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October 9, 2010
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A method for scheduling a banking transaction using a mobile communication device. The method includes creating a task on the mobile communication device to perform a banking transaction while the mobile communication device has no network connectivity, the mobile communication device actively monitoring for an available network to access. In response to identifying an available network to access, the mobile communication device automatically connects to the available network and uploads the task to a server to complete the banking transaction.
Latest Mobile Candy Dish, Inc. Patents:
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/467,441, filed Aug. 25, 2006, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/766,171 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/766,172, both filed on Dec. 31, 2005.
The present invention relates to data communications and wireless devices.
Online transactions—e.g., for purchasing goods, receiving downloads, and so on—which involve personal computers and the Internet are well known. Further, wireless mobile communication devices, such as cell phones, blackberries or other personal digital assistants, are also being used for making transactions. For example, U.S. Patent Application No. US/2003/0172028 provides a description of a personal payment system that utilizes a wireless enabled device such as a cell phone. As described, the personal payment system interacts using a Bluetooth protocol with a terminal located nearby the wireless enabled device. In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,031,945 describes a system and method that provides an electronic ticket to a smart card or standard wireless device that is identified with a user's account.
Further, wireless mobile devices that include a near field communication (NFC) device and a smart card (that uses an RFID for identification purposes) allow a person to securely make a simple transaction, such as for example, purchasing a bus ticket. In such an example, the person typically waves the wireless mobile device near a reader installed in a bus, and a price of the bus ticket is deducted from a total amount that is available and stored on the smart card of the wireless mobile device. Optionally, the amount of the bus ticket can be forwarded to a server that can identify the identification code of the particular RFID and then subsequently charge the person for the purchase of the bus ticket.
While the references discussed above illustrate that certain transactions are possible using wireless mobile devices, one problem associated with the references are is that implementations described in the references are not useful in a wide variety of different platforms, but rather are typically tied to a specific platform. For example, NFC devices are only usable with NFC readers. Another problem is that conventional wireless mobile devices generally have a very limited ability to be used in transactions.
In general, in one aspect, this specification describes a method and system for scheduling a banking transaction using a mobile communication device. The method includes creating a task on the mobile communication device to perform a banking transaction while the mobile communication device has no network connectivity, the mobile communication device actively monitoring for an available network to access. In response to identifying an available network to access, the mobile communication device automatically connects to the available network and uploads the task to a server to complete the banking transaction.
The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
This disclosure describes a communication system and method for assisting a user to complete a transaction.
In one implementation, the mobile communication device 110 has the functionality to communicate with one of many different a point of sale (POS) terminals 150-1 to 150-n—e.g., in a contactless manner using a wireless protocol. The mobile communication device 110 can also similarly communicate with one or more point of entry (POE) terminals 190-1 to 190-n. The point-of-sale terminal 150 receives one of the transaction request signals from the mobile communication device 110 and transmits the one transaction request signal to a transaction server 170, typically using a communication channel 160 such as the Internet. The transaction server 170 verifies the transaction, and forwards a transaction verification signal to the management server 180. The management server 180 identifies the user corresponding to the transaction verification signal, and provides a first transaction response signal back to the mobile communication device 110 as one of the transaction signals.
In one implementation, the first transaction response signal is communicated back to the mobile communication device 110 using a communication channel that is different from the communication channel used to initiate the transaction. In one implementation, different transaction response signals can be communicated back to the mobile communication device 110 using communication channels from the management server 180 to the radio element 120 associated with the device 110, as well as from the management server 180 to the secure element 130 through the POS terminal 150 or the POE terminal 190. Further detailed descriptions of these implementations are discussed in greater detail below.
In one implementation, application programs running on the radio processor 123 are, e.g., BREW or J2ME applications and can encompass a broad array of application types. For example, current applications include games, enterprise applications, and multimedia applications. In one implementation, the radio processor 123 runs an application that provides movie and event information. Such an application can comprise ticketing applications, content, item and service purchase applications, and/or payment management applications (referred to herein also as "wallet applications"). In one implementation, the radio processor 123 also has the capability of recognizing secure communications, and transmits data which must be stored in a secure environment to the secure element driver 128 for transmission to the secure element 130. In one implementation, in which both the radio element 120 and the secure element 130 are internal to the mobile communication device 110, transmissions to the secure element 130 can take place using an internal wired communication channel. In one implementation, the radio processor 123 also has the capability of receiving data from the secure element 130, e.g., using the internal wired communication channel. In one implementation, the secure element 130 and the radio element 120 communicate using signals described in the Java Card 2.1 Platform API Specification.
In one implementation, both the radio element 120 and the secure element 130 are disposed internally within a body of the mobile communication device 110. For example, referring to
This implementation allows for certain bidirectional communications with other devices, as well as with the radio element 120, and as such more functionality and flexibility is achieved. This implementation is particularly useful for establishing a direct local communication path with the radio element 120, since there are no communications with the radio element 120 via the path of driver 128. If either of the transceivers 129 or 136 are not associated with the respective radio element 120 or secure element 130, and there is no direct connection between the radio element 120 and the secure element 130, then a direct communication link between the radio element 120 an the secure element 130 will not exist. As such, while ticketing and many transactions can still exist, data from a real-time transaction performed using the secure element 130 cannot be made directly available to the radio processor and the applications stored thereon. In such an implementation, certain redundancy checks may not occur. For example, a ticketing application can be programmed to provide an alert if a ticket receipt has not been received within a certain period of time. Such an alert would not be possible to program directly (although it could be programmed indirectly via the button panel on the phone).
In one implementation, the smart chip uses a low-power RF transmitter/receiver to communicate with a terminal. The low-power output of the smart chip makes it susceptible to RF interference from neighboring devices. Specifically problematic are components associated with the mobile communication device, e.g., battery, antennae (internal or external), to which the secure element 130 is affixed. Thus, in one implementation, the secure element 130 includes an RF shield to insulate the smart chip from external interference. In one implementation, a lining of the secure element 130 is composed of an RF absorbent material/lining. In general, each phone has different levels of interference, and a material, size and thickness of the RF lining can determine an effectiveness of the RF shield. In one implementation, an RF shield can be placed between the secure element 130 and the mobile communication device 110.
Given the abuse a mobile communication device can take, components that are affixed externally to a mobile communication device need to be able to withstand some abuse. Thus, in one implementation, the secure element includes a ruggedized shell 704 that encases a smart chip (with antennae). In one implementation, the shell 704 is formed from a composite plastic or polymer. The shell 70 can be hard (and substantially inflexible) or be soft (and pliable). In one implementation, the shell 704 provides a protective membrane for the smart chip which prevents damage to internal circuitry, a surface to adhere to an RF lining and/or a mobile communication device with appropriate adhesive, and a surface to print branding and advertising. Types of adhesives that can be used to affix the secure element 130 to a mobile communication device include, for example, paper glue, super glue, polymers, and the like. In one implementation, the shell 704 has a maximum width (or diameter) of 25 mm, and has a maximum thickness (or depth) of 5 mm.
SMS (Short Messaging Service) as a Data Transmission Method
As discussed above SMS (Short Message Service) can be used as a data transmission method between the management server 190 and the mobile communication device 110. SMS is generally unstructured. Thus, when messages arrive in an inbox of a user inbox, the user cannot easily search, retrieve, or organize the messages. In addition, due to SMS's send-and-forget characteristics, it cannot be assumed that messages are received by the terminating point, or if received, received in a particular sequence.
In one implementation, the mobile application 806 is a rich client application (also commonly referred to as a fat client application or thick client application). A rich client application is a client application that performs the bulk of any data processing operations itself, and does not necessarily rely on a server (e.g., remote server 804). The mobile application 806 can also be a thin client application or hybrid client application. In one implementation, the mobile application 806 is the Blaze Mobile Wallet Lite application available from Mobile Candy Dish Inc. or Berkeley, Calif. In one implementation, the mobile application 806 provides banking and money management transaction services, and transmits data from the wireless communication device 802 via SMS in accordance with a connectionless protocol.
Thus, in one implementation, the mobile application 910 is not browser HTTP based, and delivers banking and money management services. The mobile application 910 also leverages a low-end communication infrastructure (also referred to herein as a "bearer service"). A bearer service that is universal on all mobile devices is the Short Message Service (SMS). SMS is a means of sending short messages to and from mobile phones to the Application Service Provider (ASP) Server "Server". It is inherently a connectionless communication protocol, i.e., send and forget. There is no acknowledgement to the Mobile Originating (MO) sender that the message sent was successfully received by the Mobile Terminating (MT) recipient. There is no concept of timeouts, message lost, message not received, etc. Leveraging SMS as a bearer service to support a 'rich' client application. The Client will listen to a specific incoming SMS port to be defined based on Network Operator/Carrier, Phone Vendor, etc.
In one implementation, the mobile application 910 provides banking and money management service, which includes (but is not limited to):
- Registration: User creates new MW Lite account with PIN (PIN and user info can be stored in user/profile database 306)
- Security & Encryption: Sensitive information may optionally by encrypted using 3rdParty or native phone tools (Bouncy Castle, etc.). Encryption (Public/Private) keys may be managed or proxy'd by Server which may additionally be out-sourced to 3rdparty Key Management vendor.
- Install & Configuration (I&C): Refers to setting up proxies to
- payment accounts (virtual, credit, debit & banking)
- Payees (BillPay, PayAnyone, etc.) and associated rules
- Specify default payment account to debit fund transfers/unloading
- Specify default payment account to credit fund transfers/loading
- Activation of 3rdParty Services (Account Balance, Bill Pay, Fund Transfer, Funds Loading, Funds Unloading)
- It is assumed Client application is pre-installed or downloaded to mobile device.
- I&C to be performed via Kiosk, ATM, 3rdParty/Carrier Web Portal, MCD Web Portal, on mobile device, or other suitable device.
- Loading Funds
- Banking or financial data
- Account balance
- Transaction history
- Bill Pay—Biller Direct
- Fund Transfer—Intra Bank; Me-2-Me
- Fund Transfer—Inter Bank; Me-2-Me
- Fund Transfer—Inter Bank; Me-2-You (based on Bank Routing/Account#)
- Fund Transfer—Inter Bank; Me-2-You (based on WalletID)
- Fund Transfer—Inter Bank; Me-2-You (based on ACH Check). A.k.a. Bill Pay Anyone
- Load Fund
- Unload Funds (ATM Withdrawal, etc.)
- Sync: Ensures server-side objects are downloaded to client and locally cached. This includes payment accounts, payees, payment rules, server-side cached account info (account balance, Last-N transaction history), etc.
- This info will be cached on Client.
- Users can create transaction either in ONLINE or OFFLINE (no network connectivity) mode
- Initiating/Triggering Banking Services:
- Storage: Storage of Users MWLite info, User's payment account info (credentials, account balance, history, etc.); Banking Payment History (BillPay, Fund Transfer, Fund Loads, Fund Unloads, etc.)
1. Overlaying connection protocol properties over SMS. This includes: segmenting complex command and control (C&C) messages into 1 or more SMS messages, and re-constructing one or more SMS messages into complex C&C resultset messages. Re-constructing the one or more messages into complex C&C resultset messages can include one or more of the following providing acknowledgement, handling out-of-sequence incoming messages, handling unexpected messages or messages considered lost (due to timeout, etc.), Managing encryption as needed, and so on.
2. User uses the mobile application 910 to initiate/trigger appropriate banking service. For example, referring to
3. The mobile application 910 formulates appropriate banking services commands, for example:
- "<command> <PaymentAccount> <Payee> <$amt> <tansferDate> <PIN> <sequenceID> <message> <messages>"
- billpay MCC-2345 PG&E 110.23 20070328 1234 36 1 1
- transfer bofa-1007 jdoe 25.00 20070328 1234 36 1 1# where jdoe is a walletID
- transfer bofa-1007 8005550001 25.00 20070328 1234 36 1 1# where 8005550001 is the phoneNumber of unloading station.
- fundstransfer bofa-1007 gwbush 30.00 20070328 1234 36 1 1# gwbush is a payee
- "<command> <PaymentAccount> <PIN> <sequenceID> <message> <messages>"
- Balance bofa-1007 1234 3611
- "<command> <PaymentAccount> <Payee> <$amt> <tansferDate> <PIN> <sequenceID> <message> <messages>"
4. A Loading Station (Kiosk, etc.) can load funds by sending command to MCD's Loading Shortcode.
- "<command> <PaymentAccount> <Payee> <$amt> <transferDate> <PIN> <sequenceID> <message> <messages>"
- load CorpBankPayrollAccount-2007 8005550001 4000.00 20070328 0987 43 1 1 (# Debit account CorpBankPayrollAccount-2007 by $4000 and credit account held by user with phone Number 8005550001)
- "<command> <PaymentAccount> <Payee> <$amt> <transferDate> <PIN> <sequenceID> <message> <messages>"
5. Receive multiple (in/out sequence, missing, lost, etc.) messages to reconstruct a complex messages.
- <sequenceID>:<message>:<messages>; <body>
- "36:1:6; acct:Bofa-1007 bal:40123.32 date:20071009"
- "36:3:6; date:20071009 name:Merchant2 amt:123.81"
- "36:6:6; date:20071009 name:Merchant5 amt:423.81"
- "36:4:6; date:20071009 name:Merchant3 amt:223.81"
- "36:2:6; date:20071009 name:Merchant1 amt:23.81"
- "36:5:6; date:20071009 name:Merchant4 amt:323.81"
- <sequenceID>:<message>:<messages>; <body>
In one implementation, post processing of these multiple messages results in the screen shown in
6. Cashed data is refreshed upon user request. This in turn invokes a command similar to the following:
- <command> <account> <PIN> <sequenceID> <message> <messages>
- Balance Bofa-1007 1234 37 1 1 (# Where 37 is the next <sequenceID>)
Connection Protocol Properties
- Balance Bofa-1007 1234 37 1 1 (# Where 37 is the next <sequenceID>)
- <command> <account> <PIN> <sequenceID> <message> <messages>
The above description introduced the concept on <sequenceID> <message> <messages>. The sequenceID is a rotating pool per Client, issued by the Client, used as a callback mechanism, i.e., match outgoing command messages and incoming resultset messages. Since resultsets can be long and complex, the resultset is broken into pages, where each page can fit with the allowed payload size of an SMS message. Hence, "<message> <messages>" implies "Page 1 of 5". The Client (or mobile application) then has to wait for all <messages> to arrive before re-constructing the original resultset. Due to characteristics of SMS, the client has to handle scenarios when a message with an un-expected sequenceID arrives. In addition, if a missing page within the expected sequenceID fails to arrive within a specified time interval, the client needs to request retransmission, e.g., "retransmit 36:4:6 1234" which will instruct server to retransmit resultset 36, part 4 of 6.
The pool size (or range of valid sequenceID's) controls the asynchronous aspect of the application. The sequenceID is mapped to the command (at least until the sequenceID is re-used). Hence, the client will use the sequenceID to determine to command and associate the appropriate display style sheet to best display the resultset to the user. For example, if sequenceID=36 was issued by the command 'balance' which determines account balance, it makes sense to leverage the 'Account Balance & History' style sheet to present this information.
SMS messages to and from the mobile communication device has to be acknowledged. A simple protocol is necessary, for example, as follows:
- 1. # Mobile Originated (MO) command
- <command> <body> <sequenceID> <message> <messages>
- balance Bofa-1007 1234 37 1 1
- 2. # Server, a.k.a., Mobile Terminating (MT) receives and acknowledges receipt of message '37 part 1 of 1."
- ack 37 1 1
- 3. # MT responds with resultset
- 36:1:2; acct:Bofa-1007 bal:40123.32 date:20071009
- 4. # MO receives and acknowledges receipt of message '36 part 1 of 2."
- ack 37 1 2
- 5. # MT responds with resultset (part 2 of 2)
- "36:2:2; date:20071009 name:Merchant1 amt:23.81"
- 6. # MO receives and acknowledges receipt of message '36 part 2 of 2."
- ack 37 2 2
- 7. # MO has received all messages. Reconstruct & store message
- 8. # Next time user view account balance, display cached (local store) information:
- Bank Account: Bofa-1007
- Balance: $40,123.32 as of 10/9/2007
- 10/9/2007 Merchant] $23.81
Online/Offline Access
- 1. # Mobile Originated (MO) command
In one implementation, a mobile communication device creates task/objects either while connected with a Server (online-mode) or when no connection is available (offline-mode). Tasks/objects are specific to mobile banking service and include for example: schedule (or cancel) a fund transfer transaction, schedule (or cancel) a bill pay transaction, and manage other banking transactions. In addition, digital artifacts (coupons, tickets, etc.) that possess a state (or status) (e.g., Assigned, Saves, Redeemed, Deleted, etc.) can undergo changes on the mobile communication device. Given these tasks/objects associated to Banking Services and Digital Artifacts has 'states' that can be changed in either an online-mode or offline-mode, the Server has to be refreshed/updated either in real-time (online-mode) or in batch (offline-mode).
For example, given a situation in which a user is travelling in a region in which the user's mobile communication device does not have network access and the user needs to transfer funds into a checking account, the user can use the mobile communication device (with the Mobile Wallet Client application) to schedules a fund transfer in offline mode. Since the mobile communication device has no network connectivity, the Client (in OFFLINE mode) creates a 'task' to represent the fund transfer (or any other banking service) using banking information (Banks accounts, etc.) previously cached on mobile device. The task can have an initial state (e.g., "pending"). While the Client is enabled the Client will actively monitor network access. When the user travels into a region where network access is available, the client will identify the network and automatically re-connect to the network. The client will then negotiate with a server and any tasks having a "pending" state on the client are then uploaded to server (either in batch mode or one task at a time). The client (in ONLINE mode) will refresh states of all task from the server (including the recently added tasks) to present to the user the updated status of all tasks managed by the server. Other services possible include, for example: request schedule (or cancellation) of Bill Pay transaction, request schedule (or cancellation) of Fund Transfer transaction, request schedule (or cancellation) of Pay Anyone transaction, any other state-based banking transaction service.
Using the client (or mobile application), a user can store digital artifacts (e.g., coupons, tickets, etc.) on a mobile communication device. These digital artifacts are objects that are consumed by a 3rdParty, e.g., a ticket can be redeemed at a theater, and a coupon can be redeemed at the Point-Of-Sale of a retail merchant. Hence, this is a 3-way sync: 1) mobile communication device with server, 2. mobile communication device with 3rdParty Merchant, and 3) server with 3rdParty Merchant. For user's convenience, redemption of digital artifacts by a 3rdParty must be enabled in an environment with or without network access. For example, a user with an electronic ticket on a mobile communication device may wish to redeem an eTicket at a theater. However, if there is no network access inside the theater, the user will still need access the eTicket on the client. In ONLINE mode, the client will cache (local store) the eTicket (and any other digital artifact.) In the theater, the client (in OFFLINE mode) will be able to redeem the eTicket and update the state of the eTicket on the mobile communication device (e.g., change state from 'valid' to 'redeemed'). This prevents the user from re-using the eTicket. At some point when the mobile communication device re-acquires network connectivity, the client will then negotiate with the server and any artifacts with a state change (e.g., 'valid' to 'redeemed', etc.) on the client are then uploaded to the server (e.g., either in batch mode or one task at a time).
The client (in ONLINE mode) will manage and refresh states of all artifacts from the server (including the recently added tasks) to present to the user. In one implementation, the server is the master repository. In the process of redeeming the eTicket, the eTicket is uploaded to the merchant (via secondary out-of-band communication link, e.g., RFID/NFC, Bluetooth, etc.). This is necessary for theater to update their inventory systems. The 3rdParty may liaise (via an internet connection) with the server to validate eTicket and authenticate the user.
POS (Point of Sale) Terminal
The point of sale terminal 150 illustrated in
In one implementation, various software that is downloaded into the memory 126 of the radio element 120 and the secure memory 132 of the secure element 130, along with software resident on the management server 180, cooperate at a layer that is above the physical layer of the communications, in order for the desired transaction to occur. This software is implemented using based upon known knowledge of mobile communication device 110 internals and application platforms, NFC, smartcard internals and application platforms, payment protocols (e.g. PayPass), and the working/workflow associated with POS and POE terminals, and the transaction and management servers. In addition, the present invention provides for piggybacking a tunneling protocol on top of the payment protocol, so that the secure elements 130 can communicate with the transaction server 170 and/or the management server 180, without modification to the POS terminal 150 or the POE terminal 190. As such, this includes software within the secure element 130 that embeds the required information in fields which will not adversely affect the performance of the POS terminal 150 and/or the POE terminal 190, and also software in transaction server 170 that will extract the piggybacked payload, associate the payload with the management server 180 if needed, and then authenticate, authorize, and execute transfers of transaction information to the management server 180. In one implementation, the piggybacked payload is sent, instead of to the transaction server 170, to the management server 180, which can then associate the transaction and notify the transaction server 170, the POS terminal 150 and/or the POE terminal as needed.
In one implementation, the management server 180 has the capability of storing codes that are from a variety of different mobile communication devices. Thus, codes that are associated with a smart card having an RFID can be stored, as can be codes stored from an RFID sticker, as well as codes that are associated with a smart card that communicates using a slide reader, Bluetooth, or an NFC channel, for example. As such, the management server 180 can store user personal and credit and transactional information and history, including a code associated with the user, for a variety of different mobile communication devices, thereby allowing a system which can scale.
Referring to
The present invention, as described previously, allows for various different programs to exist within the memory 126 of the radio element 120, as well as in the secure memory 132 of the secure element 130.
Mobile Tickets (eTickets)
In one implementation, a mobile ticket (also referred to herein as "electronic ticket" or "eTicket") includes both a unique code that is sent to the consumer's cell phone and a database that allows for the validation of the consumer using their cell phone number and the unique code. The mobile ticket can be used at kiosks in addition to interfacing with a ticket agent. The mobile ticket may be used with or without cell phones equipped with radio technology (i.e., RFID or NFC). In operation, a mobile ticket works when the user is sent a unique code (alpha-numeric, numeric, etc.) to their cell phone. The user is validated as a customer by their cell phone number and their code. If these match the information stored in a central database, the user is allowed admission into a venue by either manual validation by a ticket agent or automatically using RFID or NFC technology.
In general, an electronic ticket can be delivered to a mobile device and allow a consumer admission into a sports venue, entertainment venue (e.g. concert or movies), or other point of sale location either manually if the consumer displays the electronic ticket to an agent who may issue a paper ticket to the consumer or automatically if the consumer waves their cell phone (if equipped with a radio transmitter) over a POS device which contains a radio receiver. In one implementation, an electronic ticket (or tickets) is selected by viewing an image of the venue seating map. The seating map can be rendered on the mobile device. Users can zoom in/out of the seating map. As User zooms in, additional layers (details, info, etc.) is presented. For example, a user can view Venue→Quadrant→Level→Section→Row. The ability to zoom in/out and present additional levels of details can be processed either on the mobile device (Client) or on the Content Server, the end result is an updated image rendered on the mobile device. In one implementation, seats are color coded to represent availability and price. In this manner, seat inventory (what's available and at what price) can be illustrated graphically. Once user has navigated to lowest level, the image is granular enough to select individual seats. In one implementation, a seat selection will automatically cause a price to be calculated. Any service fee can be included in the ticket price. Once user confirms purchase, reservation request is sent to ticket inventory system. If reservation is successful, a valid electronic ticket is returned to the mobile device.
The present invention can also be interfaced with certain known and implanted payment protocols, such as Paypass. For implementing these additional payment protocols, implementation of streaming communication protocols (in the full NFC case), protocols for session setup, and configuration of communications modules and secure data areas as needed is necessary, taking into account the communication protocol used (e.g. NFC, Bluetooth, WIFI, CDMA, 3.sup.rd Generation CDMA for example) as well as file transfer protocols and facilities access protocols. In particular, in implementing such protocols, the ability to extract transaction information from the POS terminal 150 to the secure element 130 can be provided during the course of the local interaction between the POS terminal 150 and the secure element 130. For instance, the implementation of PayPass within the invention will take note, and alert the application running on the radio processor 123 that a purchase or purchase attempt has occurred, as noted above in the context of the alert discussion. In one implementation, a feature is provided that permits information passed via the PayPass protocol to the POS terminal 150 (and thence to the transaction server 170) to be augmented with additional fields containing the elements of the tunneling protocol, for subsequent processing by the transaction server 170, either directly, or through the management server 180.
The two transaction workflows that have been specifically discussed above are the credit card and ticketing workflows. Other transaction flows can also be implemented. Debit card and cash card transactions are similar to credit card transactions, with variations being implemented to account for the differences that exist in those types of transactions, which types of transactions are well understood. Coupons can be implemented with the invention, in much the same manner as tickets, though coupons can be transmitted without there being payment. Many of the transaction types noted herein will, as is apparent, require communication between the secure element 130 and the radio element 120. As such, due to that requirement, a significant part of the preceding discussion has been directed to how to implement that communication, particularly for mobile communication devices 110 that are not manufactured to allow for such communications.
An example of a typical transaction requiring such communication between the secure element 130 and the radio element 120 is one in which the POS terminal 150 allows for the transfer of detailed purchase information from the POS terminal 150 to the secure element 130, as well as transactional information from the POS terminal 150 and/or the transaction server 170 to the management server 180. The management server 180 can then also communicate with the radio element 120 via the radio channel. This allows for the matching and reconciliation of detailed purchase information and, if the transaction fails, failure details can be matched to the purchase information, and forwarded in real-time to the user via the radio element 120. In one implementation, there is included the provision for different phones to communicate the results of a transaction, particularly using the POS transceiver or one of the Bluetooth/Wifi transceivers. In this implementation, after a transaction has been completed with one of the mobile communication devices 110a, another mobile communication device 110b can receive information regarding the transaction completed. Thus, for instance, if mobile communication device 110a purchases two tickets, one of the tickets can be transmitted to the mobile communication device 110b by each using a POS transceiver or one of the Bluetooth/Wifi transceivers.
Although the present invention has been particularly described with reference to implementations discussed above, various changes, modifications and substitutes are can be made. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that in numerous instances some features of the invention can be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Further, variations can be made in the number and arrangement of components illustrated in the figures discussed above.
1. A method for scheduling a banking transaction using a mobile communication device, the method comprising:
- creating a task on the mobile communication device to perform a banking transaction while the mobile communication device has no network connectivity;
- the mobile communication device actively monitoring for an available network to access;
- in response to identifying an available network to access, the mobile communication device automatically connects to the available network and uploads the task to a server to complete the banking transaction.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the banking transaction comprises one or more of a bill pay transaction, a fund transfer transaction, and a pay anyone transaction.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device is a cellular phone.
Patent History
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 31, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 28, 2008
Patent Grant number: 8190087
Applicant: Mobile Candy Dish, Inc. (Berkeley, CA)
Inventors: Michelle FISHER (Oakland, CA), Rathin Guha (Alameda, CA)
Application Number: 11/933,367
International Classification: G06Q 40/00 (20060101); G06Q 20/00 (20060101);

subset: commoncrawl


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CLICK HERE... Specialty
Tours and Customized Travel to Spain and Portugal
Holidays in Spain and Portugal are the best way to get
acquainted with the rural countryside and picturesque
coastal areas.
Walk the Camino de Santiago! This version of our Camino de Santiago is designed for independent travelers who would like to walk the last 100kms/62 mi of the Pilgrimage trail with baggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation... Become A
EuroAffiliate! Earn commission for just adding a link to your site!
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Spotlight and Hot Picks!
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Activities on our various tours include; Walking/Trekking, Biking, Horse Riding, Sailing, and much more...
Ideas for Walking/Trekking Tours: Follow along the Ancient Pilgrimage Way of St. James in Northern Spain either independently with baggage transfers each day, or join a group tour departure and share your experience together along this historic trail. Even if you only want to walk the most scenic portions of the camino and then the rest of the time your private driver/guide would take you to wineries, museums, etc... Another great outdoor adventure would be a self-guided tour through the Peaks of Europe with some transfers where needed while touring. In the Basque Country we have a special fully-guided small group tour exploring the coastal towns and the Pyrenees Mountains. Off the Eastern Coast of Spain in the Balearic Islands try a fully-guided Mallorcan Trek to view the beautiful landscape and Mediterranean coast with all it's shades of blue and green. If you don't have time for an extended walking tour with various days, then we have as well just day trips in many regions. While on Mallorca we have different day walks, treks and hikes available for all levels of walkers. From Barcelona you could do a small group day tour walking along the Cliffs and Coves of the Costa Brava or trekking the Peaks and Valleys of the Catalan Pyrenees. On the Rias Baixas Coast of Galicia enjoy a breath-taking walk around Man's Cape on the Peninsula of O Morrazo. Over on the Portuguese Islands of Madeira and Azores we have various full-day walking tours to choose from.
Ideas for Biking Tours: Wine Country bike tours have become a popular activity while sampling the wines of the different regions. In La Rioja we have a great self-guided biking tour to explore the vineyards and mountain valleys of Spain's most world-renowned wine region. Penedes is another famous region known for it's Cava Sparkling Wines, which is also an excellent area for biking around for the day while you are staying Barcelona.
Ideas for Horse Riding Tours: Down in the South of Spain enjoy a group ride on the Pilgrimage to El Rocio Trails of Andalusia. Riding along the French or Portuguese Pilgrimage trail is another way to do the Camino de Santiago. In the heart of Castile Spain enjoy a group ride through the Sierra of Gredos. We also have just short day rides in Spain like; from Barcelona you could ride the gorgeous valleys and hills of Montserrat, in Seville a ride in the Andalusian countryside, or in Torremonlinos a ride around the Costa del Sol trails.
Ideas for Sailing Tours: The Rias Baixas Atlantic coast of Galicia, North-western Spain is one of the best coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula for sailing vacations. In fact this November for the first time, a non-British location is going to be the place of departure of the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006, one of the world's most prestigious transoceanic regattas. Galicia has been selected as the starting point of the 9th edition of the VOR, assuming Sanxenxo and Vigo the main role. This event will help put Galicia on the map as a sailing destination. From the port of Vigo we offer a very unique deluxe gastronomic sailing journey following up the Rias Baixas and then making our way along the Camino de Santiago by Sea ending in Santiago. This is an unforgettable journey for those who are looking to discover Green Galicia from the sea while savoring the delicious seafood and fine Albariño wines. For just a day of sailing from Vigo we have a private day tour over to the Cies Islands. The Mediterraen sea on the East Coast of Spain is another great location for sailing trips. From Barcelona sail along the Costa Dourada to Sitges, or in the Balearic Islands sail from Mallorca to Menorca for the day. On Strait of Gibraltar you could take a day of sailing from Sotogrande, Cadiz over to the Rock of Gibraltar. On the sub-tropical island of Madiera we have a jeep/boat safari day tour. In addition to all the suggestions above we can arrange customized sailing charter vacations in Galicia, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands.
Apart from the wide range of tour ideas listed above for active holidays in Spain and Portugal, we still have more online in our VactionCentre. If you can't come accross the best suited trip for you, let us know and we would be happy to suggest a tour or create a create a customzied active holiday just for you!
Camino de Santiago Trail in Galicia Independently Walking with baggage transfers
Our services included many types of unique tours
and customized travel to Spain and Portugal. Trips are
related to a wide variety of interests/preferences like:
Wine, Food, Culture, Golf, Spa,
Honeymoons, VIP Private Guides, Driver/Guides,
Small Groups, Airport Transfer, Accommodations,
Over the years we have built up an extensive database of all different types of customized tour services. Whether it is just a privately guided day tour in Barcelona, or a Cooking Lesson with an expert Basque Chef, we can help you fulfil your unique vacation needs... more...
Vol. 24, 2005
are our featured Hot Picks! of
the month...
Deluxe Food and Wine Tour in Misty Enchanting Celtic Galicia Green Spain
Deluxe Food, Wine & Cultural Tour in Galicia, Spain. A Private driver/guide will show you gastronomical and historical delights of this area. Discover distinct Spanish wines, cuisine, music more...
Semi-Private Small Group Tapas and Wine Tour of the Old Quarter of Vigo Port
On the this wine & tapa tour you will visit some of the emblematic taverns/bars/vinotecas of Vigo´s Old Quarter. An excellent option for those who would like a light lunch or dinner tasting various Galician fine wines and tapas... more...
All Spain Highlights Coach Tour from Madrid
Group Bus Tour from Madrid visiting all of Spain. Important cities like: Barcelona, Cordoba, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Oviedo, Gijon, La Coruña, Lugo, Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Salamanca, Merida, Seville, Ronda, Granada, Valencia, Toledo more...
Spain Portugal and Morocco Group Bus Tour from Madrid
Bus group Tour from Madrid to Portugal, Morocco, Andalusia ending in Madrid. Important cities like: Avila, Salamanca, Fatima, Lisbon, Seville, Costa del sol, Marrakech, Casablanca, Tangier, Granada, Toledo more...
Galician Coastal Cooking Class and Boat Ride on Vigo Bay
Our foodie tour leaves from Vigo, boat ride on the bay of vigo then savor the secrets of sea by preparing seafood dishes with a Galician Chef in a coastal village... more...
Private and Scheduled Group Day Tours in Spain & Portugal
A holiday in Spain and Portugal is not complete without a few days of tours and night entertainment during your stay. We have a wide variety of private half-day and full-day tours as well as scheduled group... more...
Barcelona, 1st Edition
Author: Suzanne Wales
EuroAdventures, is a specialist tour operator based in western Spain. Its 7-night "Mediterranean Morsel" holiday kicks off in Barcelona at the Boqueria Market before heading to the Costa Brava for some fine restaurants, wine tastings, and classes and the famous Ampurdan Cooking School. more...
What Clients are saying about EuroAdventures...
Stephany L'Hospital
Senior Microsoft EMEA Executives
We had a wonderful time on the boat in Seville, drinks and food were abundant, and everyone had a lot of fun. It turned out to be exactly what I had hoped for. Our guide, was great. I will be sure to recommend your services to a few other people at Microsoft who may be interested in setting up similar events, and hopefully we will have a chance to work together again. more...
NEW ONLINE! We now
accept *credit card payments online through our
internet merchant account provided by...
©2005 EuroAdventures Vacations, S.L.
Tours and Customized Travel to Spain and Portugal
Holidays in Spain and Portugal are the best way to get
acquainted with the rural countryside and picturesque
coastal areas.
Walk the Camino de Santiago! This version of our Camino de Santiago is designed for independent travelers who would like to walk the last 100kms/62 mi of the Pilgrimage trail with baggage transfer from accommodation to accommodation...
Become A EuroAffiliate! Earn commission for just adding a link to your site! With our NEW! EuroAffiliate features you can send our weekly EA Newsletter to your clients and earn EuroBonus commission for Vacation Spotlight and Hot Picks! tour sales... more...
*Credit Cards accepted are...


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Residents Given Chance to Vote for Favourite Community Projects
Residents in Scarborough will be given the chance to vote for their favourite community projects when local groups and organisations compete for their share of £12,500 of funding from Scarborough Borough Council.The Scarborough Urban Area Forum will host its sixth Voice Your Choice decision-making event on Wednesday 9 March. Residents of the central urban area of Scarborough (Castle, Central, Ramshill, Weaponness, Falsgrave Park, Stepney, Woodlands, Northstead and North Bay wards) aged 11 and above are invited to come along to see a display of 17 community projects. The 'drop in' style event will be held at Scarborough Library on Vernon Road. Residents can turn up anytime between 5.00pm and 7.30pm to cast their votes.
This year's projects will be based around the theme of 'Empowering Communities' and will cover the categories of capacity building, opportunity to influence decision-making, communication and increasing participation. Applicants will have to demonstrate how their project links to the theme. Each display will have information about the group's proposed project and a member of the group will be available to answer any questions.
Residents will be asked to view all project displays and give every project a score between one and five. The projects with the most votes will be awarded funding. The voting process should take no longer than half an hour to complete and it will be a very informal evening with refreshments available. Residents are welcome to stay at the event for the results to be announced at approximately 8.15pm.
The fund is financed by Scarborough Borough Council's Central Urban Area Committee, which is working in partnership with Scarborough Urban Area Forum to deliver the programme.
For further information about the event, please contact the council's Community Regeneration and Support Officer, Kerry Lee, by emailing email@example.com or calling 01723 232472. You can also find out more information about the event and a list of the projects competing for funding by visiting www.scarborough.gov.uk/voiceyourchoice
Residents Given Chance to Vote for Favourite Community Projects Reviewed by Editor on 22:30:00 Rating:


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Digital citizenship & literacy
San José Public Library has created a fantastic resource for learning about privacy topics in the online world. There are a myriad of resources suitable for older kids and in-depth articles for adults. The toolkit takes you through a survey and then provides resources for building your online identity according to your privacy needs. This is a great resource for anyone participating in social media or as a teaching tool for kids and teens. It is freely available for anyone to use.
Science & health
Water is essentially everywhere in our world, and the average human is composed of between 55 and 60% water. So what role does water play in our bodies, and how much do we actually need to drink to stay healthy? Mia Nacamulli details the health benefits of hydration. See the Ted Ed Lesson Plan here.
Crossword Puzzle Maker with a huge selection of ready-made crosswords and a crossword and word search generator.
English Language Arts
Edmonton Public Library has developed some great resources to share with the library community. Their YouTube channel has recorded versions of popular puppet shows and animated rhymes in Storytime Station.
If you're looking for some literacy-related entertainment to show on a SmartBoard during an inside recess or during a class visit to the library, check these out!
For poetry month
Cartoonist and Patron Saint of Honoring the Creative Impulse, Lynda Barry, believes that the secret to understanding poetry is to commit it to memory. Effortless recall is key. Get that poem lodged inside your brain as if it were a Top 40 hit of your youth. Read about it here.
R is For Rhyme: A Poetry Alphebet by Judy Young is just one of the many poetry books available on Epic - project on your Smart Board and read as a class.Epic is free for educators.
Weekly Web Wonders #41
Leave a Reply.
* I expect that teachers will evaluate each resource for themselves before sharing with students.
January 2017
Search for past entries:


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Hard Rock Hotel Penang
Rent A Cabana
Lounge by the pool in our private cabanas while you read a book or sip a cocktail for only RM80 nett per day.
Rental includes:
- Cabana usage (from 9.00 am – 9.00 pm)
- Iced water
- 1 Fresh fruit platter
- Cold face towels (available upon request)
Note: Exclusively for in-house guests and Stagepass members only.
For more information or reservation, please call +604 886 8721.
Go Back to Amenities
Hard Rock Specials
ROOM Promotions
F&B Promotions
ROCK SPA Promotions
ROCK SHOP Promotions


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I have just made a big pile of "Timeless Teaparty" cards, and they will be travelling up to N.S.W. today.
I think they would be great as invitations to Teaparties and Kitchen Teas (does any body have Kitchen Teas anymore, and what exactly are they?)
We are following them up to Sydney tomorrow, so the blogs will be having a holiday for a week with us!
Speaking of Kitchens, I have posted some pretty kitchen pictures from Tracey of thrift.nest.sew. over on "You Will Always Find Me" . Pop over and have a look!


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The free Chinese newspaper am730 is ranked no. 1 as the most credible one among the kind. Together with the daily average circulation volume of 430,000 copies, am730 embraces a readership of 930,000 people.
Legato developed a cross platform solution for am730 to easier manage and update all the content in both website and mobile application through one single content management server. The new am730 App comes along with several brand-new functions. It is now a portable platform for readers to access the amV Videos. Not limited to a better viewing experience, audience may find the in-App Jetso coupon redemption at ease. The refreshed personalized user interface of the App meanwhile takes the convenience to the next level.
Technologies Deployed:
UI/UX Design, Text-to-Speech, Video Broadcasting, Coupon Redemption, Content Management System, Data Encryption, Connection Security, iOS and Android Development.
Visit the new am730 website and download the new mobile Apps here:


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Glenpoint Centre East 300 Frank W. Burr Blvd. Teaneck, New Jersey, 07666
At The CLEI Center for Keratoconus, we were amongst the first in the nation to perform laser assisted corneal transplants. In these laser procedures, sometimes called Intralase Enabled Keratoplasty, or IEK, also known as Femtosecond Laser Assisted Keratoplasty, or FLAK, both full thickness (PK) and anterior lamellar transplants (DALK) can be assisted with use of the Intralase femtosecond laser. Rather than preparing the corneal transplant graft with a traditional trephine (a specialized circular blade) as in standard transplantation techniques, both the patient and recipient corneas are fashioned with the laser. Using the laser, the cornea can be prepared with complex patterns which can be customized to your particular situation. For instance, we frequently use a "mushroom" shaped graft, especially in patients with keratoconus. The eye bank prepares the tissue using a similarlaser per our customized laser specifications. We find that the laser more accurately prepares the tissue and better matches the recipient to the donor tissue shape. By creating an optimum fit with specialized edge shapes, we hope that the result will be a faster and stronger healing of the transplant, quicker recovery of vision, and, ultimately, a better optical and visual quality of the tranplanted cornea. In addition, this may allow us to remove surtures early in patients who are candidates for further laser vision correction. Dr. Hersh can determine if a laser assisted corneal transplant would be beneficial to you.
Laser-Prepared Mushroom Corneal Tranplant
Laser assisted corneal transplants are performed in two stages. In the first, the patient undergoes the laser procedure on site at the CLEI Center for Keratoconus. This procedure is done under anesthetic drops and takes approximately 30 minutes. The patient is then transported to our ambulatory surgery center, where an anesthesiologist will prepare you for the
conclusion of the transplant procedure. The procedure usually takes approximately one hour and is performed with general or local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. After the surgery, you will go home with your eye covered by a patch and eye shield. The following morning, you will be seen by Dr. Hersh for a post-operative evaluation and your postoperative antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops will be started.


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Our customer service monkeys work very hard this time of year. Every day they scale the dizzying heights of Mt. Returnage, pick up the phones, and man Live Chat on our site.
More often than not it's 'cause grandma bought the wrong size t-shirt or, more annoying, UPS totally shattered a #include <beer.h> mug during shipment. But sometimes, it's a special kind of problem.
Here's a Live Chat transcript from earlier today:
ThinkGeek: Hello
Customer: hi i got a dingoo A320 from this website
Customer: do u know what that is?
ThinkGeek: It is a handheld video game.
Customer: yea and its broken
ThinkGeek: Okay. I am very sorry about that. What is your order number please? I will set up a return for you
Customer: will i get my money back
ThinkGeek: If that is what you want
Customer: i threw it on the floor and now it wont work so i wanna return it and buy a new one thanks
ThinkGeek: You threw it on the floor?
Customer: yea
ThinkGeek: Why?
Customer: i got mad
Customer: will i get a full refund
Customer Crazy Person: well actually my son cursed at me so i threw this at his head as hard as i can and he god mad and threw it on the floor
Crazy Person: his nose got bloody
Crazy Person: so my order number is
Crazy Person: wait
Crazy Person: i lost it
Crazy Person: F***
ThinkGeek: Okay. Give me one minute to talk to my boss real quick.
Crazy Person: ok
Crazy Person: why do u need to talk to ur boss
Crazy Person: so will i get my money back
Crazy Obnoxious Person: type faser
ThinkGeek: Because we don't normally do refunds for items that were broken after being used for purposes other than they were intended to be used. Yes, you will still get a refund. We ask that you please not use the new one as a projectile.
Obnoxious Person: seriously
Obnoxious Person: lol
Obnoxious Person: dont u lose money then
Person Teenager: hshshshhshahahah i made that up
Hshshshhshahahah indeed, Obnoxious Teenager. Glad we could help.


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by Jeffrey & Todd Brabec
With this issue's Mumbo Jumbo column we introduce a new educational
book filled with plenty of insider information--it's called
Music, Money and Success and it was written by the Brabec
twins, Jeffrey and Todd.
But before we jump in with both feet, I thought some background
on the authors might be in order. So, without further ado,
as they say, here is some biographical material excerpted
from their book when it was first published in 1994:
"The Brabec twins have been involved in the careers
of thousands of successful songwriters, composers, lyricists
and performers. Jeffrey Brabec is an entertainment law attorney
and vice-president of business affairs for the Chrysalis Music
Group. A former recording artist, he has been vice president
of business affairs for the PolyGram Music Group and legal/business
affairs director for the Welk and Arista-Interworld Music
Jeffrey specializes in evaluating and negotiating music publishing
acquisitions, has licensed music for use in more than 1,000
motion pictures, television series and commercials, and has
negotiated hundreds of publishing agreements for Top 10 songwriters.
Todd Brabec, a former recording artist and entertainment
law attorney, serves on the boards of the Los Angeles chapter
of NARAS, the National Academy of Songwriters, and the California
Copyright Conference. He lectures extensively on film and
television contracts, commercials, publishing and the worldwide
revenue sources of the music industry. He is also the executive
vice president and director of membership at ASCAP.
Together, the twins have published essays in the NARAS Journal,
Entertainment, Publishing & the Arts Handbook, ASCAP in
Action, The Score, Hollywood Reporter, Advertising Age and
Entertainment Law Reporter. Jeffrey & Todd were winners
of the 1990 ASCAP-Deems Taylor Award for excellence in music
Here are some of the topics we'll be discussing over the
next several issues:
We're going to attempt to cover most of the material in
over 400 pages of their book. No easy task. The one thing
we're certain of is that we'll be passing along free, useful
career information that will be of value to every TAXI passenger.
© 2002 Jeff Brabec
Todd Brabec This article is based on information contained
in the new, revised paperback edition of the book "Music,
Money, And Success: The Insider's Guide To Making Money In
The Music Industry" written by Jeffrey Brabec and Todd Brabec
(Published by Schirmer Trade Books/Music Sales/435 pages).
Here to buy this book.


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About Judee Light
"I'm all about having fun in my life . . . in my business and in my personal life, with my friends and family, and as I move through each day. I don't look to make Fun a separate part of my day or my life. Intending to have fun is an attitude I apply to just about everything in my life.
I left my well-paying job (I called it graduating!) 7 years short of full retirement. My spirit wouldn't let me do it anymore! A lot of people thought I was crazy. I love words, so I looked up the word "crazy" in the dictionary and in the thesaurus and picked out my two favorite definitions: "extraordinary" and "unbound" (the positive side of which is "free"). Yes, I was (and still am) crazy! I never looked back and am so grateful I took that leap of faith!
I am a speaker, a writer, and an editor.
I facilitate PlayShops. I love inspiring people to have more fun in their lives. I love watching them become more creative, productive, and prosperous—and experience a higher level of well-being as they allow themselves to have fun.
I am a fourth generation Unity student and have been a speaker and workshop presenter at Unity churches for over 20 years.
I help others to easily express appreciation and gratitude by sending heartfelt cards and gifts through, www.SendOutCards.com/AskJudeeHow.
I love networking, social media, travel, adventure, dancing, and being a mother and grandmother.
Here's to more FUN in your life!"


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How to Buy home curtains
home curtain when you installing home curtains is a great way to enhance a home's decor and to increase privacy. With literally thousands of fabric, style and color variations to choose from, there are home curtains to fit every taste. Although many people spend thousands of dollars on custom window treatments, ready made home curtains are easy to find and fit any budget.
Take and record window measurements. Using a metal measuring tape, measure the height and width of each window that needs home curtains. For accurate dimensions, measure height and width at the top, middle and bottom of each window. Carefully record measurements, making sure to correctly label height and width, and round numbers to the nearest 1/8. Decide whether you want home curtains mounted inside or outside the window frame and determine measurements accordingly.
Pick a curtain style. Depending on your home's decor and the function of the room in which you plan to hang home curtains, you may choose a casual, semi-formal or formal style. Cafe home curtains and stand-alone valances look great in kitchens while heavy, pleated ceiling-to-floor drapes are most appropriate for formal living areas and dining rooms. Other popular styles include flat or pleated panels made from a single piece of fabric, and swag top treatments that extend down window frame sides.
Choose a fabric. Satin, silk and jacquard have a formal look and complement traditional designs especially well. Open weave or casement home curtains are far more casual and have generally have more visible texture. Patterned home curtains are usually made from cotton or a cotton blend and can fit nicely in any room. Sheers or nets allow light in, but provide privacy and look nice behind heavier window treatments or on their own.
Decide whether you want to buy liners. Curtain liners are most appropriate behind heavy drapes and in formal settings. Liners are also a good option in rooms where one needs more privacy, such as bedrooms. High quality liners can protect home curtains from fading due to sun exposure and from condensation or dirt that comes from small gaps in window frames and panes. Used a blackout lining to prevent sunlight from entering a room or install insulated liners to increase energy efficiency.
Buy curtain accessories. You must buy a rod for curtain hanging but most other add-ons are optional. Finials, tie backs, hold backs, tassels and trim are decorative items that can enhance the appearance and perhaps the function of home curtains.
home curtains fit onto rods in a variety of fashions. Tab tops, which have simple fabric tabs that loop around rods, are particularly popular as are grommet tops, that feature metal-lined holes for rod insertion. Most traditional home curtains shirr onto rods, simply bunching material around the rod, obscuring it from view.
home curtains can hang from ceiling or floor or from top of window pane to floor. For a trendy, formal look, puddle home curtains or allow them to bunch on the floor, creating rippling folds similar to puddles. Puddling can make window treatments very heavy, which may be impractical in a room where home curtains must often be pulled back or moved on a track.


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Looking for Military Schools or Boot Camps for Troubled Boys in Columbia, South Carolina?
While you search for military schools or boot camps in Columbia, South Carolina, perhaps you will consider a residential program for boys that offers better results, without the drill sergeant and trauma of a boot camp or military school. In fact, he will really like it here while he gets back on track in life.
Treasure Coast Boys Academy, located near Vero Beach, Florida, is a residential program and ranch specifically designed for at-risk boys. It is part of the nationally acclaimed Teen Challenge program. Instead of the harsh environment of military schools and boot camps, Treasure Coast Boys Academy shows boys the right way to live through example, lessons, counsel, mentoring and team exercises. Also, avoiding distractions and detaching from troublesome situations is what helps to make possible break damaging patterns of behavior. Unlike military schools and boot camps you may find near Columbia, SC, we believe that relationships are what make a long-term difference in a boy, not more anger, yelling and force.
Families enroll their sons at Treasure Coast Boys Academy from across the country, including from Columbia, South Carolina, both to let them grow in a new environment and to benefit from the loving and fun environment they find here. Enrollment is year-round.
You are Seeking for Military Schools or Boot Camps in Columbia, South Carolina Because You Likely See these Warning Signs that Something is Wrong with Your Boy's Behavior
- Dramatic changes in his style of clothes, hair, and music
- Hanging out with a bad crowd (a different crowd than they used to)
- Dropping grades and disinterst in things he was once interested in
- Isolating from family and clinging to new friends
- Negative changes in attitude and personality
- Changes in sleep patterns (up all hours of the night, tired during the day)
- Eating way too much food, or way too little, or binging at night
- Fear – thinks everyone in authority is out to get him
- Dilated, red or glazed eyes
- Sudden bursts of anger
- Deception and cover-ups!
- Major mood swings
- Excessive money spending or money from the home disappearing.
Treasure Coast Boys Academy serves 50 teenage boys at our residential boarding school on a 30-acre parcel in working ranches and orchards. Over the program, we work to develop character, integrity, hard work, and respect. We cultivate an atmosphere of positive peer pressure. We give boys responsibility for work projects and special events on campus to keep them involved in what is their home away from home. We desire to see teens mature in their faith in Christ, and we offer worship, chapel services, bible studies, discipleship, retreats and mission trip opportunities toward that end. Residents also stretch and encourage each other in their faith. Would any of that happen in a military school or boot camp? That's unlikely.
A Better Option than Military Schools and Boot Camps for Boys from Columbia, SC
At Treasure Coast Boys Academy, we keep boys physically active and challenged. Our recreational and sports facilities include a well-equipped gym and a professional array of weight machines, soccer field, baseball diamond, basketball court, pool, game room, fishing ponds, and horses. We often go fishing on the Florida waterways and out in the ocean. The culmination of the program is an incredible wilderness experience in the mountains of North Carolina during the last month of the boys' stay. Whitewater rafting, hiking, camping, and other adventures demonstrate that life can be simultaneously adventuresome and positive.
While we offer individual, group, and family counseling in traditional settings, we know that most life-changing encounters tend to happen during outdoor activities and in the course of daily life. Counseling is offered frequently during the day, in all settings, through conversations with mentors during work or activities. We put great importance on mentorship, providing the boys with positive male role models during their residence with us.
Our on-campus academy is in session year-round to give boys the opportunity to take care of missed credits. We have on-campus teachers who support the boy's education and tutor individual students. Boys from Columbia, South Carolina quickly catch up on missed coursework or move ahead.
We believe that the most important change is a heart change — understanding that Jesus Christ has a purpose and a plan for each individual's life. Through biblical studies, engaging chapel services, the daily discipline of chores, and regular attendance in our private school, Treasure Coast Boys Academy offers a once "out-of-control" teenage boy a second chance at a promising future. Again, unlike military schools and boot camps, our emphasis and main tool is a change of heart, not fear or breaking of the spirit.
"At Treasure Coast Boys Academy…our son received exactly what he needed to get back on track in life. Treasure Coast Boys Academy was a God-send for our broken family…restoring our relationship with our son. It is a place of hope, a place of love, and a place of renewal." — Families of a Treasure Coast Boys Academy students share heartfelt thanks for the transformation they saw in their son.
To hear more of what parents and students are saying, and to learn more about how our boys ranch can offer restoration in your family, we invite you to explore our website, then fill out our inquiry form or call us today.
|More about military schools and boot camps in Columbia, South Carolina (Columbia, SC):
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan statistical area of 767,598, the largest within the state. The name Columbia was a poetic term for the Americas derived from Christopher Columbus.
Located Convert northwest of South Carolina's geographic center, Columbia is the primary city of the Midlands region of South Carolina, which comprises several counties in the central portion of the state. The city lies at the confluence of two rivers, the Saluda and the Broad, which merge at Columbia to form the Congaree River. CNNMoney.com named Columbia as one of America's 25 best places to retire, and US News & World Report ranked the city sixth on its 2009 America's Best Affordable Places to Retire list.
Excerpt about military schools and boot camps in Columbia, South Carolina, used with permission from Wikipedia.


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Hilton Garden Inn MontevideoAv. Dr. Luis Bonavita Montevideo Shopping, Montevideo, 11300, Uruguay TEL: +598-2-6238000 FAX: +598-2-6238005
Two 40-inch LCD TVs, living area, work desk, sofa bed, mini-fridge, complimentary WiFi
Relax in this stylish approximate 35 sq. meter (376 sq. ft.) One Bedroom Suite with king-sized bed. Enjoy a restful night's sleep in the luxurious Suite Dreams® by Serta bed which provides the perfect balance between comfort and support. The separate living area features a pull-out sofa bed and a separate 1/2 bathroom for the convenience of an extra guest.
Work in comfort at the spacious desk with ergonomic Mirra chair by Herman Miller. Enjoy watching a program on one of two 40-inch LCD TV?s or surf the web with complimentary WiFi access.This room also features a mini-fridge, adjustable air-conditioning, Keurig coffee/tea maker and an iron/ironing board to make you feel at home. Stay connected to the office with our 24-hour business center, which provides complimentary printing, fax and copy machines.


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Friday, 19 June 2015
The Sheer Joy Of Books
Hi honeys
Picture this. Early last Saturday morning there was a tremendous din at our front door, seriously honeys, someone banged not knocked our door so hard it sounded like the door would come in. Hubby opens the front door to see a rapidly leaving delivery driver, and a brown cardboard box which had been left on our doorstep :) Er, thank you delivery driver, you have a good day too :)
A mystery! Well, as it turns out not such a mystery after all :) it was a delivery from my latest happy place (sorry Ikea, don't feel jealous, I still adore you too!) Years ago, while at college, I used to just about haunt a shop called "Bargain Books" It was a fabulous place where there was just no telling what you'd find. I spent many a happy hour there, and in lots of little second hand book shops around campus. I digress, as is usual for me :)
The very heavy brown box contained an order I'd placed with a shop called "The Works." Much like Bargain Books, The Works is a discount book store. They don't just sell books though, they sell arts & crafts supplies, CDs & DVDs too and all at a great discount.
I've always, always loved books. As a child they were my best friends. At the age of 9 I got my own library card and every Saturday morning I would go to the library. I didn't read books, I disappeared into them. Transported away and it continues to this day.
Both Hubby and I each have an ereader. They're great and absolutely have their place in the world, but there is something about holding a book in your hands, about the smell of the ink on the pages that simply can't be replaced.
If we were ever in a position to be able to plan & build our dream home (it's ok to dream honeys) up there with a walk in pantry, a dream closet and en suites for each bedroom would be a home library. Can you imagine having a room whose sole purpose is to be home to all of your books. Joy!
You know the old saying "use it or lose it?" I'm a great believer that this applies to the brain too. I do believe that the brain needs to be constantly challenged. I've mentioned before on this blog the unpleasantness and downright nuisance caused by "fibro fog" which can make focussing on anything difficult and so can play havoc with a lassie's love of reading! I've had days when I start to read and haven't reached the end of the page before I'm struggling to remember what happened on the page before. Audio books are a great blessing on days like this honeys, but I simply refuse to sit back and allow my brain to turn to mush without at least trying to do something about it.
If we think of the brain as a muscle, like any other in the body it needs exercise to stay healthy. So I thought I'd give mine a little workout. Shall I share what is in the box dear ones?
"I used to know that" titles? They focus on information we'd have been taught in our schooldays and possibly long since forgotten. The perfect thing to give the brain a little workout and if the subject matter is a topic you enjoyed, all the better :) So, in the box there is.....
I think therefore I am: I studied philosophy at University and I adore it. For me, reading philosophy is almost as if someone somehow opens up your head and blows all the dust and cobwebs out :) Truly, that's how it felt when I took that first class all those years ago :) "I think therefore I am" provides a wonderful journey into the world of philosophical thinking, rather like a taster if you will. I've leafed through quickly and it does seem very accessible and a couple of the examples the author, Lesley Levene, has used made me smile at happy memories of past studying. I think I'll enjoy reading it.
A Classical Education: This author of this book is Caroline Taggart, author of the original best selling "I Used to Know that" book. This volume covers all of the wonderful subjects certainly not covered in my state school curriculum such as Greek & Roman mythology, Logic & Philosophy, Latin and Classical Literature. Just a quick look through this wonderful book and I think I can safely safe it will live on my bedside cabinet for quite some time, it's fabulous!
Lateral Thinking Posers: Hubby and I have already had such fun with this book. As it says on the front cover "more than a hundred brainteasers to solve with logical reasoning" and what fun they are! Basically lots of scenarios which seem impossible to solve, but when examined carefully, or by reading the solution if you're really stuck as I was on a few :) the answers are so sensible it's difficult not to feel rather silly for not "getting it" straight away :) Definitely a book for fans of the wonderful TV series "Jonathan Creek." Fellow fans will understand :)
The I used To Know That Activity Book: Back again to the wonderful Caroline Taggart. This book though is different in that it isn't in text book form. Instead it sets out questions covering subjects including, but not limited to, mathematics, science, English, physics, history and many more. The answers are included and can be found in the back of the book but this is an incredible (and fun) way to test yourself on what you remember from your school days or even, when used in conjunction with the original book perhaps, to learn or re-learn anything you missed.
As a teenager, during my first year at secondary school (ages 12-13) I read the complete Sherlock Holmes canon (4 novels & 56 short stories) having fallen in love with Basil Rathbone's movies but I never would have (willingly) picked up Shakespeare. If I could only go back in time and give myself a smack :) At the age of 15 though my then English teacher appeared in our classroom and threw everyone a paperback copy of Macbeth which we were going to study for O Level. Thank you Mr Allison, you began my passion for all things Shakespeare.
Bard treats included in the box were....
Reading Shakespeare's Sonnets by Don Paterson: The author Don Paterson is himself a poet and has written this book in the form of short commentaries which appear along side the sonnets themselves. Acting as a guide to reading and understanding these beautiful, timeless pieces, I'm sure this will become a much loved, favourite book.
Hamlet: Shakespeare In Performance: I've already listened to the cd which is supplied with this book and it is beyond wonderful. There are readings from Sir Laurence Olivier, John Barrymore and Richard Burton among many others. The book itself is packed with beautiful images from the movie & stage versions of Hamlet, including my own favourite version, the 1996 film directed by & starring Sir Kenneth Branagh. There are reproductions of set designs, costume designs, and so much more to see and read. This is one of a series of these sourcebooks and if the others are anywhere nears this quality they'd certainly be worthwhile collecting.
To Be Or Not To Be.... And Everything Else You Should Know From Shakespeare: This book is a fabulous little collection of facts plucked from Shakespeare's works. Want to know what famous quotes actually mean or why characters did what they did, this is the book for you. I love how it's arranged too, making it a perfect book to dip into when you have a spare few minutes. Not connected with its contents I know but it really is a beautifully designed book too, it's lovely to look at :)
Heads Up Psychology: Both this, and its companion volume "Heads Up Philosophy" are published by the wonderful Dorling Kindersley (DK) Publishing Company. This alone made me click on them. I've never studied Psychology but I've always been incredibly interested in people. Why we all behave the way we do, why some people don't seem to have a moral compass. For example, law breaking or living lives which break the social contract everyone else at least attempts to live by. I've always wondered if our dreams could actually give an insight into our thought processes? When we dream is this our brain trying to solve some problem we're not consciously aware of? I do think this book will make for interesting reading.
Heads Up Philosophy: These books were both such a bargain, having added the Psychology volume to my cart, and adoring philosophy as I do, how could I not also add this volume? Having had a flip through these books they're both beautifully arranged and illustrated. Perfect coffee table books because they'll always be interesting to glance through.
The Clutter Clinic: Now ordinarily I wouldn't think about buying a book on how to de-clutter. We have a plan to organize our home and (for the most part) it appears to be working. So, when trying to de-clutter your home, isn't buying a book on how to de-clutter just, well, adding more clutter? I swear though, I couldn't help it! It was such a bargain and the photos are so beautiful and inspiring and it is a very good book and.... ok, there's no hope for me. I'm a lost cause. I'm addicted to books :)
Last then, but certainly not least are:
500 Words You Should Know: Yet another book by the wonderful Caroline Taggart, this book is sheer printed joy for anyone who adores the English language. I scanned through this book smiling. Sheer. Printed. Joy. I love it :)
Know It All: Another wonderful book chock full of fun general knowledge facts, and tests on all of them. This is the kind of book that would be perfect for anyone who runs pub quizzes. Definitely a fun read.
Well, that's it honeys. Any thoughts? You might have noticed that all of the books I ordered have one thing in common. They are the sort of books that can be read in short bursts or dipped into at random. As I said earlier, I do believe the brain needs to be exercised in order to keep it functioning at its best. Use it or lose it. I'm hoping to keep my brain at least ticking over for a while yet :)
Thank you for keeping me company honeys, I hope you have a fabulous weekend full of fun and smiles :) Till next time dear ones, hugs always xx
2 comments:
Oh, I *adore* The Works...we were there every week, me and the littles, when we were in the UK a few years ago. There's always something very very interesting that catches your eye and my littlest little (5.5) was over the moon with all the craft supplies. I would have been in heaven rifling through all these books! [And would definitely have dived in to the Shakespeare ones first].....thanks so much for this post! I absolutely loved it....can't imagine your excitement when it arrived (after the shock had worn off (from the loud banging)!).....I wonder if The Works might deliver to us where we are? [Off to find out...!]....Helen xxReplyDeleteReplies
Hi Helen, The Works are just such a little treasure trove :) I so hope you can get deliveries from them! They're fabulous for crafting, lots of supplies and even crafting kits for the little ones. I'm a complete book addict, really there's no hope for me :) Thank you so much for visiting, it means a great deal to me, sending heaps of hugs xxDelete


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Moderator: Cartographers
Anything that would allow the viewer to quickly and easily, visually establish the bonus values, and their correlation to each other, would make this map much better to understand, regardless of any color blind issues.ender516 wrote:I'm going to side with natty on the mini-map issue, but I wonder if pork doesn't have a point (that perhaps he wasn't trying to make ): maybe the bonus values could be placed directly on the map itself, in a manner similar to the Third Crusade. Voila, no more glancing back and forth.
MrBenn wrote:Colour-wise, I'd suggest the only thing that needs to be done is to make Strumica perhaps a little darker and redder - similar to the red of the shield in the top corner but not quite as strong
MrBenn wrote:That aside, there are only two things which I can see:
1. The tiny bit of grey within each mountain grates with me... I know it's supposed to look like snow, but I think it would look cleaner without it
MrBenn wrote:2. The order of bonuses in the legend would be better if it followed a logical order from looking at the map. I'd suggest amending the order as follows:
Tetovo | Skopje
Ohrid | Kumonova
Veles | Stip
Bitola | Berova
_____ | Strumica
Tetovo Skopje
Kumanovo Berovo
Ohrid Veles
Stip Strumica
Tetovo Skopje
Kumanovo Berovo
Veles Stip
Ohrid Bitola
Orange-Idaho-Dog wrote:Tetovo --- Kumanovo
Ohrid --- Stip
Skopje --- Strumica
Veles --- Berovo
Hmm.. I came up with this by looking at the map and realized it's exactly the same as Andy suggested. This fits the maps left/right feel, imo.
I am wondering just what is meant by, the "feel of the map". and someone please explain why a mini-map is NOT inline with the feel of this map ? I honestly do NOT see any conflict at all.Orange-Idaho-Dog wrote:The mini-map idea is a good one to take care of the issue of the legend, but I don't see how it would fit with the 'feel' of this map. Couldn't hurt to try, however.
I think putting the numbers directly on the map could work out, if an order of the legend can't be decided.
Very good idea. Mini-maps have been used in cartography for as long as maps have been made. So, it does not in any way, depart from the feel of a "real" map.natty_dread wrote:One solution would be to put the minimap on an inset, so it would look like it is part of the map...
MrBenn wrote:During the last update, it looks like you've played aroubnd with some grunge layers, and done something strange in the Tetovo area - it looks like there's a line where something's been erased??
n.n. wrote:Hi guys,
thank you for your thoughts, i am on a business trip this week so we must wait for the next update until next week.MrBenn wrote:During the last update, it looks like you've played aroubnd with some grunge layers, and done something strange in the Tetovo area - it looks like there's a line where something's been erased??
MrBenn - is this about the mountain ridge line in tetovo region?
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PrizeWired avait besoin d'un nouveau design de logo et a lancé un concours sur 99designs.
Un gagnant a été sélectionné de 62 designs proposés par 19 designers freelance.
Logo should be contemporary and sophisticated. We sell silk draperies and I want the logo to reflect this elegance. Please visit our site to see our current logo.. We like the idea of having something in the logo convey that we are a window drapery company! Please include ".com" in your entry, or at least an alternate. (Feedback left daily)
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No way! Jimmy Fallon was reduced to a stunned, embarrassed silence on The Tonight Show on Tuesday, Jan. 6 when Nicole Kidman revealed she was once up for dating the SNL comedian, but he blew his chance!
Making her debut on his show, Fallon, 40, revealed the pair had met before under slightly odd circumstances, when a mutual friend brought the stunning Paddington star round to his apartment, out of the blue.
But while Fallon was under the impression this was a potential work meeting, Kidman, 47, believed the meeting to be a setup, albeit the most embarrassing, unsuccessful setup of all time!
"I'm walking down the street in New York City, and my friend Rick calls me and says, 'Dude what are you doing? I have Nicole Kidman with me and she wants to meet you to be in Bewitched or something. I can be in your apartment in 10 minutes,'" Jimmy recalls, adding that he completely freaked out as he wasn't used to people dropping into his home.
"I'm like, 'You're going to bring Nicole Kidman to my apartment? I don't…I mean what do I do? I don't have dinner parties, I don't have anyone over to my house. I have video games and sneakers,'" he remembers, laughing.
"I just remember I liked you," Kidman suddenly cuts in, causing Fallon's jaw to drop. "Not now, I'm married now," she adds, quickly. "But Rick was like, 'Jimmy wants to meet you and you can go over to his apartment,' and I was single…."
"Wait, what?" a stunned Fallon replies. "What are you talking about? Could I have dated Nicole Kidman?"
"Well I get there," remembers the now-married mom-of-four, "and you're there in a baseball cap, and like — nothing. You wouldn't talk, you didn't say anything you were like, 'Hey, mmm, mmm, mmm!'"
"I didn't say, 'Mmm mmm mmm,' I was nervous!" yells a mortified Fallon. "I didn't know this was a thing, I thought it was a movie or something." See photos of Fallon's hilarious reaction here.
"Well it was like a hang," Kidman explains. "And then you put a video game on or something and I was like, 'This is so bad.' And you didn't talk at all. So after about an hour and I half I thought, 'He has no interest, this is so embarrassing.' So I left, and went, 'Okay, no chemistry. Maybe he's gay!'"
At this point Fallon is so humiliated he actually leaves the set!
Watch the entire, excruciatingly awkward but totally hilarious conversation, on the video above!
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* This article was written in the context of System Center Data Protection Manager 2006 (SCDPM), a technology now considered deprecated with the introduction of System Center Data Protection Manager 2007. Variations may exist. *
Protecting Your SharePoint Network with Microsoft Data Protection Manager
The initial deployment of DPM necessitates several actions, however most importantly deploying DPM agents to your SharePoint content database repositories so that critical SQL data can be protected in the event of a disaster. This disaster can be anything, from an intruder engaging in corporate espionage to weather damaging a data center. Setting up protection of this business critical data should be a large priority within your organization.
Within a SharePoint environment, the protection policy can be tailored very differently depending on your organization. It is important to set thresholds for each protection group on data that if lost will not impact business processes, and data that if lost will severely influence how your organization runs its business.
SharePoint File System – If you have custom development implementations, such as SharePoint WebParts, custom applications, or tailored third party products that were development heavy to customize to your environment, these files should be protected. Typically, protecting the default file stores of SharePoint is good practice since it streamlines restoration after a disaster. If you have custom features or solutions in MOSS, these should be protected.
SQL Database files The most important portion of the SharePoint environment is the backend SQL data that builds an arbitrary amount of content repositories. These database files should be firstly exported which can then be protected by Microsoft Data Protection Manager.
Server System State For a full fidelity backup, it is often advantageous to implement a scheduled backup using the inherit System Backups (the Windows backup utility) to make a copy of the system state, after which that file can be protected by Microsoft Data Protection Manager.
If you have custom development implementations, such as SharePoint WebParts, custom applications, or tailored third party products that were development heavy to customize to your environment, these files should be protected. Typically, protecting the default file stores of SharePoint is good practice since it streamlines restoration after a disaster. If you have custom features or solutions in MOSS, these should be protected.
There are more factors to consider with your SharePoint protection groups. Within protection groups, there are parallel scheduling mechanisms (consistency check schedules and common protection schedules).
Building on the example above, and assuming we don't have enhancements such as custom site definitions (SPS 2003) or features and solutions (MOSS 2007). Again, this is meant as an example to show DPM architecture of protection groups and isn't a best practice since it would vary heavily from company to company.
Naming Your Protection Group
Selecting Group Members
Reviewing Disk Allocations
Choosing Replica Creation Method
Selecting a Protection Schedule
- Initializing the Protection Group
On the next Create New Protection Group dialog you will select the group members that are going to be accommodated by your protection group. These can either be shares or volumes and folders. You must select one or the other, you can not combine the two, you must choose one or the other. You can create a new protection group if you need to do both, however you will throw exceptions if you attempt to do both within the same group.
Once you have either decided to use the default selections as calculated by DPM or made your own decisions for disk space allocation, the next step is to set the replication settings for your SharePoint protection groups. Replication cycles and options are fairly flexible and can be tailored to your enterprise needs, allowing you to set scheduled times and protected data transport mechanisms, typically these are structured schedules and it is most times advantageous to rely on the automated moving of protected files. It is possible to move the files manually; however, this is typically not beneficial since one of the benefits of using DPM is the automated processes it provides.
What synchronization schedule do I want?
What shadow copy schedule do I want?


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