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Microsoft Patents Automatic OS Shutdown

by - source: Tom's Hardware US

Microsoft has successfully patented a procedure for shutting down Windows.

Conceivably Tech reports that Microsoft has just been awarded a patent for a faster shutdown procedure. Filed in 2005, the procedure overrides already open applications that may be delaying the shutdown. Users might recall seeing this feature in action in the form of the notification screen that flashes up if you've tried to shut down and other programs or unsaved documents are still open.

The patent abstract reads:

"Aspects include the operating system receiving a command to initiate shut down, and automatically terminating graphical user interface (GUI) applications that delay shut down which do not have top level windows. Also, aspects provide a user, through a graphical user interface, the ability to automatically terminate all running applications in response to determining that a running GUI application has a top level windows."

Do you think Microsoft should have been awarded this patent or do you think this is an example of a flawed patent system? Let us know in the comments below!

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mgoblue3296 09/03/2010 4:02 AM
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-18+

That is one sick flowchart

dannyboy3210 09/03/2010 4:05 AM
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-20+

My train of thought normally goes:
Time to shut down for the night...
Yes, I want to close the blasted program...
OMGWT*BBQ, why won't you turn off already??

*Power button held down*

-silence-

Thank you...

nforce4max 09/03/2010 4:06 AM
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NeeKo 09/03/2010 4:07 AM
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igot1forya 09/03/2010 4:10 AM
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-20+

shutdown -f -s -t 0

mrmez 09/03/2010 4:11 AM
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--1+

Whats the big deal in getting your pc to shut off quicker?
Its not like the old days where i have to wait for everything to end and the disks to park so i can turn it off manually? You just click 'shutdown' and walk away.

As for saving open documents etc... i don't know if i want them automatically saved. Why?
Firstly, its likely to put a whole range of docs in the wrong folders, meaning i have to troll through folders and put files in the right places. Secondly, likely to save docs i didn't want saved, creating a whole new level of junk to manually delete.

Again, we have yet to see this implemented and i could be wrong, but it just looks like more fluff to add to the sales brochure to help sell OS's.

Anonymous 09/03/2010 4:12 AM
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-20+

Sorta like GM trying to patent the ignition switch.... These software patents are getting ridiculous. Wonder when they'll try to patent toilet paper???

captaincharisma 09/03/2010 4:23 AM
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-6+

Didn't they have this back in windows ME. oh wait it was just restarting from it getting the BSOD too much lol

webbwbb 09/03/2010 4:33 AM
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-10+

Dang Jane, you're on a roll tonight (or should I say this morning?)! In just a few hours you seem to have single handedly posted more articles than the site generally gets in a day.

orionantares 09/03/2010 4:34 AM
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-6+

mgoblue3296 :
That is one sick flowchart



If you want to see a sick flow chart, look up the WoW feral DPS flow chart: http://s276.photobucket.com/albums [...] ionFIX.jpg

Or the simplified flow chart: http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/ [...] catdps.jpg :P

rambo117 09/03/2010 4:39 AM
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-12+

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*)

brendano257 09/03/2010 4:48 AM
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-9+

That's funny...they seem to have already implemented it. Some of us might refer to it as a BSOD ;)

tayb 09/03/2010 4:49 AM
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-15+

Normally I find patents like this absolutely ridiculous but I can't see Microsoft suing anyone for using this patent. No, they are probably patenting everything they do to protect itself from patent trolls. I can't see a problem with that. In essence, every silly thing that Microsoft, Apple, IBM, etc patents is one less thing some d-bag patent troll can try to sue the world for.

So I say continue patenting useless nonsense MS. I'd rather the patent be in your hands than in a trolls hands.

micr0be 09/03/2010 4:52 AM
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-2+

its times like these that i'm proud to have a linux OS.

randomizer 09/03/2010 4:53 AM
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-19+

I'm not sure what the point is.

1. Click "shutdown"
2. Walk away
3. ???
4. Profit!

Who cares if the PC shuts down in 3 seconds or 3 minutes once you've finished with it? I suppose the only time it matters is when restarting, but Microsoft should redesign their OS model so that you don't need to reboot every time there's a patch for MS Word.

dbwalsh 09/03/2010 4:59 AM
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-9+

Shutdown -h now

Anonymous 09/03/2010 5:05 AM
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--2+

Umm..

change WaitToKillServiceTimeout to 1000ms
change WaitToKillAppTimeout to 1000ms
change HungAppTimeout to 1000ms

I can haz PATENT??

soundping 09/03/2010 5:06 AM
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-2+

Going down... going down now... going down.... :D

kelemvor4 09/03/2010 5:10 AM
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-9+

Now apple will have to remove the shutdown feature from macs or license it from Microshaft.

NotYetRated 09/03/2010 5:14 AM
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-3+

I am not quite understanding the point to this patent.... I suppose just another notch on the belt.

qwed88 09/03/2010 5:14 AM
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-2+

I tend to be more concerned with the start up, rather than the shut down.

bebangs 09/03/2010 5:17 AM
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-1+

>> an example of a flawed patent system
Yes. definitely.

Chances of Microsoft filing a patent infringement on every phone/os company that uses autoshutdown gui feature? very likely.

husker 09/03/2010 5:19 AM
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-9+

What's the big deal with with the flow chart? Hear's a freebie Microsoft, feel free to patent this, I don't care.
husker's shut down flowchart:

User clicks shutdown -> Computer freakin' shut's down

You're welcome.

iam2thecrowe 09/03/2010 5:21 AM
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-4+

im going to file a patent for the fastest way to use my fingers to press ctr+alt+del. Then file a patent for the procedure to make a cup of coffee. This is getting F**ing rediculous.

g-thor 09/03/2010 5:28 AM
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-3+

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 09/03/2010 5:30 AM
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-3+

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

Gin Fushicho 09/03/2010 5:33 AM
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-9+

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

braneman 09/03/2010 5:37 AM
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-0+

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.

Anonymous 09/03/2010 6:06 AM
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-3+

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 09/03/2010 6:16 AM
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-2+

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

pirateboy 09/03/2010 6:26 AM
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-9+

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


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