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First, my kudos to WCGrid for substantially reducing the time to upload/download tasks. I first noticed this change right about the time the FIGHTAIDS@HOME project started and to which I participated.

To furthur reduce the time wasted when a cruncher cannot link up for some reason (limited connection time accounts, cruncher can't get to a communication line, etc), I suggest that two (2) tasks be downloaded whenever a cruncher uses up his 'spare-tire' task. This spare-tire task would automatically start working once the 'main-tire' task completes and the main-tire subsequently waits for a connection. Hopefully, the spare-tire task would provide long enough a time window for the cruncher to get a link established to then upload the completed main-tire task.

I could sure use this mechanism. In my particular case, I am often on the road, indisposed to have the completed task uploaded and a new one subsequently downloaded. If I can only have such spare-tire task to keep working for the meatime while I cannot get to a link.

I think this mechnism has the potential to add about 25% more output points to the grid using existing devices... possibly more.

On the road, what could one do with a spare tire? Little perhaps. But what would one do without one? Trouble!
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