diff --git a/ChangeLog.txt b/ChangeLog.txt
index ce730ebe55..d0684cbb7a 100644
--- a/ChangeLog.txt
+++ b/ChangeLog.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,25 @@
      * Change, ! Fix, % Optimization, + Addition, - Removal, ; Comment
  */
 
+2013-06-06 01:56 UTC-0800 Pritpal Bedi (bedipritpal@hotmail.com)
+  * contrib/hbtip/client.prg
+    ! Fixed: to test if a connection is available actually or not 
+       before sending other info. This fixes a RTE when a SSL over 
+       HTTP request was made and internet access was not available.
+       
+  * contrib/hbtip/httpcli.prg
+    + Added: METHOD Head() for HEAD verb of HTTP interface.
+    
+             METHOD SetConnectionPersistent()
+               This does not send "Connection: close" header entry.
+               Useful in cases where many requests are required to 
+               be submitted under one session. :close() may be 
+               called to close the connection explicitly.
+               
+             METHOD IsConnectionAlive() 
+               It allows the application to test connection's state 
+               and facilitates to take alternate action.
+               
 2013-06-05 23:40 UTC-0800 Pritpal Bedi (bedipritpal@hotmail.com)
   * contrib/gtwvg/wvgcore.c
     + Added: function WVT_DRAWPICTUREEX 
diff --git a/contrib/hbtip/client.prg b/contrib/hbtip/client.prg
index ef703fa42d..552a76826b 100644
--- a/contrib/hbtip/client.prg
+++ b/contrib/hbtip/client.prg
@@ -750,6 +750,10 @@ METHOD inetConnect( cServer, nPort, SocketCon ) CLASS TIPClient
 
    hb_inetConnect( cServer, nPort, SocketCon )
 
+   IF hb_inetStatus( SocketCon ) == -1   /* IMPORTANT: if internet connection is off and address is not resolved and it is SSL compliant, then RTE , must be avoided - Pritpal*/
+      RETURN NIL
+   ENDIF
+
    IF ! Empty( ::nDefaultSndBuffSize )
       ::InetSndBufSize( SocketCon, ::nDefaultSndBuffSize )
    ENDIF
diff --git a/contrib/hbtip/httpcli.prg b/contrib/hbtip/httpcli.prg
index 6e16990331..a0648c26f5 100644
--- a/contrib/hbtip/httpcli.prg
+++ b/contrib/hbtip/httpcli.prg
@@ -65,23 +65,27 @@ CREATE CLASS TIPClientHTTP FROM TIPClient
    VAR cAuthMode    INIT ""
    VAR cBoundary
    VAR aAttachments INIT {}
+   VAR lPersistent  INIT .F.
 
    METHOD New( oUrl, xTrace, oCredentials )
    METHOD Get( cQuery )
    METHOD Post( xPostData, cQuery )
    METHOD Put( xPostData, cQuery )
    METHOD Delete( xPostData, cQuery )
+   METHOD Head( xPostData, cQuery )
    METHOD ReadHeaders( lClear )
    METHOD Read( nLen )
-   METHOD UseBasicAuth()      INLINE   ::cAuthMode := "Basic"
+   METHOD UseBasicAuth()                INLINE   ::cAuthMode := "Basic"
    METHOD ReadAll()
-   METHOD SetCookie
-   METHOD GetCookies
-   METHOD Boundary
+   METHOD setCookie( cLine )
+   METHOD getcookies( cHost, cPath )
+   METHOD Boundary( nType )
    METHOD Attach( cName, cFileName, cType )
    METHOD PostMultiPart( xPostData, cQuery )
    METHOD WriteAll( cFile )
    METHOD StandardFields()
+   METHOD SetConnectionPersistent()     INLINE ::lPersistent := .T.
+   METHOD IsConnectionAlive()           INLINE ::inetErrorCode( ::SocketCon ) == 0
 
    PROTECTED:
 
@@ -125,6 +129,9 @@ METHOD Put( xPostData, cQuery ) CLASS TIPClientHTTP
 METHOD Delete( xPostData, cQuery ) CLASS TIPClientHTTP
    RETURN ::postByVerb( xPostData, cQuery, "DELETE" )
 
+METHOD Head( xPostData, cQuery ) CLASS TIPClientHTTP
+   RETURN ::postByVerb( xPostData, cQuery, "HEAD" )
+
 METHOD PostByVerb( xPostData, cQuery, cVerb ) CLASS TIPClientHTTP
 
    LOCAL cData, nI, cTmp, y
@@ -193,7 +200,9 @@ METHOD StandardFields() CLASS TIPClientHTTP
 
    ::inetSendAll( ::SocketCon, "Host: " + ::oUrl:cServer + ::cCRLF )
    ::inetSendAll( ::SocketCon, "User-agent: " + ::cUserAgent + ::cCRLF )
-   ::inetSendAll( ::SocketCon, "Connection: close" + ::cCRLF )
+   IF ! ::lPersistent
+      ::inetSendAll( ::SocketCon, "Connection: close" + ::cCRLF )
+   ENDIF
 
    // Perform a basic authentication request
    IF ::cAuthMode == "Basic" .AND. !( "Authorization" $ ::hFields )