* insert before the first */ if(strcmp(cp->str,croot->str) <= 0) { cp->next = croot; croot = cp; return; } /* insert after the last */ if(strcmp(cp->str,clast->str) > 0) { clast->next = cp; clast = cp; cp->next = NULL; return; } /* insert in the middle of the list */ for(curr=croot;curr;curr=curr->next) if(strcmp(cp->str,curr->next->str) <= 0) { cp->next = curr->next; curr->next = cp; return; } } Okay, now we can talk about the program. First we are going to examine the structure used by the linked list. /* setup structure for linked list */ struct list { char *str; struct list *next; } *croot = NULL, *clast = NULL; This is a very simple structure. The data section consists solely of a string pointer. The second part of the structure is a pointer to another structure of the same type. This is the heart of the linked list system. The two pointers defined will be used to keep track to the beginning and end of the list. Initially the are set to NULL to inform the insertion routine that we are at the start of the list. Page 10 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The main routine opens the files and starts to read through the text. The terminating carriage return is changed into a null character so we can use the line as a normal 'C' string. /* get a line of text and convert to NULL terminated string */ while(fgets(buf,MAXLINE,fn) != NULL) { for(ch=&buf[strlen(buf)];--ch >= buf;) if(*ch < 0x20) *ch = '\0'; setlst(buf); /* add current line to linked list */ } fclose(fn); /* be polite and close the file */ After we have the string we call the setlst function to insert it into the list. We will also sort the strings automatically while we are inserting. This saves a lot of time from the users viewpoint since the program does not have to stop and sort everything in one operation. The user will not see too much of a delay. -------------------------------------------------------- The lab had been damaged earlier +---------------------------------+ due to a malfunctioning piece of | THE BIG QUESTION: IS THE PC | outdated equipment... an | ENVIRONMENT A SAFE PLACE TO | ultracentrifuge. This piece of | WORK? PART II | machinery was crucial in their +---------------------------------+ earlier work investigating early by Bill Waldheim, node id onslaught of PMS in female VDT ->DATATAME (Video Display Terminal) workers. It has been replaced with a new Excerpted from Journal of American "Superfuge" built by a small Medical Society company in Wisconsin. Dateline Cambridge: 'Our earlier work alerted us to what may be a common trend among Dr's Millard Fudnut and Miriam computer users, that of unexplained Willstipple have recently begun ill effects on the human body' said testing of the side effects caused Dr Fudnut. 'After discovering the on teenagers using a popular PMS effect after prolonged exposure computer program called PKZIP. the to a communications program called original datum leading to the more Telix, we began hearing rumors of extensive laboratory testing was yet another phenomena among pre- that use of the program over an adult computer users who heavily extended period of time caused acne use Bulletin Board Systems (BBS's)' among teenage computer enthusiasts. added Dr Willstipple. Using new techniques and new 'A program named PKZIP has long equipment in their renovated been thought to be a cause of laboratory, testing was begun on a increased acne among teenage control group early last week. computerphiles, and with our new facilities, we have begun an investigation', said Dr Fudnut. Page 11 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- uncontrollable bodily reaction in PKZIP is a 'compression' program what is already a hormonal that squeezes computer files hellhole' gasped Dr Willstipple. anywhere from 20-90% of their 'SOMETHING has to be done...we MUST original size and then packs them alert our government to this into a .ZIP file for more rapid alarming trend in shareware transfer via phone lines. programs' yelled Dr Fudnut as he paused in his clumsy attempt at CPR 'We have discovered that the on Dr Willstipple who had quietly original name of PKZIP was PKZIT', sunk to the floor. 'PKZIT....I mean said Dr Fudnut....coughing lightly. ZIP is a menace to the computing 'Yes, that's true, but due to what community' whispered Dr Willstipple was anticipated to be an adverse in an echo of her colleague's public reaction to that particular sentiments on Telix. name, it was changed at the last minute' added Dr Willstipple, 'The people MUST be warned' shouted waving her arms to disperse the Dr Fudnut as he dove for the fire smoke that seemed to be coming from axe in an attempt to shutdown the the Superfuge standing in the out of control Superfuge, whose corner. When asked if the smoke was main shaft was now spinning out of not an unusual occurrence, both control at over 25,000 rpm's. doctors said it was due to the Superfuge being new and having to Hopefully, Drs Fudnut and burn off the light coating of oil Willstipple will be able to on the main drive shaft. continue their research into Shareware after they are released 'As in our earlier research into from the hospital where they were Telix, we have come upon some both taken after fire fighters startling evidence that overuse of dragged them from the burning PKZIP does indeed have an adverse laboratory. Since this was the effect on our teenage computer second in a bizarre series of users' said Dr Fudnut, fanning the accidents stemming from said air violently with what appeared to shareware investigations, the good this reporter to be a copy of said Drs have been summoned to earlier findings. "It's just Washington to answer questions put criminal the way our government to them by the House Committee on allows these programs into the Public Health. Also, the FBI has pub...." choked Dr Willstipple, been alerted to allegations of unable to finish because of the sabotage to the laboratory dense cloud of smoke coming from equipment used by Drs Fudnut and the Superfuge. As this reporter Willstipple, since both the tried to help her finish, a thin Ultracentrifuge and the Superfuge keening sound began to come from are manufactured in Glendale, the Superfuge. Wisconsin, home of PKware. 'You see, it all stems from the original name...PKZIT' gagged Dr Fudnut, now visibly alarmed. 'Yes, the original title screen of the program never got changed, and when used, it flashes PKZIT at all those teenagers and sets off an Page 12 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------+ mean when they speak of patents. | PROTECTING YOUR IDEAS: | They cover the mechanical designs | THE PATENT | and functions of inventions. Design +---------------------------------+ patents cover the ornamental or By: J. J. Spinelli, Esq., visual aspects of manufactured President, VITRON Management articles, rather than their Consulting, Inc., Steering structures or utilitarian features. Committee Member, node id->VMC Plant patents protect new varieties of vegetables, flowers, trees, When people think of protection, shrubs, and other plants. they usually want to know how to safeguard their own rights. But There are over 100,000 patent others have patents, trademarks, applications each year, and only copyrights, trade secrets, and about fifty to sixty percent are other rights that you must be granted. Although design and plant careful not to infringe. As you patents are somewhat simpler than learn more and more about legal utility patents to obtain, the protections, remember that they not process is never easy. only help you, but may also restrain you. The standards for utility patents are especially difficult to meet. This article introduces you to one In a nutshell, the invention must of the major points about be new, useful, and not obvious. protecting your ideas -- the Newness has to do with whether and patent. (Subsequent future articles when the invention was described in will discuss the other major points print or made available for sale. of protection highlighted above.) Usefulness means the invention actually performs a utilitarian This is not a how-to guide for your purpose. Non-obvious means the own patenting. Do not expect to invention would not be obvious to become an expert at law. Yet, while someone having ordinary skill in you should leave the real legal the field. For example, the work to attorneys, it is useful to substitution of one material for have an overall view of the law another and changes in size are relevant to new products and ideas. normally not patentable. Methods of This will enable you to ask the doing business, printed matter, and right questions, recognize certain nuclear inventions cannot potential problem areas, know when be patented. Not can mere ideas or to seek advice, and communicate suggestions. more effectively with an attorney. To patent or not to patent, that is Is your invention worth patenting? the question. In the vast majority Is it even patentable? Will a of cases, applying for a patent is patent help you sell the concept? a waste of time and money. It can Will you do your own application, even be an obstacle to or would you rather work on other accomplishing other necessary tasks tasks? How good is patent for getting a product on the protection anyway? market. Patents have a certain aura or mystique. Most people think that There are three types of patents: getting a patent is a seal of Utility, design, and plant. Utility approval or guarantee of success. patents are what people normally Page 13 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nothing could be further from the The part of the patent known as the truth. "claims" is critical. The claims are what the Patent Examiners rely DRAWBACKS TO PATENTS upon to judge patentability, and -------------------- they are what determine the extent Patents represent a deal between of the patent once it is granted. you and the government. In exchange Framing them too broadly or too for making the details of your narrowly can adversely affect your invention public, the government success in obtaining or enforcing a gives you the exclusive right to patent. The requirements are highly make, use, and sell it for a period technical, and stating the claims of time. Anyone else who wants to is an art that most people, event do so must get your permission. professional inventors, are not This system is supposed to equipped to handle well. encourage progress because inventive people will share their Second, even if you can get one, discoveries knowing they will patents often do not provide very profit from their use. Nice theory. good protection. This is true for a In practice it is quite another variety of reasons. If someone story. infringes your patent, the only way to enforce your rights is to bring First of all, getting a patent is a a lawsuit. You would like to get an long, expensive, difficult, injunction to stop sales of the bureaucratic procedure. It usually infringing product. However, such takes about two to three years from injunctions are rarely granted, start to finish. The fees for especially in the first suit to applying and paying a patent agent protect the patent. This means that or attorney can amount to several the other party can continue thousand dollars. The attorney or selling the product while you agent must conduct a search, fill litigate the case, which can take out the application forms, frame years. If you win, you will get the description and claims for your monetary damages, but you are then patent correctly, obtain a Patent faced with the problem of and Trademark Office-style drawing, collecting them. This can be quite and negotiate over which of your costly and frustrating. claims will be allowed. Furthermore, just having a patent Yes, you CAN do it yourself, if you is no guarantee that it will hold really want to spend three years of up in court. Whomever you sue will your life engaged in one of the try to prove that it should never most complicated and arcane have been granted, and, according pursuits known to humankind. There to one survey, there is a seventy are several books on the market percent chance that your patent that point the way. Getting will be held INVALID. involved in doing your own patenting is, however, almost To get the patent, you must certain to dilute your creative publicly reveal the details of your energy and distract you from other invention. While competitors cannot steps you should be taking to sell copy it exactly, they will know how your idea. it works. They may, in fact, be able to "invent around" it legally by changing a few details. For this Page 14 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- reason, patents are not even sought for many otherwise patentable - The patent itself can be an products, especially in fast- effective document for moving, highly technical fields demonstrating exactly what the where secrecy is deemed more product is. valuable than possible patent protection. - A patent provides some assurance that others will not show up and Patents protect only the "claims." claim ownership of your "product." If you filed before having fully developed the concept, you may have THE ORDEAL OF GETTING A PATENT overlooked important claims that ------------------------------ should have been included. Your If you want to apply for a patent, competitors will be free to use start the process immediately. The and, perhaps, even patent the new person with the patent, not the ones. first with the idea, is entitled to protection. Decide with the help of Many people assume that a patented a patent attorney or agent whether item will sell itself. This is it is worthwhile to apply for simply not the case. Only a small patent protection. percentage of the tens of thousands of patents granted each year are The Patent and Trademark Office ever marketed as real products. will send you free lists of attorneys and registered agents United States patents have arranged by location. You can also virtually no effect in foreign find listings in the Yellow Pages countries. Almost every nation has under "Patent Attorneys and its own laws, and you must file Agents." Although there is no separately wherever you want directory for specialists in protection. This can be particular fields, you should prohibitively expensive. address this matter before hiring anyone. A reputable attorney or In short, trying to get a patent agent will refer you to someone can sidetrack you. Trying to else if your project is outside of enforce one can bankrupt you. his or her area of expertise. Patent agents can serve you as well ADVANTAGES OF PATENTS as lawyers, and their services are --------------------- less expensive. Since they are not Despite all the drawbacks, there attorneys at law, however, they are some good reasons for obtaining would not be able to represent you a patent: in any litigation. - It may discourage others from It is a good idea to keep a log of trying to compete with you. your progress during the period you conceive of and play with your - In attempting to sell your idea idea. This will help establish your to an existing manufacturer, the priority should it ever become an fact that you have applied for or issue. A comprehensive description obtained a patent makes you appear is found in YOU AND THE PATENTING serious, knowledgeable, and PROCESS, available from the confident in the uniqueness of your Department of Energy, Assistant product. General Counsel for Patents, Page 15 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington, D.C. 20545. Before applying for a patent may be better applying for a patent, you can file spent in arranging quick an official "disclosure document" manufacture and thorough with the Patent and Trademark distribution. Office, briefly explaining your invention. Although this filing When it comes to protection, will help establish priority, it everyone seems to think of patents. provides no patent protection of However, depending on the product, any kind. For further details, copyrights, trademarks, and common consult THE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT law considerations can be far more PROGRAM, a pamphlet available from significant. the Patent and Trademark Office. In future articles, we'll examine Even if you do not intend to get a these other possible alternatives. patent, you may want to do a search to be certain your product would +---------------------------------+ not infringe others' rights. You | UNABASHED | can do a preliminary search | MEMBER SOFTWARE REVIEWS | yourself, and this can be +---------------------------------+ interesting. Looking at other The following software reviews are patents will give you additional works authored by the reviewer. If ideas and broaden your background you write BBS programs, doors or and exposure to inventions in your utilities please consider field. submitting a review of your program. The best place to do a complete search is in the Search Room of the GIFRes Patent and Trademark Office in Arlington Virginia. There are GIFRes is a utility that will read patent collections in Patent a text file containing the names Depository Libraries throughout the of GIF files and insert the actual country, but they are not as resolution into this file. While complete or as well classified. GIFRes was designed mainly for Some of them have on-line computer PCBoard sysops, it could also be data bases to facilitate the used with other software and even process. The library staffs will non-sysop GIF collectors may find help you. If you pay an agent or it useful. attorney for a search, he or she will arrange for it to be done by a GIFRes works by reading the name specialist in the field and the of the text file it is to cost is about three to five hundred process from a configuration file dollars. along with the actual path and directory where the GIF files There are practical alternatives tp reside. GIFRes scans the text getting a patent that may offer file for the names of GIF files in just as much protection. If a the leftmost column of the file. company can be the first on the When it finds one, it first checks market, make the most early sales, to see if the file has already and quickly get a leadership image, been processed in a previous run. imitators and potential competitors If not, the actual GIF file is may be discouraged. Therefore, the read from disk and the resolution time and money saved in not information is extracted and Page 16 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- placed in the text file. Text whose message you don't want to files can be processed again and miss - go into config.exe and again without disturbing previously select WATCH management. Add the processed entries. users name in upper case letters and name the file that will store End users can also use GIFRes. One the messages whatever you would possible way would be to do a DOS like. Now there is no need to read directory (DIR command) of your GIF every conference, just check your files and pipe the output to a file daily for all messages to and file, e.g. DIR *.GIF > GIF.LST. from that named user! Then create your GIFRes config file and process the newly created text +---------------------------------+ file. | NOTES FROM THE NET | | | The latest version of GIFRes is 1.2 +---------------------------------+ of 3/10/90 and is always available -- from the author's BBS, Randy's Cindy Bartorillo of node ->BAUDLINE Basement, node id ->BASEMENT. is compiling a RIME directory. She encourages ALL who want to be +---------------------------------+ listed to fill out the small form | BONNIE'S NET TRIVIA | she is posting in various | | conferences. The RIME directory is +---------------------------------+ not just for Sysops or Conferences by Bonnie Anthony, node id hosts or RelayNet Administrators. ->RUNNINGA It is for *anyone* that would like to be listed in the RIME "phone Did you know that we now have 378 book". nodes that are active on RelayNet? -- That means that since the end of Network announcement from James December we have added Spinelli: approximately 50 nodes! And that we have 60 hubs servicing those 378 On behalf of the Steering nodes. Committee, I am pleased to announce that I have completed negotiations And that 164 different boards have with the InterLink Network and with left messages in the common John Friel (Qmodem Vendor) to open conference in the last 14 days. up a gateway between RIME and InterLink for the purpose of Anything else that might be of "sharing" the Qmodem Conference interest do you think? Just let me between the two networks. The know, I am a barrel of useless gateway will be in place by the information! morning of Friday, February 23, and messages will proceed between the +---------------------------------+ two networks beginning at that | KIPS TIPS | time. My BBS will serve as the | | actual physical gateway (i.e., +---------------------------------+ link) between the two networks. PCRelay Hints from the Author Kip Compton, node ->CONNECT It is my most sincere hope that this is the first of a possible If you have a user you would like continuation of gateway to keep a close eye on - or someone Page 17 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- opportunities between RIME and be notified and the problem InterLink. corrected. The members of the Steering Thus, for at least two days, and Committee wish to thank each of you easily a full week, this type of for your patience and for your problem can continue, EVEN THOUGH continued support. IT HAS BEEN CORRECTED. With the -- type of message lag that is Editors Note: The following is an possible (ie: users calling only excepted message by Yan Juras, the once a week), repercussions from conference host of TECH (the the initial problem can continue technical conference). His for weeks. explanation of a frequent problem network problem was so good, I Also, it is important to note that thought it should be repeated. The the messages "handling" the problem problem being messages from another may not (and probably will not) be conference were appearing in the public messages. If they are not technical conference. His answer public, most people will never even deals with a users response to the know that the problem was noticed messages and the time lag involved and handled. (For example, my in handling the problem. message to Bonnie was a routed R/O message in the ADMIN conference.) USER> No problems.. but when I saw them I guess what all of this boils down for 2-3-4 days, I assumed no one to is that it would make the CH's was watching... .... job a bit easier if everyone left these problems alone and let the CH YANS RESPONSE> handle them (as an example, if And we all know what assumptions everyone had ignored the Racing make people into... :-) messages, there would have been about 25 fewer messages in the Just for the record, I was conference overall). watching. I posted a message to Bonnie Anthony regarding the Well, enough said (and please note problem about 36 hours after the that just because your name is in first racing message reached the To: field does not mean that I MoonDog. I don't know how long it am directing this message to you in took Bonnie to act on my message, particular... it probably should but she did respond to my message have been addressed to ALL). within a day or so. Yan (R/O okay, Key# 24642, One thing that many of us seem to ->MOONDOG) overlook is that problems such as -- this one are seen by everyone at New beta versions of PCRelay node pretty much the same time (if the software were announced. Beta 10 messages are taken down daily). By was quickly followed by beta 11. the time the CH has seen and If there are no more bug reports responded to a problem, at least with beta 11, a release version another 8 to 12 hours (and usually will follow. A new beta version of 24 to 36) have passed. It then the hub software is supposed to be takes one to three days (possibly announced shortly. even longer) for the "offender" to -- Page 18 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- +---------------------------------+ +---------------------------------+ | ASK MISS NETIQUETTE! | | AS SEEN ON THE BIT STREAM | | | | | +---------------------------------+ +---------------------------------+ Dear Miss Netiquette, TAGLINE OF THE MONTH: I have been reading some of the "80586 * ZGA * 4,000 gig * 300baud" conferences and some of the lingo As seen on a post by Steve Allen, is foreign to me. I see people submitted by Anders Horntvedt talking about FReqing a UTI and I am not sure what they are talking BORING THREAD OF THE MONTH: about. Does this mean something "Class of" (What High School Class like sending a computer file to is best) some place? THE THREAD THAT LOST CONTROL: signed, Lingoed-out "Adult File Areas" Dear Lingo Languisher, MALFUNCTION OF THE MONTH: All those who lost their root You are right... this can be quite directory because they did not confusing. Let me explain. In first make a backup of their order to FReq anything (like the pcrelay directory and create(and latest UTI) you must first be a designate) a "work" directory when RIME SysOp (or Node). Once a RIME upgrading the PCRelay software to Node and having the blessing of beta 10 or 11. your Hub and/or SR, you can FReq the UTI from another node ID or RUMOR OF THE MONTH: NetNode (sometimes NetHub). If It's been rumored that a new mere users were allowed to FReq, conference 'DENSA' will begin real then everyone would be FReqing soon now. This is of course in everyone else and that would create response to the recently started a FReqing disaster! (Not to 'MENSA' conference. However, mention an overall lowering of potential members of DENSA cannot Morals.) decide the intelligence cutoff. Last we heard they were still So... to FReq the UTI from NetNode arguing on whether the cutoff setup your BBS, learn PCRelay should be just below an eggplant or (either Beta or Release), become a just above a fern. We'll keep you RIME Node, get the blessing of the posted on this exciting SR Hub and conduct yourself with development. the highest of Moral standards! +---------------------------------+ Glad Miss Netiquette could clear | NOTICES | this up for you. Toodle-Loo! | | +---------------------------------+ The RIME Times is published monthly by the membership of RelayNet International Message Exchange as its official newsletter. Users and Sysops are encouraged to contribute. Submissions and Page 19 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MAR RELAYNET INTERNATIONAL MESSAGE EXCHANGE NEWSLETTER 1990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- questions may be directed to the editor John Dodson, node ->CANTINA. (c)Copyright 1990, The RelayNet International Message Exchange. Permission is hereby granted for unlimited distribution and duplication, provided such distribution and duplication are strictly for non-commercial purposes only. All other rights reserved. RelayNet and RIME are registered trademarks.