/* ------------------------------------------------------------ */
 protected void associateThread() {
   __threadConnection.set(this);
   _handlingThread = Thread.currentThread();
 }
 /* ------------------------------------------------------------ */
 protected void disassociateThread() {
   _handlingThread = null;
   __threadConnection.set(null);
 }
 /**
  * Get the ThreadLocal HttpConnection. The ThreadLocal HttpConnection is set by the handle()
  * method.
  *
  * @return HttpConnection for this thread.
  */
 static HttpConnection getHttpConnection() {
   return (HttpConnection) __threadConnection.get();
 }