Microsoft Patents Automatic OS Shutdown

[g-thor]

I'm guessing the patent office workers are understaffed, underpaid and overworked. Either that or they're suffering from short attention spans.

"Let's see, this patent application says, 'Aspects include the operating system receiving a command to initiate shut down ...", okay, that sounds about right. Patent granted. Ooh, look at the new YouTube video!!!!"

 

[f-14]

lol people are pulling out all the stops on shutting down RAMBUS

 

[Gin Fushicho]

I don't care about shutdown time, I want start up time faster.

 

[braneman]

I know there is a patent for a stick... patent law needs to be reevaluated so people cant patent stupid things like that, the idea behind this patent is good though.

 

[Guest]

does it really not occur to you guys that this is a defensive patent? Haven't you seen how many troll have been suing MS, Apple, RIM, Google, etc.? MS is just pre-empting some future jerk from attempting to ransom them for an obvious feature.

 

[captainnemojr]

Automatic shutdown? Isn't that when the power goes out?

 

[pirateboy]

I'm going to patent yanking out the power cable...it's even faster

 

[nightcrawl3r]

That's great that my computer will shutdown faster than before but I would like them to make the load time faster as well.

 

[Digital Dissent]

The patent system is retarded in this country. We would live in a much better world (like a linux world) if apple and microsoft didnt hold the keys to everything software. Most of the time they both fail at using the patents they hold properly anyway.

 

[alextheblue]

[citation][nom]rambo117[/nom]How about instead of a faster shutdown sequence, maybe they could work on a faster startup...? That matters to me more than shutting down (thats what hybernate is for *cough*)[/citation]They already put a crapton of work into faster startups with Win7. If you don't put loads of bloatware on it, a Win7 box starts up pretty quick even with a relatively slow HDD.

 

[rambo117]

[citation][nom]AlexTheBlue[/nom]They already put a crapton of work into faster startups with Win7. If you don't put loads of bloatware on it, a Win7 box starts up pretty quick even with a relatively slow HDD.[/citation]
Yes, I know that Windows 7 is a HUGE improvement in OS startup times but still, wouldnt it be great to press the power on button and BAM, its your log on screen? I just fail to see the point of putting all this hype and effort into something as insignificant as turning your computer off.

 

[dco]

Im all for faster shutdowns but i dont see the need for a patent seeing as its a microsoft product in the first place.

 

[tghunt]

I cant believe how stupid the patent office is.

 

[thechief73]

Alt+F4, Alt+F4, Alt+F4, Ctrl+Alt+Del, Ctrl+Alt+Del. Done!

 

[randomizer]

[citation][nom]AlexTheBlue[/nom]If you don't put loads of bloatware on it, a Win7 box starts up pretty quick even with a relatively slow HDD.[/citation]
Providing you don't put it next to a Linux box that starts up in a fraction of the time. I can't speak for OSX. I haven't seen any OSX version past Tiger (10.4). I would assume that OSX is pretty finely tuned for the limited hardware it runs on though, especially considering how much battery life you get from a Macbook (unless you run Windows on it that is).

 

[sailfish]

Used to be that unless the software in question was phenomenally unique, patents weren't granted. I see they've relaxed those standards considerably.

This is LAME, imo.

 

[ta152h]

Microsoft has historically been very good with shutting down the computer very quickly - most of the time when you didn't want to.

 

[mitch074]

Well, this patent is for Windows only, as all other OSes consider the graphic interface to NOT be part of the OS (look up X11), so it befalls the graphic server to notify open applications that they need to close. So, the effect is exactly the same, but the process is completely different, and the patent doesn't apply.

Worthless patent.

 

[jsc]

For a truly mind boggling flowchart, check out the U.S. government one for Healthcare Reform, otherwise known as "Obamacare":
http://www.house.gov/brady/pdf/Obamacare_Chart.pdf

Back to the automatic OS shutdown:
I didn't know you could patent prior art. There have been desktop shutdown applets for years.

 

[TheGreatGrapeApe]

The whole shutdown & walkaway concept is fine if the apps don't stop the process. Too many times I've done that at work on a machine whose apps I just closed wanting to get the heck out of dodge ASAFP, only to find the next morning that some lame slow app held-up the shutdown. This happens with scripts too.

If this helps me walk away with more confidence, I'm all for it. even if it's lame to award a patent for it.

 

[jamesedgeuk2000]

ER... Didn't IBM invent this when they created the "ATX" specification that computers today still use? Back in the XT/AT days the O/S couldn't power down the system itself

 

[Guest]

Try a shortcut to command "shutdown /s /f /t 0".

'0' = zero
'f' is not needed but that is what it does.

 

[photonboy]

The patent system needs a MAJOR overhaul. We also need a much better way to throw out ridiculous tech-related law suits.

While I agree that there should be SOME patenting, it's gotten ridiculous. In my opinion, the more GENERAL a patent is the less likely it should be that it qualifies.

Some points:
1) patents should be extremely specific
2) patents should NOT be awarded for ideas that everyone would use soon as they are the logical progression of current tech
3) excessive patents are slowing down innovation.

An example:
Company A creates a PSU with "modular" power cables. When asked why Company B is not creating them they respond they are worried about patent infringement (even though it appears no patent existed they were worried about Company A declaring suing at a later date).

1) Does the simple concept of pluggable power cords, combined with the minimal expenditure (in concept, not design) warrant a patent?

2) Why not then patent "cables which plug into things"?

3) Should patent decisions keep in mind what's best for the Country in terms of reducing law suits and productivity?

There is no simple answer, but I believe one idea would be if patents were used exclusively to recoup investment costs. In other words, no investment then no patent. I'm not saying this is best for all, but we need to draw some harsh lines in the sand. Ideally I'd like to see a World where decisions are made SOLELY on the benefit of the Earth and Mankind and ideas are freely shared.

But for now I think the decisions should be based on what is best for the Country.

 

[therabiddeer]

Isnt windows 7 already using this patent? So whats with all this discussion about people not sure if they want this implemented or other talk?

PS: Patents, lol. Patents should only offer a month or two of protection for the creator, anything beyond that and it should be fair game.

 

[katmandude]

another example of why the judiciary syst in the usa is laughed at by most of the world. I'd probably get sued for this 😛 silly gits XD