LXer: Microsoft Patents Operating System Shutdown

LXer · 09-02-2010, 12:01 PM

Published at LXer:

Microsoft just received confirmation of a patent that hands the company the intellectual property of shutting an operating system down. I can’t quite recall how often Microsoft ha stalked about a faster way to shut down its operating system. It is part of the pitch of virtually every new operating system and it has remained an annoyance that it can take quite some time until the software in fact closes running applications and the operating system itself.

[Linux does this already no? - Scott]

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Jeebizz · 09-02-2010, 12:02 PM

They should patent how the computer crashes instead.

easuter · 09-03-2010, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeebizz

They should patent how the computer crashes instead.

Zing!

brianL · 09-03-2010, 07:45 AM

So we'll all have to buy a license from M$, and pass the Windows Genuine Advantage test, if we want to shut down?

Kenny_Strawn · 09-03-2010, 08:14 AM

This is a keen example of the dangers of $0f+w@r3 P@t3nt$. They, again, are a violation of both the Sherman and Clayton Antitrust Acts!!!! Die you p@t3nt Tr0££$!!!!

brianL · 09-03-2010, 09:43 AM

Another case of KKM (Kenny's Keyboard Malfunction).

Kenny_Strawn · 09-03-2010, 05:18 PM

Okay, brianL: I'm just so fed up with these patent lawsuits that I feel like countersuing them under the Sherman or Clayton Antitrust Acts.

easuter · 09-03-2010, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny_Strawn

Okay, brianL: I'm just so fed up with these patent lawsuits that I feel like countersuing them under the Sherman or Clayton Antitrust Acts.

Kenny, they may have the patent but I'm pretty sure it's useless and can be invalidated if they ever try to use it, so chill out.

jiml8 · 09-03-2010, 05:40 PM

You mean that Microsoft has patented the "Off" button? WOW!

Hmmm...maybe if I act fast I can patent the "ON" button. Then anyone who wants to turn on their 'puter has to pay me...

Hangdog42 · 09-04-2010, 07:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

So we'll all have to buy a license from M$, and pass the Windows Genuine Advantage test, if we want to shut down?

That's OK. We're Slackware users. We don't shut down. Ever.

brianL · 09-04-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hangdog42

That's OK. We're Slackware users. We don't shut down. Ever.

Old habits die hard with me. I always switch off all electrical stuff before going to bed. It hasn't sunk in that I don't need to do that with my computer(s). Anyway, it stops the mice browsing porn.

Kenny_Strawn · 09-04-2010, 01:16 PM

Anyway, WinBloze's shut down method is completely different from Linux's shut down method (no 'init' command, for example). I'm sure what M$ patented is shutting down graphically, which means that we can circumvent the patent by typing 'sudo init 0' whenever we want to shut down.

brianL · 09-04-2010, 01:38 PM

Haven't we stopped the software patent crap in the UK and Europe?

MrCode · 09-04-2010, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny_Strawn

I'm sure what M$ patented is shutting down graphically

Actually, I think what they patented was all the check-through stuff that Windows does before it actually starts shutting down the system. That is, it goes through and checks to see if any additional programs are open and asks the user if s/he wants to end them, or continue working. In Linux-based OSes, it just sends SIGTERM and SIGKILL to everything, then initiates an ACPI shutdown, no take-backsies.

H_TeXMeX_H · 09-05-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeebizz

They should patent how the computer crashes instead.

Indeed, but I'm betting their next patent will be on Ballmer's monkey dance.