Glossary
package
A collection of data exchanged between a peripheral and its client system.
packet
A unit of information transmitted as a whole from one device to another on a network.
Packet Data Protocol context (PDP context)
This is synonym for your IP tunneling connection to ISP.
Packet Internet Groper (PING)
PING is a utility to determine whether a specific IP address is accessible. It works by sending a packet to the specified address and waiting for a reply. PING is used primarily to troubleshoot Internet connections. There are many freeware and shareware PING utilities available for personal computers.
pagination
A mechanism that automatically separates the content in mobile Web forms into smaller groups of rendered pages that are targeted to fit a specific device. It also renders UI elements that a user can use to browse to other pages.
paging
Paging is a single direction radio service for alerting subscribers and leaving messages.
paint cycle
The process of a control painting or erasing itself in response to messages received from the operating system.
palette
A collection of colors that can be displayed on an output device.
palette index
An integer index into the palette table array that is used to select a particular color.
palettized surface
A DirectDrawSurface object that uses an attached palette to contain color information.
palm OS
The operating system originally designed for the Palm series of PDAs. Palm has since been purchased by 3Com, but they still develop and license the OS. Unlike operating systems used by other handhelds, the Palm OS is built to function on a particular type of device.
pane
One of the separate areas in a split window or a rectangular area of the status bar that can be used to display information.
parallel port
The input/output connector for a parallel interface device.
ParameterView
A tab in the Platform Workspace window that displays the files used in a platform. The files are arranged in expandable folders according to type.
parent window
A window that has one or more child windows.
parser
An application that breaks data into smaller chunks so that an application can act upon the information. For example, Mobile Channels use a Channel Definition Format parser to parse a channel.
Partial Power State (PPS)
A power state that indicates that the automotive computing device is in a power-off state. However, upon receipt of a signal to service a peripheral, the automotive computing device brings up a subset of the system and services the peripheral.
partnership
An established relationship between your HP Jornada and your PC for the purpose of synchronizing and transferring data. Your HP Jornada can have partnerships with up to two desktop computers.
passive-matrix display
A common type of flat-panel display consisting of a grid of horizontal and vertical wires. At the intersection of each grid is an LCD element which constitutes a single pixel, either letting light through or blocking it. A higher quality and more expensive type of display, called an active-matrix display, uses a transistor to control each pixel. In the mid-90s, it appeared that passive-matrix displays would eventually become extinct due to the higher quality of active-matrix displays. However, the high cost of producing active-matrix displays, and new technologies such as DSTN, CSTN and HPA that improve passive-matrix displays, have cause passive-matrix displays to make a surprising comeback.
path
1. In communications, a link between two nodes in a network.
2. A route through a structured collection of information, as in a database, an application, or files stored on disk. 3. In programming, the sequence of instructions that a computer carries out in executing a routine. 4. In file storage, the route followed by the operating system in finding, sorting, and retrieving files on a disk. 5. In graphics, an accumulation of line segments or curves to be filled or overwritten with text.
PB Install Root
The location where the PB IDE (integrated development environment) was installed. By default it is c:\ Program Files\Windows CE Platform Builder\3.00. From here on out it will be called PBINSTROOT.
PBP File
A Platform Builder Project file.
PC Card storage device
A trademark of the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) that is used to describe add-in cards that conform to the PCMCIA specification. A PC Card storage device is a removable device approximately the same size as a credit card that is designed to plug into a PCMCIA slot. Type I cards are primarily used as memory-related peripherals. Type II cards accommodate devices such as modem, fax, and network cards. Type III cards accommodate devices that require more space, such as wireless communications devices and rotating storage media, including hard disks. Flash card is a general term for a PC Card storage device.
PC system requirements
Your PC will need to have a minimum amount of RAM and computing power in order to connect your PC to your digital assistant. You may also need to use a specific type of PC operating system and specific ports on your PC.
PChannel (performance channel)
A MIDI channel in a particular channel group on a particular port.
peer
Any of the devices on a layered communications network that operate on the same protocol level.
pen
A drawing tool used to draw lines and curves.
pen entry
Allows you to select commands using a special pen on the screen. Pen entry tends to make a digital assistant smaller since you don't have to take up space with a keyboard.
perigee
The point within the orbit of a satellite where the satellite is closest to the earth.
peripheral
A system of one or more elements that process one or more sensor signals and make the resulting data available in a package to a system.
persistent grammar
A grammar stored in a secondary permanent storage. Non-yielding grammars are typically persistent.
persistent object
A COM object that adheres to standards through which clients can request objects to be initialized, loaded, and saved to and from a data store, such as a flat file, structured storage, or memory.
Personal Area Network (PAN)
A short-range radio network that allows a variety of electronic devices to communicate with each other, using a standardized technology. It is primarily a cable-replacement system that includes a small radio embedded in each device with the following capabilities: broadband, encryption, and simultaneous communications. Devices using a PAN may include PCs, Handheld PCs, keyboards, mice, personal digital assistants (PDA), cell phones, and headphones. Bluetooth is an example of a PAN standard.
Personal Communications Services (PCS)
An all-digital set of cellular services operating in the 1850-1990 MHz bands. PCS technologies include CDMA, TDMA, AND GSM.
Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA)
PCMCIA is an international organization consisting of some 500 companies that has developed a standard for small credit card sized devices, called PC cards. There are three different types of PCMCIA cards, each with the same rectangular size (85.6 by 54 millimeters) but different widths.
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
A small handheld device commonly used as a mobile computer or personal organizer. Many PDAs incorporate small keyboards, while others use touchscreens with handwriting recognition. Some of these devices have Internet capabilities, either through a built-in or add-on modem.
Personal Information Manager (PIM)
An application that usually includes an address book and organizes unrelated information, such as notes, appointments, and names, in a useful way.
perspective correction
The technique of applying a texture map to a polygon that is angled away from the camera, interpolating so that the texture is stretched onto the polygon appropriately for the apparent depth of the polygon. Direct3D supplies perspective correction automatically.
phone book
Entries in the Remote Access Service (RAS) phone book contain the information necessary to establish a RAS connection. Unlike Windows NT, which keeps the phone book entries in a file, Windows CE stores these entries in the registry.
phone/address
A program that lets you store names and addresses just like a pen and paper address book. You can often do quick searches for a phone number or address by a person's name.
physical font
The font that is stored on a device or in an operating system.
pick
To search for visuals in a scene given a 2-D coordinate in a viewport.
Pilot
Implementing a product or solution to a limited, representative group to gain insight and evaluate feasibility for the entire organization.
pin
Pin is a code used for all GSM-based phones to establish authorized access to certain functions or information. In general the PIN code will be delivered together with your subscription.
ping
A protocol for testing whether a particular computer is connected to the Internet by sending a packet to its Internet Protocol (IP) address and waiting for a response.
pitch
The distance, in bytes, between an address that represents the beginning of a bitmap line and the beginning of the next line. Do not confuse memory pitch and memory width because not all display memory is laid out as one linear block. For example, with rectangular memory, the pitch of the display memory could include the width of the bitmap plus part of a cache.
pixel
Short for Picture Element, a pixel is a single point in a graphic image. Graphics monitors display pictures by dividing the display screen into thousands (or millions) of pixels, arranged in rows and columns. The pixels are so close together that they appear connected.
plaintext
Data that has not been encrypted.
platform
1. A specific implementation of a Windows CE operating system on a target device. A platform consists of an operating system image, an OEM adaptation layer, and device drivers.
2. In everyday usage, the type of computer or operating system being used.
platform builder
The integrated development environment that is provided for building a platform using Windows CE for Automotive.
platform builder library
The collection of help topics and sections for using Platform Builder and Windows CE for Automotive that are displayed in an HTMLHelp viewer by selecting Contents from the Help menu in the Platform Builder IDE.
platform directory
The directory containing the code that implements a hardware development platform.
platform manager
A communications technology that connects a Windows CE SDK running on a workstation with a target device.
Platform vendors
Sellers of off-the-shelf software packages specific to an operating system or device data platform.
platform view
A Platform Builder integrated development environment (IDE) setting that displays the menu items, toolbars, and windows for building platforms.
platform wizard
A series of interactive dialog boxes that enable you to select operating system features and a board support package for your platform. After you have finalized your choices, Platform Wizard automatically creates the necessary files and directories to support your platform.
platform-dependent driver (PDD)
The platform-specific layer of a native device driver supplied by an original equipment manufacturer.
Plug-In Distributor (PID)
An interface that is designed to manage the correct distribution and collection of stream-control directives and common-stream properties to and from all filters in the filter graph. Common PID tasks include running, pausing, stopping, seeking, setting rate, and getting duration. DirectShow for Automotive includes the Filter Graph Manager (FGM) that has an aggregated plug-in distributor.
pocket Active Server Pages (pASP)
A scaled-down version of the Active Server Pages optimized for server-side Mobile Channels scripting.
pocket PC
An upgraded version of Windows CE that offers greater stability and a new interface. Features include mobile Internet capabilities, an e-book reader, and handwriting recognition.
point light
A light source that radiates equally in all directions from its origin.
point list
The simplest 3-D primitive. A collection of unconnected points in 3-D space.
Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP)
An advanced serial packet protocol commonly used for dial-up connections.
polled device
A device in a vehicle that provides relatively static data, such as a sensor of engine-coolant temperature. This is in contrast to a streaming device.
pop-up menu
A menu that appears on the screen when a user selects a certain item. Pop-up menus can appear anywhere on the screen, and they generally disappear when the user selects an item in the menu.
pop-up window
1. A special type of overlapped window typically used for dialog boxes, message boxes, and other temporary windows that appear outside an application's main window.
2. In Platform Builder, an immovable, nonsizable window that remains on the screen until the user closes it. Pop-up windows typically contain definitions of terms or other parenthetical information.
portable
1. When used to describe hardware, portable means small and lightweight. A portable computer is a computer small enough to carry. Portable computers include notebook and subnotebook computers, hand-held computers, palmtops, and PDAs.
2. When used to describe software, portable means that the software has the ability to run on a variety of computers. Portable and machine independent mean the same thing -- that the software does not depend on a particular type of hardware.
Portable Executable (PE) file format
The Microsoft implementation of the Common Object File Format. A portable executable (PE) file has a .dll or .exe file extension.
Portable Operating System Interface for Computer Environments (POSIX)
An IEEE standard that defines the open systems environment standards for system interfaces, shells, tools, testing, verification, real-time processing, security, system administration, networking, and transaction processing. The standard is based on UNIX system services, but it allows implementation on other operating systems.
position index
An identifier associated with each address card in the Contacts database. The position index indicates the address card's position relative to the other address cards in the database. A position index is distinct from an object identifier.
Post Office Protocol (POP)
The first protocol used to retrieve e-mail from a mail server. Most e-mail applications (sometimes called e-mail clients) use the POP protocol, although some may use the newer IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol).
Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3)
A standard protocol for transferring mail messages on demand from a mail server.
postback
When a Web page sends data back to the server to access the same page.
power
In the specular property of a material, the value that determines the sharpness of specular highlights. A value of 5 gives a metallic appearance, and higher values give a more plastic appearance.
power event
An occurrence that sends a notification to the automotive computing device that is triggered by a hardware event such as an I/O line that detects if the faceplate is being detached or reattached.
power management
A system capability that manages the information and computing actions involved in powering an automotive computing device using a car battery and electrical system.
pre-emphasis
Increases the magnitude of the higher signal frequencies on an audio channel, improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Compare de-emphasis.
pre-emptive multitasking
A form of multitasking in which the operating system periodically interrupts the execution of an application and passes control of the system to another waiting application. Preemptive multitasking prevents any one application from monopolizing the system.
predefined control
A control belonging to a window class supplied by Windows CE.
prerecorded speech template
A recording of a speech command in your application that is used for short voice Help.
primary sound buffer
The buffer the user hears when a game is playing. The primary buffer is generally used to mix sound from secondary buffers, but it can be accessed directly for custom mixing or other specialized activities.
primary surface
The area in memory containing the image being displayed on the monitor. In DirectX, the primary surface is represented by the primary DirectDrawSurface object.
principal
An entity recognized by a security system. A principal can be a human user or an autonomous process.
priority class
A range of thread priority levels. Whereas Win32 utilizes four priority classes with seven base priority levels per class, Windows CE has only eight base priority levels. Hence, for processes running under Windows CE, preemption is based solely on the thread's priority.
priority inheritance
A process by which a thread that is blocking a shared resource needed by a higher-priority thread inherits the priority of that higher-priority thread in order to free the resource for use by the higher-priority thread, thus preventing priority inversion.
priority inversion
Priority inversion is a situation in which higher-priority thread A spawns lower-priority thread B to access a shared resource that is already in use by lower-priority thread C with greater priority than thread B, blocking higher-priority thread A. This situation can be averted by a process of priority inheritance.
priority level
A range of thread priority levels. Windows CE .NET has 256 base priority levels. Preemption is based solely on the thread's priority.
Private Communication Technology (PCT)
A protocol that maintains the security and integrity of Internet communications by using encryption, authentication, and message-authentication codes. The protocol is application independent, and is used by Web browsers and e-mail clients to send data via the Internet. PCT is able to negotiate encryption keys as well as authenticate a server before data is exchanged by the higher level application.
private view state
State information that is written out as a hidden field, such as the form that is currently active or the pagination information for a form.
process
A running application that consists of a private virtual address space, code, data, and other operating system resources, such as files, pipes, and synchronization objects that are visible to the process. A process also contains one or more threads that run in the context of the process.
process logging
A debugging technique that monitors the processes and threads on a target device.
processor idle
A power state that indicates that the kernel does not detect any scheduled tasks and the CPU clock can be suspended to reduce power drain on the system. The CPU remains idle until the next task is ready to run. An RTC or an external interrupt is required to bring the automotive computing device out of this state.
profiler
A diagnostic tool for analyzing the run-time behavior of programs.
program button
On a device, a navigation control that is pressed to launch an application. The program button can also be programmed for additional features, such as creating a new document in an application.
Program Comprehension Tool (PCT)
A software engineering tool that facilitates the process of understanding the structure and/or functionality of computer applications.
program memory
Memory that is used for stack and heap storage for both system and nonsystem applications. Nonsystem applications are taken from storage memory, uncompressed, and loaded into program memory for execution.
program memory
Program memory is used for stack and heap storage for both system and non-system applications. Non-system applications are taken from storage memory, uncompressed, and loaded into program memory for execution.
programming model
The set of interfaces, properties, methods, and events exposed from a component or set of components.
progress bar
A common control that indicates the progress of a lengthy operation by displaying a colored bar inside a horizontal rectangle. The length of the bar in relation to the length of the rectangle corresponds to the percentage of the operation that is complete.
project
A file that keeps track of all programs, forms, menus, libraries, reports, labels, queries, and other types of files that are needed to create an application. Platform Builder projects have a .pdp file extension to distinguish them from projects constructed with other tools.
project configuration
The settings that are used by Platform Builder to build a project. They determine the characteristics of the final output file for a project.
project view
A Platform Builder integrated development environment (IDE) setting that displays the menu items, toolbars, and windows for building projects.
projection space
A frame of reference containing vertices after they are modified from their world space locations by the projection transformation. Projection space is a homogeneous cuboid space where all vertices in a scene have x- and y-coordinates that range from -1.0 to 1.0 and a z-coordinate that ranges from 0.0 to 1.0. Projection space is sometimes referred to as post-perspective homogeneous space or normalized view volume.
projection transformation
The application of a matrix to vertices to change them from view space to projection space.
property
With respect to the database application programming interface, a property refers to a data item that consists of a property identifier, data type, and value. Windows CE supports several data types such as integer, string, time, and binary large object (BLOB).
property bag
A category of properties in the Properties window. For example, the Appearance property bag contains such properties as Alignment and BackColor.
property editor
A dialog box the Mobile Internet Designer in which developers can set a control's properties.
property page
A dialog box that controls the appearance and the behavior of an object, such as a file or resource. A property page's appearance differs according to its purpose.
property sheet
A type of dialog box that lists the attributes or settings of an object, such as a file, application, or hardware device. A property sheet presents the user with a tabbed, index card-like selection of property pages, each of which features standard dialog box-style controls for customizing parameters.
protected server library (PSL)
A process running on the system that has registered an API set that can be called from other processes through a kernel trap.
protocol stack
Collectively, the layers of communications software in the ISO/OSI model.
pseudotarget
A label used in place of a file name in the dependency line of a makefile file.
public directory
A directory under WINCEROOT that contains all public source code and binaries.
public trees
The subdirectories that are located under _WINCEROOT\Public. A public tree can have various purposes. OS code (common, dcom, ie, etc.), Add-On Pack code (DirectX), and WCEfA code (apc, apcie, apcmax) all live here along with code for any platforms that you create.
public, platform directories
Two directories under the WINCEROOT that contain, respectively, all public source code/binaries and all device specific source code/binaries.
public-key encryption
An asymmetric scheme that uses a pair of keys for encryption: The public key encrypts data and a corresponding secret key decrypts it. For digital signatures, the process is reversed. The sender uses the secret key to create a unique electronic number that can be read by anyone possessing the corresponding public key, which verifies that the message is truly from the sender.
pull-down menu
A menu containing commands that are accessed from a command or menu bar. A pull-down menu usually provides access to a small number of items with content that rarely changes.
Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)
An uncompressed audio format in which each sample represents the amplitude of the signal at the time of sampling.
push button
A small rectangular control that a user can turn on or off. A push button, also known as a command button, has a raised appearance in its default off state and a depressed appearance when it is turned on.
push pin button
A button on a property page that has the appearance of a push pin. Pressing or releasing the button determines whether a property page remains visible and on top, or disappears when the focus changes.
Push-To-Talk (PTT)
A key on the faceplate of an automotive computing device that a user can push to begin voice input.