Centralized 'thread active' handling

18 files changed, 118 insertions, 142 deletions

diff --git a/CONTRIBUTORS b/CONTRIBUTORS
index 770a0807..bbc80c32 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTORS
+++ b/CONTRIBUTORS
@@ -1417,3 +1417,6 @@ Frank Krömmelbein <kroemmelbein@gmx.de>
 Bernhard Stegmaier <bernhard.stegmaier@in.tum.de>
  for reporting a problem in cEITScanner::Process() with forced EPG scans if EPG
  scan timeout is set to 0
+
+Klaus ??? <klaus@reel-multimedia.com>
+ for reporting a race condition in cTransfer.
diff --git a/HISTORY b/HISTORY
index 5ec6d833..bdf5f905 100644
--- a/HISTORY
+++ b/HISTORY
@@ -3671,3 +3671,12 @@ Video Disk Recorder Revision History
 - Fixed setting system time to avoid time jumps in case of faulty data (thanks
   to Andreas Böttger).
 - Fixed a memory leak in the SVDRP command LSTE (thanks to Stefan Huelswitt).
+
+2005-08-13: Version 1.3.29
+
+- Fixed a race condition in cTransfer (thanks to Klaus ??? for reporting this one).
+  In doing so, the 'active' variables used by the actual derived cThread classes
+  have been replaced by the cThread::Active() function. The previous functionality
+  of cThread::Active() has been moved into the new cThread::Running().
+  Plugin authors may want to check their derived cThread classes and replace any 'active'
+  variables the same way as, for instance, done in transfer.c.
diff --git a/config.h b/config.h
index cce09e9e..57eed300 100644
--- a/config.h
+++ b/config.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: config.h 1.222 2005/07/30 09:19:25 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: config.h 1.223 2005/08/13 09:43:27 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef __CONFIG_H
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@
 #include "i18n.h"
 #include "tools.h"
 
-#define VDRVERSION  "1.3.28"
-#define VDRVERSNUM   10328  // Version * 10000 + Major * 100 + Minor
+#define VDRVERSION  "1.3.29"
+#define VDRVERSNUM   10329  // Version * 10000 + Major * 100 + Minor
 
 #define MAXPRIORITY 99
 #define MAXLIFETIME 99
diff --git a/cutter.c b/cutter.c
index 82c7fe5b..59c6fb86 100644
--- a/cutter.c
+++ b/cutter.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: cutter.c 1.8 2005/05/15 14:21:08 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: cutter.c 1.9 2005/08/13 11:49:02 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #include "cutter.h"
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@
 class cCuttingThread : public cThread {
 private:
   const char *error;
-  bool active;
   int fromFile, toFile;
   cFileName *fromFileName, *toFileName;
   cIndexFile *fromIndex, *toIndex;
@@ -35,7 +34,6 @@ cCuttingThread::cCuttingThread(const char *FromFileName, const char *ToFileName)
 :cThread("video cutting")
 {
   error = NULL;
-  active = false;
   fromFile = toFile = -1;
   fromFileName = toFileName = NULL;
   fromIndex = toIndex = NULL;
@@ -53,7 +51,6 @@ cCuttingThread::cCuttingThread(const char *FromFileName, const char *ToFileName)
 
 cCuttingThread::~cCuttingThread()
 {
-  active = false;
   Cancel(3);
   delete fromFileName;
   delete toFileName;
@@ -67,7 +64,8 @@ void cCuttingThread::Action(void)
   if (Mark) {
      fromFile = fromFileName->Open();
      toFile = toFileName->Open();
-     active = fromFile >= 0 && toFile >= 0;
+     if (fromFile < 0 || toFile < 0)
+        return;
      int Index = Mark->position;
      Mark = fromMarks.Next(Mark);
      int FileSize = 0;
@@ -78,7 +76,7 @@ void cCuttingThread::Action(void)
      uchar buffer[MAXFRAMESIZE];
      bool LastMark = false;
      bool cutIn = true;
-     while (active) {
+     while (Active()) {
            uchar FileNumber;
            int FileOffset, Length;
            uchar PictureType;
@@ -215,7 +213,7 @@ bool cCutter::Start(const char *FileName)
 
 void cCutter::Stop(void)
 {
-  bool Interrupted = cuttingThread && cuttingThread->Active();
+  bool Interrupted = cuttingThread && cuttingThread->Running();
   const char *Error = cuttingThread ? cuttingThread->Error() : NULL;
   delete cuttingThread;
   cuttingThread = NULL;
@@ -232,7 +230,7 @@ void cCutter::Stop(void)
 bool cCutter::Active(void)
 {
   if (cuttingThread) {
-     if (cuttingThread->Active())
+     if (cuttingThread->Running())
         return true;
      error = cuttingThread->Error();
      Stop();
diff --git a/device.c b/device.c
index c79f7db3..c9227f92 100644
--- a/device.c
+++ b/device.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: device.c 1.103 2005/06/12 13:39:11 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: device.c 1.104 2005/08/13 11:44:06 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #include "device.h"
@@ -156,8 +156,6 @@ cDevice::cDevice(void)
 
   SetVideoFormat(Setup.VideoFormat);
 
-  active = false;
-
   mute = false;
   volume = Setup.CurrentVolume;
 
@@ -1126,25 +1124,25 @@ bool cDevice::Receiving(bool CheckAny) const
 
 void cDevice::Action(void)
 {
-  if (active && OpenDvr()) {
-     for (; active;) {
-         // Read data from the DVR device:
-         uchar *b = NULL;
-         if (GetTSPacket(b)) {
-            if (b) {
-               int Pid = (((uint16_t)b[1] & PID_MASK_HI) << 8) | b[2];
-               // Distribute the packet to all attached receivers:
-               Lock();
-               for (int i = 0; i < MAXRECEIVERS; i++) {
-                   if (receiver[i] && receiver[i]->WantsPid(Pid))
-                      receiver[i]->Receive(b, TS_SIZE);
-                   }
-               Unlock();
-               }
-            }
-         else
-            break;
-         }
+  if (Active() && OpenDvr()) {
+     while (Active()) {
+           // Read data from the DVR device:
+           uchar *b = NULL;
+           if (GetTSPacket(b)) {
+              if (b) {
+                 int Pid = (((uint16_t)b[1] & PID_MASK_HI) << 8) | b[2];
+                 // Distribute the packet to all attached receivers:
+                 Lock();
+                 for (int i = 0; i < MAXRECEIVERS; i++) {
+                     if (receiver[i] && receiver[i]->WantsPid(Pid))
+                        receiver[i]->Receive(b, TS_SIZE);
+                     }
+                 Unlock();
+                 }
+              }
+           else
+              break;
+           }
      CloseDvr();
      }
 }
@@ -1188,10 +1186,8 @@ bool cDevice::AttachReceiver(cReceiver *Receiver)
          Receiver->device = this;
          receiver[i] = Receiver;
          Unlock();
-         if (!active) {
-            active = true;
+         if (!Active())
             Start();
-            }
          return true;
          }
       }
@@ -1218,10 +1214,8 @@ void cDevice::Detach(cReceiver *Receiver)
       else if (receiver[i])
          receiversLeft = true;
       }
-  if (!receiversLeft) {
-     active = false;
+  if (!receiversLeft)
      Cancel(3);
-     }
 }
 
 void cDevice::DetachAll(int Pid)
@@ -1246,13 +1240,11 @@ cTSBuffer::cTSBuffer(int File, int Size, int CardIndex)
   delivered = false;
   ringBuffer = new cRingBufferLinear(Size, TS_SIZE, true, "TS");
   ringBuffer->SetTimeouts(100, 100);
-  active = true;
   Start();
 }
 
 cTSBuffer::~cTSBuffer()
 {
-  active = false;
   Cancel(3);
   delete ringBuffer;
 }
@@ -1262,20 +1254,20 @@ void cTSBuffer::Action(void)
   if (ringBuffer) {
      bool firstRead = true;
      cPoller Poller(f);
-     for (; active;) {
-         if (firstRead || Poller.Poll(100)) {
-            firstRead = false;
-            int r = ringBuffer->Read(f);
-            if (r < 0 && FATALERRNO) {
-               if (errno == EOVERFLOW)
-                  esyslog("ERROR: driver buffer overflow on device %d", cardIndex);
-               else {
-                  LOG_ERROR;
-                  break;
-                  }
-               }
-            }
-         }
+     while (Active()) {
+           if (firstRead || Poller.Poll(100)) {
+              firstRead = false;
+              int r = ringBuffer->Read(f);
+              if (r < 0 && FATALERRNO) {
+                 if (errno == EOVERFLOW)
+                    esyslog("ERROR: driver buffer overflow on device %d", cardIndex);
+                 else {
+                    LOG_ERROR;
+                    break;
+                    }
+                 }
+              }
+           }
      }
 }
 
diff --git a/device.h b/device.h
index 70092a9a..fc9ba3a1 100644
--- a/device.h
+++ b/device.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: device.h 1.60 2005/07/30 09:31:53 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: device.h 1.61 2005/08/13 11:44:13 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef __DEVICE_H
@@ -233,7 +233,6 @@ public:
 // PID handle facilities
 
 private:
-  bool active;
   virtual void Action(void);
 protected:
   enum ePidType { ptAudio, ptVideo, ptPcr, ptTeletext, ptDolby, ptOther };
@@ -518,7 +517,6 @@ class cTSBuffer : public cThread {
 private:
   int f;
   int cardIndex;
-  bool active;
   bool delivered;
   cRingBufferLinear *ringBuffer;
   virtual void Action(void);
diff --git a/dvbdevice.c b/dvbdevice.c
index 8a25adb4..d81090ca 100644
--- a/dvbdevice.c
+++ b/dvbdevice.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: dvbdevice.c 1.131 2005/06/19 11:00:43 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: dvbdevice.c 1.132 2005/08/13 11:40:46 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #include "dvbdevice.h"
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ private:
   cCiHandler *ciHandler;
   cChannel channel;
   const char *diseqcCommands;
-  bool active;
   bool useCa;
   time_t startTime;
   eTunerStatus tunerStatus;
@@ -101,7 +100,6 @@ cDvbTuner::cDvbTuner(int Fd_Frontend, int CardIndex, fe_type_t FrontendType, cCi
   frontendType = FrontendType;
   ciHandler = CiHandler;
   diseqcCommands = NULL;
-  active = false;
   useCa = false;
   tunerStatus = tsIdle;
   startTime = time(NULL);
@@ -113,7 +111,6 @@ cDvbTuner::cDvbTuner(int Fd_Frontend, int CardIndex, fe_type_t FrontendType, cCi
 
 cDvbTuner::~cDvbTuner()
 {
-  active = false;
   tunerStatus = tsIdle;
   newSet.Signal();
   Cancel(3);
@@ -294,8 +291,7 @@ bool cDvbTuner::SetFrontend(void)
 void cDvbTuner::Action(void)
 {
   dvb_frontend_event event;
-  active = true;
-  while (active) {
+  while (Active()) {
         Lock();
         if (tunerStatus == tsSet) {
            while (GetFrontendEvent(event))
diff --git a/dvbplayer.c b/dvbplayer.c
index cd002a77..8763ac82 100644
--- a/dvbplayer.c
+++ b/dvbplayer.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: dvbplayer.c 1.36 2005/07/30 10:00:24 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: dvbplayer.c 1.37 2005/08/13 12:27:17 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #include "dvbplayer.h"
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ private:
   int wanted;
   int length;
   bool hasData;
-  bool active;
   cCondWait newSet;
 protected:
   void Action(void);
@@ -98,13 +97,11 @@ cNonBlockingFileReader::cNonBlockingFileReader(void)
   buffer = NULL;
   wanted = length = 0;
   hasData = false;
-  active = false;
   Start();
 }
 
 cNonBlockingFileReader::~cNonBlockingFileReader()
 {
-  active = false;
   newSet.Signal();
   Cancel(3);
   free(buffer);
@@ -147,8 +144,7 @@ int cNonBlockingFileReader::Read(int FileHandle, uchar *Buffer, int Length)
 
 void cNonBlockingFileReader::Action(void)
 {
-  active = true;
-  while (active) {
+  while (Active()) {
         Lock();
         if (!hasData && f >= 0 && buffer) {
            int r = safe_read(f, buffer + length, wanted - length);
@@ -187,8 +183,6 @@ private:
   cIndexFile *index;
   int replayFile;
   bool eof;
-  bool active;
-  bool running;
   bool firstPacket;
   ePlayModes playMode;
   ePlayDirs playDir;
@@ -207,7 +201,7 @@ protected:
 public:
   cDvbPlayer(const char *FileName);
   virtual ~cDvbPlayer();
-  bool Active(void) { return active; }
+  bool Active(void) { return cThread::Active(); }
   void Pause(void);
   void Play(void);
   void Forward(void);
@@ -233,8 +227,6 @@ cDvbPlayer::cDvbPlayer(const char *FileName)
   backTrace = NULL;
   index = NULL;
   eof = false;
-  active = true;
-  running = false;
   firstPacket = true;
   playMode = pmPlay;
   playDir = pdForward;
@@ -353,11 +345,8 @@ void cDvbPlayer::Activate(bool On)
      if (replayFile >= 0)
         Start();
      }
-  else if (active) {
-     running = false;
+  else
      Cancel(9);
-     active = false;
-     }
 }
 
 void cDvbPlayer::Action(void)
@@ -374,8 +363,7 @@ void cDvbPlayer::Action(void)
   int Length = 0;
   bool Sleep = false;
 
-  running = true;
-  while (running && (NextFile() || readIndex >= 0 || ringBuffer->Available() || !DeviceFlush(100))) {
+  while (Active() && (NextFile() || readIndex >= 0 || ringBuffer->Available() || !DeviceFlush(100))) {
         if (Sleep) {
            cCondWait::SleepMs(3); // this keeps the CPU load low
            Sleep = false;
@@ -501,7 +489,6 @@ void cDvbPlayer::Action(void)
               Sleep = true;
            }
         }
-  active = running = false;
 
   cNonBlockingFileReader *nbfr = nonBlockingFileReader;
   nonBlockingFileReader = NULL;
diff --git a/recorder.c b/recorder.c
index dd3f4f60..253d8391 100644
--- a/recorder.c
+++ b/recorder.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: recorder.c 1.13 2005/01/16 12:53:17 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: recorder.c 1.14 2005/08/13 11:33:35 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #include <stdarg.h>
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ private:
   uchar pictureType;
   int fileSize;
   int recordFile;
-  bool active;
   time_t lastDiskSpaceCheck;
   bool RunningLowOnDiskSpace(void);
   bool NextFile(void);
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ public:
 cFileWriter::cFileWriter(const char *FileName, cRemux *Remux)
 :cThread("file writer")
 {
-  active = false;
   fileName = NULL;
   remux = Remux;
   index = NULL;
@@ -63,7 +61,6 @@ cFileWriter::cFileWriter(const char *FileName, cRemux *Remux)
 
 cFileWriter::~cFileWriter()
 {
-  active = false;
   Cancel(3);
   delete index;
   delete fileName;
@@ -96,13 +93,11 @@ bool cFileWriter::NextFile(void)
 void cFileWriter::Action(void)
 {
   time_t t = time(NULL);
-  active = true;
-  while (active) {
+  while (Active()) {
         int Count;
         uchar *p = remux->Get(Count, &pictureType);
         if (p) {
-           //XXX+ active??? see old version (Busy)
-           if (!active && pictureType == I_FRAME) // finish the recording before the next 'I' frame
+           if (!Active() && pictureType == I_FRAME) // finish the recording before the next 'I' frame
               break;
            if (NextFile()) {
               if (index && pictureType != NO_PICTURE)
@@ -124,15 +119,12 @@ void cFileWriter::Action(void)
            t = time(NULL);
            }
         }
-  active = false;
 }
 
 cRecorder::cRecorder(const char *FileName, int Ca, int Priority, int VPid, const int *APids, const int *DPids, const int *SPids)
 :cReceiver(Ca, Priority, VPid, APids, Setup.UseDolbyDigital ? DPids : NULL, SPids)
 ,cThread("recording")
 {
-  active = false;
-
   // Make sure the disk is up and running:
 
   SpinUpDisk(FileName);
@@ -157,25 +149,22 @@ void cRecorder::Activate(bool On)
      writer->Start();
      Start();
      }
-  else if (active) {
-     active = false;
+  else
      Cancel(3);
-     }
 }
 
 void cRecorder::Receive(uchar *Data, int Length)
 {
-  if (active) {
+  if (Active()) {
      int p = ringBuffer->Put(Data, Length);
-     if (p != Length && active)
+     if (p != Length && Active())
         ringBuffer->ReportOverflow(Length - p);
      }
 }
 
 void cRecorder::Action(void)
 {
-  active = true;
-  while (active) {
+  while (Active()) {
         int r;
         uchar *b = ringBuffer->Get(r);
         if (b) {
diff --git a/recorder.h b/recorder.h
index da7934bf..c4aebbf3 100644
--- a/recorder.h
+++ b/recorder.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: recorder.h 1.3 2005/01/16 12:05:13 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: recorder.h 1.4 2005/08/13 11:31:18 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef __RECORDER_H
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ private:
   cRingBufferLinear *ringBuffer;
   cRemux *remux;
   cFileWriter *writer;
-  bool active;
 protected:
   virtual void Activate(bool On);
   virtual void Receive(uchar *Data, int Length);
diff --git a/remote.c b/remote.c
index 448d5530..70256094 100644
--- a/remote.c
+++ b/remote.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: remote.c 1.42 2005/03/20 13:25:31 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: remote.c 1.43 2005/08/13 11:28:35 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #include "remote.h"
@@ -213,7 +213,6 @@ cKbdRemote::cKbdRemote(void)
 :cRemote("KBD")
 ,cThread("KBD remote control")
 {
-  active = false;
   tcgetattr(STDIN_FILENO, &savedTm);
   struct termios tm;
   if (tcgetattr(STDIN_FILENO, &tm) == 0) {
@@ -230,7 +229,6 @@ cKbdRemote::cKbdRemote(void)
 cKbdRemote::~cKbdRemote()
 {
   kbdAvailable = false;
-  active = false;
   Cancel(3);
   tcsetattr(STDIN_FILENO, TCSANOW, &savedTm);
 }
@@ -261,12 +259,11 @@ int cKbdRemote::MapCodeToFunc(uint64 Code)
 void cKbdRemote::Action(void)
 {
   cPoller Poller(STDIN_FILENO);
-  active = true;
-  while (active) {
+  while (Active()) {
         if (Poller.Poll(100)) {
            uint64 Command = 0;
            uint i = 0;
-           while (active && i < sizeof(Command)) {
+           while (Active() && i < sizeof(Command)) {
                  uchar ch;
                  int r = read(STDIN_FILENO, &ch, 1);
                  if (r == 1) {
diff --git a/remote.h b/remote.h
index 2ef206f2..995aa6cd 100644
--- a/remote.h
+++ b/remote.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: remote.h 1.29 2004/05/28 14:14:02 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: remote.h 1.30 2005/08/13 11:28:10 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef __REMOTE_H
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@ enum eKbdFunc {
 
 class cKbdRemote : public cRemote, private cThread {
 private:
-  bool active;
   static bool kbdAvailable;
   static bool rawMode;
   struct termios savedTm;
diff --git a/sections.c b/sections.c
index 6552d56e..8364b409 100644
--- a/sections.c
+++ b/sections.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: sections.c 1.11 2005/05/29 11:43:17 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: sections.c 1.12 2005/08/13 11:25:04 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #include "sections.h"
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ cSectionHandler::cSectionHandler(cDevice *Device)
 {
   shp = new cSectionHandlerPrivate;
   device = Device;
-  active = false;
   statusCount = 0;
   on = false;
   waitForLock = false;
@@ -54,7 +53,6 @@ cSectionHandler::cSectionHandler(cDevice *Device)
 
 cSectionHandler::~cSectionHandler()
 {
-  active = false;
   Cancel(3);
   cFilter *fi;
   while ((fi = filters.First()) != NULL)
@@ -166,9 +164,8 @@ void cSectionHandler::SetStatus(bool On)
 
 void cSectionHandler::Action(void)
 {
-  active = true;
   SetPriority(19);
-  while (active) {
+  while (Active()) {
 
         Lock();
         if (waitForLock)
diff --git a/sections.h b/sections.h
index 0b2b5bdf..f11f4794 100644
--- a/sections.h
+++ b/sections.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: sections.h 1.4 2004/08/08 13:44:17 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: sections.h 1.5 2005/08/13 11:23:55 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef __SECTIONS_H
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ class cSectionHandler : public cThread {
 private:
   cSectionHandlerPrivate *shp;
   cDevice *device;
-  bool active;
   int statusCount;
   bool on, waitForLock;
   time_t lastIncompleteSection;
diff --git a/thread.c b/thread.c
index 9ac1b7ef..2944678c 100644
--- a/thread.c
+++ b/thread.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: thread.c 1.43 2005/05/29 11:40:30 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: thread.c 1.44 2005/08/13 11:22:37 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #include "thread.h"
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ bool cThread::emergencyExitRequested = false;
 
 cThread::cThread(const char *Description)
 {
-  running = false;
+  running = active = false;
   childTid = 0;
   description = NULL;
   SetDescription(Description);
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ cThread::cThread(const char *Description)
 
 cThread::~cThread()
 {
+  Cancel(); // just in case the derived class didn't call it
   free(description);
 }
 
@@ -233,6 +234,7 @@ void *cThread::StartThread(cThread *Thread)
   Thread->Action();
   if (Thread->description)
      dsyslog("%s thread ended (pid=%d, tid=%ld)", Thread->description, getpid(), pthread_self());
+  Thread->active = false;
   Thread->running = false;
   return NULL;
 }
@@ -240,21 +242,21 @@ void *cThread::StartThread(cThread *Thread)
 bool cThread::Start(void)
 {
   if (!running) {
-     running = true;
+     running = active = true;
      if (pthread_create(&childTid, NULL, (void *(*) (void *))&StartThread, (void *)this) == 0) {
         pthread_detach(childTid); // auto-reap
         pthread_setschedparam(childTid, SCHED_RR, 0);
         }
      else {
         LOG_ERROR;
-        running = false;
+        running = active = false;
         return false;
         }
      }
   return true;
 }
 
-bool cThread::Active(void)
+bool cThread::Running(void)
 {
   if (running) {
      //
@@ -271,7 +273,7 @@ bool cThread::Active(void)
         if (err != ESRCH)
            LOG_ERROR;
         childTid = 0;
-        running = false;
+        running = active = false;
         }
      else
         return true;
@@ -281,10 +283,11 @@ bool cThread::Active(void)
 
 void cThread::Cancel(int WaitSeconds)
 {
+  active = false;
   if (running) {
      if (WaitSeconds > 0) {
         for (time_t t0 = time(NULL) + WaitSeconds; time(NULL) < t0; ) {
-            if (!Active())
+            if (!Running())
                return;
             cCondWait::SleepMs(10);
             }
diff --git a/thread.h b/thread.h
index 48d04990..35b2fee1 100644
--- a/thread.h
+++ b/thread.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: thread.h 1.28 2005/05/29 11:31:24 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: thread.h 1.29 2005/08/13 13:01:33 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef __THREAD_H
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ class cThread {
   friend class cThreadLock;
 private:
   bool running;
+  bool active;
   pthread_t childTid;
   cMutex mutex;
   char *description;
@@ -86,13 +87,30 @@ protected:
   void Lock(void) { mutex.Lock(); }
   void Unlock(void) { mutex.Unlock(); }
   virtual void Action(void) = 0;
+       ///< A derived cThread class must implement the code it wants to
+       ///< execute as a separate thread in this function. If this is
+       ///< a loop, it must check Active() repeatedly to see whether
+       ///< it's time to stop.
+  bool Active(void) { return active; }
+       ///< Returns false if a derived cThread object shall leave its Action()
+       ///< function.
   void Cancel(int WaitSeconds = 0);
+       ///< Cancels the thread by first setting 'active' to false, so that
+       ///< the Action() loop can finish in an orderly fashion and then waiting
+       ///< up to WaitSeconds seconds for the thread to actually end. If the
+       ///< thread doesn't end by itself, it is killed.
 public:
   cThread(const char *Description = NULL);
+       ///< Creates a new thread.
+       ///< If Description is present, a log file entry will be made when
+       ///< the thread starts and stops. The Start() function must be called 
+       ///< to actually start the thread.
   virtual ~cThread();
   void SetDescription(const char *Description, ...);
   bool Start(void);
-  bool Active(void);
+       ///< Actually starts the thread.
+  bool Running(void);
+       ///< Checks whether the thread is actually running.
   static bool EmergencyExit(bool Request = false);
   };
 
diff --git a/transfer.c b/transfer.c
index c214b88f..89143c47 100644
--- a/transfer.c
+++ b/transfer.c
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: transfer.c 1.28 2005/02/19 14:38:55 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: transfer.c 1.29 2005/08/13 11:19:46 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #include "transfer.h"
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ cTransfer::cTransfer(int VPid, const int *APids, const int *DPids, const int *SP
   ringBuffer = new cRingBufferLinear(TRANSFERBUFSIZE, TS_SIZE * 2, true, "Transfer");
   remux = new cRemux(VPid, APids, Setup.UseDolbyDigital ? DPids : NULL, SPids);
   needsBufferReserve = Setup.UseDolbyDigital && VPid != 0 && DPids && DPids[0] != 0;
-  active = false;
 }
 
 cTransfer::~cTransfer()
@@ -34,21 +33,17 @@ cTransfer::~cTransfer()
 
 void cTransfer::Activate(bool On)
 {
-  if (On) {
-     if (!active)
-        Start();
-     }
-  else if (active) {
-     active = false;
+  if (On)
+     Start();
+  else
      Cancel(3);
-     }
 }
 
 void cTransfer::Receive(uchar *Data, int Length)
 {
-  if (IsAttached() && active) {
+  if (IsAttached() && Active()) {
      int p = ringBuffer->Put(Data, Length);
-     if (p != Length && active)
+     if (p != Length && Active())
         ringBuffer->ReportOverflow(Length - p);
      return;
      }
@@ -70,8 +65,7 @@ void cTransfer::Action(void)
   bool GotBufferReserve = false;
   int RequiredBufferReserve = KILOBYTE(DvbCardWith4MBofSDRAM ? 288 : 576);
 #endif
-  active = true;
-  while (active) {
+  while (Active()) {
 #ifdef FW_NEEDS_BUFFER_RESERVE_FOR_AC3
         if (needsBufferReserve && !GotBufferReserve) {
            //XXX For dolby we've to fill the buffer because the firmware does
@@ -145,7 +139,6 @@ void cTransfer::Action(void)
               }
            }
         }
-  active = false;
 }
 
 // --- cTransferControl ------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/transfer.h b/transfer.h
index 377ecbef..fa88f122 100644
--- a/transfer.h
+++ b/transfer.h
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  * See the main source file 'vdr.c' for copyright information and
  * how to reach the author.
  *
- * $Id: transfer.h 1.9 2005/01/16 12:05:13 kls Exp $
+ * $Id: transfer.h 1.10 2005/08/13 10:16:02 kls Exp $
  */
 
 #ifndef __TRANSFER_H
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ private:
   cRingBufferLinear *ringBuffer;
   cRemux *remux;
   bool needsBufferReserve;
-  bool active;
 protected:
   virtual void Activate(bool On);
   virtual void Receive(uchar *Data, int Length);