Merge branch 'release' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/lenb/linux-acpi-2.6

* 'release' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/lenb/linux-acpi-2.6: (117 commits)
  ACPI processor: Fix section mismatch for processor_add()
  ACPI: Add platform-wide _OSC support.
  ACPI: cleanup pci_root _OSC code.
  ACPI: Add a generic API for _OSC -v2
  msi-wmi: depend on backlight and fix corner-cases problems
  msi-wmi: switch to using input sparse keymap library
  msi-wmi: replace one-condition switch-case with if statement
  msi-wmi: remove unused field 'instance' in key_entry structure
  msi-wmi: remove custom runtime debug implementation
  msi-wmi: rework init
  msi-wmi: remove useless includes
  X86 drivers: Introduce msi-wmi driver
  Toshiba Bluetooth Enabling driver (RFKill handler v3)
  ACPI: fix for lapic_timer_propagate_broadcast()
  acpi_pad: squish warning
  ACPI: dock: minor whitespace and style cleanups
  ACPI: dock: add struct dock_station * directly to platform device data
  ACPI: dock: dock_add - hoist up platform_device_register_simple()
  ACPI: dock: remove global 'dock_device_name'
  ACPI: dock: combine add|alloc_dock_dependent_device (v2)
  ...

56 files changed, 3920 insertions, 1652 deletions

diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpi_pad.c b/drivers/acpi/acpi_pad.c
index 0d2cdb86158..97991ac6f5f 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpi_pad.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpi_pad.c
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@ static void round_robin_cpu(unsigned int tsk_index)
 	struct cpumask *pad_busy_cpus = to_cpumask(pad_busy_cpus_bits);
 	cpumask_var_t tmp;
 	int cpu;
-	unsigned long min_weight = -1, preferred_cpu;
+	unsigned long min_weight = -1;
+	unsigned long uninitialized_var(preferred_cpu);
 
 	if (!alloc_cpumask_var(&tmp, GFP_KERNEL))
 		return;
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acnamesp.h b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acnamesp.h
index ab83919dda6..61edb156e8d 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acnamesp.h
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acnamesp.h
@@ -296,6 +296,11 @@ acpi_ns_complex_repairs(struct acpi_predefined_data *data,
 			acpi_status validate_status,
 			union acpi_operand_object **return_object_ptr);
 
+void
+acpi_ns_remove_null_elements(struct acpi_predefined_data *data,
+			     u8 package_type,
+			     union acpi_operand_object *obj_desc);
+
 /*
  * nssearch - Namespace searching and entry
  */
@@ -354,9 +359,7 @@ acpi_ns_externalize_name(u32 internal_name_length,
 			 const char *internal_name,
 			 u32 * converted_name_length, char **converted_name);
 
-struct acpi_namespace_node *acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(acpi_handle handle);
-
-acpi_handle acpi_ns_convert_entry_to_handle(struct acpi_namespace_node *node);
+struct acpi_namespace_node *acpi_ns_validate_handle(acpi_handle handle);
 
 void acpi_ns_terminate(void);
 
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acobject.h b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acobject.h
index b39d682a214..64062b1be3e 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/acobject.h
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/acobject.h
@@ -180,7 +180,11 @@ struct acpi_object_method {
 	u8 sync_level;
 	union acpi_operand_object *mutex;
 	u8 *aml_start;
-	ACPI_INTERNAL_METHOD implementation;
+	union {
+		ACPI_INTERNAL_METHOD implementation;
+		union acpi_operand_object *handler;
+	} extra;
+
 	u32 aml_length;
 	u8 thread_count;
 	acpi_owner_id owner_id;
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dsmethod.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dsmethod.c
index 567a4899a01..e786f9fd767 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dsmethod.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dsmethod.c
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ acpi_ds_call_control_method(struct acpi_thread_state *thread,
 	/* Invoke an internal method if necessary */
 
 	if (obj_desc->method.method_flags & AML_METHOD_INTERNAL_ONLY) {
-		status = obj_desc->method.implementation(next_walk_state);
+		status = obj_desc->method.extra.implementation(next_walk_state);
 		if (status == AE_OK) {
 			status = AE_CTRL_TERMINATE;
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dswload.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dswload.c
index 10fc7851784..b40513dd6a6 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/dswload.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/dswload.c
@@ -212,18 +212,19 @@ acpi_ds_load1_begin_op(struct acpi_walk_state * walk_state,
 		case ACPI_TYPE_BUFFER:
 
 			/*
-			 * These types we will allow, but we will change the type. This
-			 * enables some existing code of the form:
+			 * These types we will allow, but we will change the type.
+			 * This enables some existing code of the form:
 			 *
 			 *  Name (DEB, 0)
 			 *  Scope (DEB) { ... }
 			 *
-			 * Note: silently change the type here. On the second pass, we will report
-			 * a warning
+			 * Note: silently change the type here. On the second pass,
+			 * we will report a warning
 			 */
 			ACPI_DEBUG_PRINT((ACPI_DB_INFO,
-					  "Type override - [%4.4s] had invalid type (%s) for Scope operator, changed to (Scope)\n",
-					  path,
+					  "Type override - [%4.4s] had invalid type (%s) "
+					  "for Scope operator, changed to type ANY\n",
+					  acpi_ut_get_node_name(node),
 					  acpi_ut_get_type_name(node->type)));
 
 			node->type = ACPI_TYPE_ANY;
@@ -235,8 +236,10 @@ acpi_ds_load1_begin_op(struct acpi_walk_state * walk_state,
 			/* All other types are an error */
 
 			ACPI_ERROR((AE_INFO,
-				    "Invalid type (%s) for target of Scope operator [%4.4s] (Cannot override)",
-				    acpi_ut_get_type_name(node->type), path));
+				    "Invalid type (%s) for target of "
+				    "Scope operator [%4.4s] (Cannot override)",
+				    acpi_ut_get_type_name(node->type),
+				    acpi_ut_get_node_name(node)));
 
 			return_ACPI_STATUS(AE_AML_OPERAND_TYPE);
 		}
@@ -697,15 +700,16 @@ acpi_ds_load2_begin_op(struct acpi_walk_state *walk_state,
 		case ACPI_TYPE_BUFFER:
 
 			/*
-			 * These types we will allow, but we will change the type. This
-			 * enables some existing code of the form:
+			 * These types we will allow, but we will change the type.
+			 * This enables some existing code of the form:
 			 *
 			 *  Name (DEB, 0)
 			 *  Scope (DEB) { ... }
 			 */
 			ACPI_WARNING((AE_INFO,
-				      "Type override - [%4.4s] had invalid type (%s) for Scope operator, changed to (Scope)",
-				      buffer_ptr,
+				      "Type override - [%4.4s] had invalid type (%s) "
+				      "for Scope operator, changed to type ANY\n",
+				      acpi_ut_get_node_name(node),
 				      acpi_ut_get_type_name(node->type)));
 
 			node->type = ACPI_TYPE_ANY;
@@ -717,9 +721,10 @@ acpi_ds_load2_begin_op(struct acpi_walk_state *walk_state,
 			/* All other types are an error */
 
 			ACPI_ERROR((AE_INFO,
-				    "Invalid type (%s) for target of Scope operator [%4.4s]",
+				    "Invalid type (%s) for target of "
+				    "Scope operator [%4.4s] (Cannot override)",
 				    acpi_ut_get_type_name(node->type),
-				    buffer_ptr));
+				    acpi_ut_get_node_name(node)));
 
 			return (AE_AML_OPERAND_TYPE);
 		}
@@ -1047,9 +1052,22 @@ acpi_status acpi_ds_load2_end_op(struct acpi_walk_state *walk_state)
 			}
 
 			/*
-			 * If we are executing a method, initialize the region
+			 * The op_region is not fully parsed at this time. The only valid
+			 * argument is the space_id. (We must save the address of the
+			 * AML of the address and length operands)
+			 *
+			 * If we have a valid region, initialize it. The namespace is
+			 * unlocked at this point.
+			 *
+			 * Need to unlock interpreter if it is locked (if we are running
+			 * a control method), in order to allow _REG methods to be run
+			 * during acpi_ev_initialize_region.
 			 */
 			if (walk_state->method_node) {
+				/*
+				 * Executing a method: initialize the region and unlock
+				 * the interpreter
+				 */
 				status =
 				    acpi_ex_create_region(op->named.data,
 							  op->named.length,
@@ -1058,21 +1076,17 @@ acpi_status acpi_ds_load2_end_op(struct acpi_walk_state *walk_state)
 				if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) {
 					return (status);
 				}
-			}
 
-			/*
-			 * The op_region is not fully parsed at this time. Only valid
-			 * argument is the space_id. (We must save the address of the
-			 * AML of the address and length operands)
-			 */
+				acpi_ex_exit_interpreter();
+			}
 
-			/*
-			 * If we have a valid region, initialize it
-			 * Namespace is NOT locked at this point.
-			 */
 			status =
 			    acpi_ev_initialize_region
 			    (acpi_ns_get_attached_object(node), FALSE);
+			if (walk_state->method_node) {
+				acpi_ex_enter_interpreter();
+			}
+
 			if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) {
 				/*
 				 *  If AE_NOT_EXIST is returned, it is not fatal
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evregion.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evregion.c
index 0bc807c33a5..5336d911fbf 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evregion.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evregion.c
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ acpi_ev_install_handler(acpi_handle obj_handle,
 
 	/* Convert and validate the device handle */
 
-	node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(obj_handle);
+	node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(obj_handle);
 	if (!node) {
 		return (AE_BAD_PARAMETER);
 	}
@@ -1087,7 +1087,7 @@ acpi_ev_reg_run(acpi_handle obj_handle,
 
 	/* Convert and validate the device handle */
 
-	node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(obj_handle);
+	node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(obj_handle);
 	if (!node) {
 		return (AE_BAD_PARAMETER);
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evrgnini.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evrgnini.c
index cf29c495302..ff168052a33 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evrgnini.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evrgnini.c
@@ -575,6 +575,21 @@ acpi_ev_initialize_region(union acpi_operand_object *region_obj,
 				handler_obj = obj_desc->thermal_zone.handler;
 				break;
 
+			case ACPI_TYPE_METHOD:
+				/*
+				 * If we are executing module level code, the original
+				 * Node's object was replaced by this Method object and we
+				 * saved the handler in the method object.
+				 *
+				 * See acpi_ns_exec_module_code
+				 */
+				if (obj_desc->method.
+				    flags & AOPOBJ_MODULE_LEVEL) {
+					handler_obj =
+					    obj_desc->method.extra.handler;
+				}
+				break;
+
 			default:
 				/* Ignore other objects */
 				break;
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxface.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxface.c
index 10b8543dd46..2fe0809d4eb 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxface.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxface.c
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ acpi_install_notify_handler(acpi_handle device,
 
 	/* Convert and validate the device handle */
 
-	node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(device);
+	node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(device);
 	if (!node) {
 		status = AE_BAD_PARAMETER;
 		goto unlock_and_exit;
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ acpi_remove_notify_handler(acpi_handle device,
 
 	/* Convert and validate the device handle */
 
-	node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(device);
+	node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(device);
 	if (!node) {
 		status = AE_BAD_PARAMETER;
 		goto unlock_and_exit;
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxfevnt.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxfevnt.c
index 4721f58fe42..eed7a38d25f 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxfevnt.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxfevnt.c
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ acpi_install_gpe_block(acpi_handle gpe_device,
 		return (status);
 	}
 
-	node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(gpe_device);
+	node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(gpe_device);
 	if (!node) {
 		status = AE_BAD_PARAMETER;
 		goto unlock_and_exit;
@@ -698,7 +698,7 @@ acpi_status acpi_remove_gpe_block(acpi_handle gpe_device)
 		return (status);
 	}
 
-	node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(gpe_device);
+	node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(gpe_device);
 	if (!node) {
 		status = AE_BAD_PARAMETER;
 		goto unlock_and_exit;
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxfregn.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxfregn.c
index 7c3d2d356ff..c98aa7c2d67 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxfregn.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/evxfregn.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ acpi_install_address_space_handler(acpi_handle device,
 
 	/* Convert and validate the device handle */
 
-	node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(device);
+	node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(device);
 	if (!node) {
 		status = AE_BAD_PARAMETER;
 		goto unlock_and_exit;
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ acpi_remove_address_space_handler(acpi_handle device,
 
 	/* Convert and validate the device handle */
 
-	node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(device);
+	node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(device);
 	if (!node ||
 	    ((node->type != ACPI_TYPE_DEVICE) &&
 	     (node->type != ACPI_TYPE_PROCESSOR) &&
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/exmutex.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/exmutex.c
index 2f0114202b0..3c456bd575d 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/exmutex.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/exmutex.c
@@ -375,6 +375,15 @@ acpi_ex_release_mutex(union acpi_operand_object *obj_desc,
 		return_ACPI_STATUS(AE_AML_MUTEX_NOT_ACQUIRED);
 	}
 
+	/* Must have a valid thread ID */
+
+	if (!walk_state->thread) {
+		ACPI_ERROR((AE_INFO,
+			    "Cannot release Mutex [%4.4s], null thread info",
+			    acpi_ut_get_node_name(obj_desc->mutex.node)));
+		return_ACPI_STATUS(AE_AML_INTERNAL);
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * The Mutex is owned, but this thread must be the owner.
 	 * Special case for Global Lock, any thread can release
@@ -392,15 +401,6 @@ acpi_ex_release_mutex(union acpi_operand_object *obj_desc,
 		return_ACPI_STATUS(AE_AML_NOT_OWNER);
 	}
 
-	/* Must have a valid thread ID */
-
-	if (!walk_state->thread) {
-		ACPI_ERROR((AE_INFO,
-			    "Cannot release Mutex [%4.4s], null thread info",
-			    acpi_ut_get_node_name(obj_desc->mutex.node)));
-		return_ACPI_STATUS(AE_AML_INTERNAL);
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * The sync level of the mutex must be equal to the current sync level. In
 	 * other words, the current level means that at least one mutex at that
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsaccess.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsaccess.c
index 9c3cdbe2d82..d622ba77000 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsaccess.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsaccess.c
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ acpi_status acpi_ns_root_initialize(void)
 
 				obj_desc->method.method_flags =
 				    AML_METHOD_INTERNAL_ONLY;
-				obj_desc->method.implementation =
+				obj_desc->method.extra.implementation =
 				    acpi_ut_osi_implementation;
 #endif
 				break;
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsdump.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsdump.c
index 2deb986861c..e37836e27e2 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsdump.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsdump.c
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ acpi_ns_dump_one_object(acpi_handle obj_handle,
 		return (AE_OK);
 	}
 
-	this_node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(obj_handle);
+	this_node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(obj_handle);
 	if (!this_node) {
 		ACPI_DEBUG_PRINT((ACPI_DB_INFO, "Invalid object handle %p\n",
 				  obj_handle));
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nseval.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nseval.c
index f771e978c40..af9fe910373 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nseval.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nseval.c
@@ -381,6 +381,18 @@ acpi_ns_exec_module_code(union acpi_operand_object *method_obj,
 				    method_obj->method.next_object);
 	type = acpi_ns_get_type(parent_node);
 
+	/*
+	 * Get the region handler and save it in the method object. We may need
+	 * this if an operation region declaration causes a _REG method to be run.
+	 *
+	 * We can't do this in acpi_ps_link_module_code because
+	 * acpi_gbl_root_node->Object is NULL at PASS1.
+	 */
+	if ((type == ACPI_TYPE_DEVICE) && parent_node->object) {
+		method_obj->method.extra.handler =
+		    parent_node->object->device.handler;
+	}
+
 	/* Must clear next_object (acpi_ns_attach_object needs the field) */
 
 	method_obj->method.next_object = NULL;
@@ -415,6 +427,12 @@ acpi_ns_exec_module_code(union acpi_operand_object *method_obj,
 	ACPI_DEBUG_PRINT((ACPI_DB_INIT, "Executed module-level code at %p\n",
 			  method_obj->method.aml_start));
 
+	/* Delete a possible implicit return value (in slack mode) */
+
+	if (info->return_object) {
+		acpi_ut_remove_reference(info->return_object);
+	}
+
 	/* Detach the temporary method object */
 
 	acpi_ns_detach_object(parent_node);
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsnames.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsnames.c
index af8e6bcee07..8f9a4875ce2 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsnames.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nsnames.c
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ acpi_ns_handle_to_pathname(acpi_handle target_handle,
 
 	ACPI_FUNCTION_TRACE_PTR(ns_handle_to_pathname, target_handle);
 
-	node = acpi_ns_map_handle_to_node(target_handle);
+	node = acpi_ns_validate_handle(target_handle);
 	if (!node) {
 		return_ACPI_STATUS(AE_BAD_PARAMETER);
 	}
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nspredef.c b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nspredef.c
index b05f42903c8..d34fa59548f 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpica/nspredef.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpica/nspredef.c
@@ -216,29 +216,38 @@ acpi_ns_check_predefined_names(struct acpi_namespace_node *node,
 	data->pathname = pathname;
 
 	/*
-	 * Check that the type of the return object is what is expected for
-	 * this predefined name
+	 * Check that the type of the main return object is what is expected
+	 * for this predefined name
 	 */
 	status = acpi_ns_check_object_type(data, return_object_ptr,
 					   predefined->info.expected_btypes,
 					   ACPI_NOT_PACKAGE_ELEMENT);
 	if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) {
-		goto check_validation_status;
+		goto exit;
 	}
 
-	/* For returned Package objects, check the type of all sub-objects */
-
-	if (return_object->common.type == ACPI_TYPE_PACKAGE) {
+	/*
+	 * For returned Package objects, check the type of all sub-objects.
+	 * Note: Package may have been newly created by call above.
+	 */
+	if ((*return_object_ptr)->common.type == ACPI_TYPE_PACKAGE) {
 		status = acpi_ns_check_package(data, return_object_ptr);
+		if (ACPI_FAILURE(status)) {
+			goto exit;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/*
-	 * Perform additional, more complicated repairs on a per-name
-	 * basis.
+	 * The return object was OK, or it was successfully repaired above.
+	 * Now make some additional checks such as verifying that package
+	 * objects are sorted correctly (if required) or buffer objects have
+	 * the correct data width (bytes vs. dwords). These repairs are
+	 * performed on a per-name basis, i.e., the code is specific to
+	 * particular predefined names.
 	 */
 	status = acpi_ns_complex_repairs(data, node, status, return_object_ptr);
 
-check_validation_status:
+exit:
 	/*
 	 * If the object validation failed or if we successfully repaired one
 	 * or more objects, mark the parent node to suppress further warning
@@ -427,6 +436,13 @@ acpi_ns_check_package(struct acpi_predefined_data *data,
 			  data->pathname, package->ret_info.type,
 			  return_object->package.count));
 
+	/*
+	 * For variable-length Packages, we can safely remove all embedded
+	 * and trailing NULL package elements
+	 */
+	acpi_ns_remove_null_elements(data, package->ret_info.type,
+				     return_object);
+
 	/* Extract package count and elements array */
 
 	elements = return_object->package.elements;
@@ -461,11 +477,11 @@ acpi_ns_check_package(struct acpi_predefined_data *data,
 		if (count < expected_count) {
 			goto package_too_small;
 		} else if (count > expected_count) {
-			ACPI_WARN_PREDEFINED((AE_INFO, data->pathname,
-					      data->node_flags,
-					      "Return Package is larger than needed - "
-					      "found %u, expected %u", count,
-					      expected_count));
+			ACPI_DEBUG_PRINT((ACPI_DB_REPAIR,
+					  "%s: Return Package is larger than needed - "
+					  "found %u, expected %u\n",
+					  data->pathname, count,
+					  expected_count));
 		}
 
 		/* Validate all elements of the returned package */
@@ -680,53 +696,18 @@ acpi_ns_check_package_list(struct acpi_predefined_data *data,
 	union acpi_operand_object *sub_package;
 	union acpi_operand_object **sub_elements;
 	acpi_status status;
-	u8 non_trailing_null = FALSE;
 	u32 expected_count;
 	u32 i;
 	u32 j;
 
-	/* Validate each sub-Package in the parent Package */
-
+	/*
+	 * Validate each sub-Package in the parent Package
+	 *
+	 * NOTE: assumes list of sub-packages contains no NULL elements.
+	 * Any NULL elements should have been removed by earlier call
+	 * to acpi_ns_remove_null_elements.
+	 */
 	for (i = 0; i < count; i++) {
-		/*
-		 * Handling for NULL package elements. For now, we will simply allow
-		 * a parent package with trailing NULL elements. This can happen if
-		 * the package was defined to be longer than the initializer list.
-		 * This is legal as per the ACPI specification. It is often used
-		 * to allow for dynamic initialization of a Package.
-		 *
-		 * A future enhancement may be to simply truncate the package to
-		 * remove the trailing NULL elements.
-		 */
-		if (!(*elements)) {
-			if (!non_trailing_null) {
-
-				/* Ensure the remaining elements are all NULL */
-
-				for (j = 1; j < (count - i + 1); j++) {
-					if (elements[j]) {
-						non_trailing_null = TRUE;
-					}
-				}
-
-				if (!non_trailing_null)