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Google Patents Shipping-Container Data Centers
theodp writes "Two years ago, Robert X. Cringely wrote that Google was experimenting with portable data centers built in standard shipping containers. The idea, Cringely explained, wasn't new and wasn't even Google's, backing up his claim with a link to an Internet-Archive-in-a-Shipping-Container presentation (PDF, dated 11-8-2003) that was reportedly pitched to Larry Page. Google filed for a patent on essentially the same concept on 12-30-2003. And on Tuesday, the USPTO issued the search giant a patent for Modular Data Centers housed in shipping containers, which Google curiously notes facilitate 'rapid and easy relocation to another site depending on changing economic factors'. That's a statement that may make those tax-abating NC officials a tad uneasy."
I wouldn't mind driving off with 5000 Opteron processors. Seriously, there's a downside to portability.
So if I have a bunch of servers in a trailer and an ethernet cable sticking out of the door, I'm violating this patent?
I'm sorry, but white trash nerds have been doing this for a long time.
"If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer
1967: in the event of nuclear war, arpanet will route around damaged nodes, so that communication remains uninterrupted. nothing can stop us now
1987: first worm made. internet communication not guaranteed anymore
2007: in the event of communication problems, one of the world's most powerful companies will mobilize their TPT (trail park technology) army
2027: warhol virus takes out entire web, needs to rebuilt from scratch with ipv8
2047: in the event of worldwide internet outage, GoogleMicrosoftApple will deploy nuclear warheads to silence virus spewing nodes. the circle is complete
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
I wouldn't claim to possess the insight -- and, I daresay, genius -- required to imagine putting computers in a shipping container.
Nonetheless, I can humbly state that I'm something of an inventor myself. For the past several years, I've been developing a concept which involves assembling computers in 4-foot by 6-foot containers. I know, it sounds incredible, but it is actually possible (despite the intuitive difficulty).
I'm looking to monetize the idea, so if you're interested please contact me about patent licensing and such.
Dr. Hansel Hanselsonson, PhD
hanselsonson@ingenious-inventions-seriously.com
It depends on when Sun started doing the Blackbox project, and the exact wording of the patent.
If Sun started in, say, 2000 (I don't know when they did start) then yes, it could be prior art depending on what the patent covers exactly.
But, if the patent covers something a bit more specific than "computers hooked up in a shipping crate" then it is possible that black box doesn't infringe on this patent, and isn't prior art.
(IANAL, so copious amounts of sodium chloride recommended with this post.)
If I have nothing to hide, don't search me
Wait 'til Ted Stevens finds out that the internet fits in a shipping container!
640 PB should be enough for anybody.
If you can read this, I forgot to post anonymously.
OK, I don't think they're quite THAT bad.. YET... I'm sure the guy granting the patent put almost exactly that much effort into his research as well...
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Google announces the "One Datacenter Per Child" project.
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No, no, I never claimed to possess the extreme skill required to assemble prefabricated computer parts, network electronics, wires, power routing, and air conditioning inside of a shipping container. That would certainly be a horribly, horribly difficult task.
Quite the opposite, I already claimed I have no such skill, and I am only personally able to conceive of doing so in a smaller, 4' x 6' x 4.3881' container. This undertaking alone is within my grasp.
Dr. Hansel Hanselsonson, PhD