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Microsoft Files For 3 Parallel Processing Patents
theodp writes "Microsoft may have been a Johnny-come-lately when it comes to parallel programming, but that's not stopping the software giant from trying to patent it. This week, the USPTO revealed that Microsoft has three additional parallel-processing patents pending — 1. Partitioning and Repartitioning for Data Parallel Operations, 2. Data Parallel Searching, and 3. Data Parallel Production and Consumption. Informing the USPTO that 'Software programs have been written to run sequentially since the beginning days of software development,' Microsoft adds there's been a '[recent] shift away from sequential execution toward parallel execution.' Before they grant the patents, let's hope the USPTO gets a second opinion on the novelty of Microsoft's parallel-processing patent claims."
Mips compilers came with the APO options since the late 1990's. As usual Microsoft is 'inventing' 10 year old technology, and patenting it.
Damn. And I had mod points just yesterday to mod that comment down with. I am so happy about your NT this and .net that but you are only a couple of decades to late to the game with those responses.
As for MS parallelism Microsoft had to get their threading working because their process generation was complete dog shat. Linux has always had a lightweight process forking system unlike windows.
Back to the main story though. The beauty of the American patent system is that the people who actually invented parallel computing will have had their patents expire by now so could be completely helpless against Microsoft should the patent board soil the bed again, which seems like a given with them these days.