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computer science

ToneLoc

ToneLoc is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand ToneLoc rather than just read about it. In short: ToneLoc was a popular war dialing computer program for MS-DOS written in the early to mid-1990s by two programmers known by the pseudonyms Minor Threat (Chris Lamprecht) and Mucho Maas. The name ToneLoc was short for "Tone Locator" and was a word play on the name of the rap artist known as Tone Lōc.

Key takeaways

  • ToneLoc belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect ToneLoc to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of ToneLoc from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

ToneLoc was a popular war dialing computer program for MS-DOS written in the early to mid-1990s by two programmers known by the pseudonyms Minor Threat (Chris Lamprecht) and Mucho Maas. The name ToneLoc was short for "Tone Locator" and was a word play on the name of the rap artist known as Tone Lōc. ToneLoc took advantage of the extended return codes available on USRobotics modems (e.g., ATX6) to detect dial tones upon dialing a number and to detect when a human answered the phone in addition to scanning for other modems. Detection of voice numbers sped up the scanning process by disconnecting upon detecting a human instead of timing out waiting for a modem carrier signal. The detection of a dial tone after dialing a number allowed for users to search for poorly secured extenders which could be used to divert calls through. On April 17, 2005, the source code for ToneLoc was released.

See also WarVOX

References

External links ToneLoc non-official GitHub repository ToneLoc v1.10 source code ToneLoc v0.98 User Manual Interview with Minor Threat, ToneLoc's author, part of BBS: The Documentary

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with ToneLoc

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what ToneLoc claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to ToneLoc before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about ToneLoc ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of ToneLoc

In research
ToneLoc appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses ToneLoc in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
ToneLoc is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics DOS software, DOS stubs, Phreaking, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for ToneLoc outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study ToneLoc in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what ToneLoc means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain ToneLoc out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is ToneLoc in simple terms?

ToneLoc was a popular war dialing computer program for MS-DOS written in the early to mid-1990s by two programmers known by the pseudonyms Minor Threat (Chris Lamprecht) and Mucho Maas. The name ToneLoc was short for "Tone Locator" and was a word play on the name of the rap artist known as Tone Lōc.

Why does ToneLoc matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study ToneLoc?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on ToneLoc.

Tags

  • DOS software
  • DOS stubs
  • Phreaking
  • Telephony

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