July 2, 2010: dfe_engine revisions

This is a summary of the changes to the san_engine code in the July 2, 2010 release. The code is not under revision control, but this release is archived at https://richardhartersworld.com/test/~cri_e/archives/dfecode20100702/. None-the-less it is usable by the adventurous.

The internal structure and the interface have both been significantly altered. Some of the changes were made to make the code simpler and robust, and some were made to improve the interface. The list of changes given below probably is not complete.

This revision adds the dfe_block and dfe_unblock commands to the API. Both commands name a port (using the connection type) in the current auton. When a port is blocked all transmissions to the port are stored in a private queue maintained by the auton and are not processed upon arrival. When the port is unblocked the stored transmissions are moved to the end of the current emissions queue.

Two new functions, defer_delivery and resume_delivery, have been added. In addition functions build_emission and dfe_ctl_scheduler have altered. A new program, dfe2, has been created as a test program for the block and unblock commands.