Microsoft 'streaming storage' patent maps OS future
August 17, 2011 by Nancy Owano 
(PhysOrg.com) -- Microsoft might be planning a future where Windows open to something far bigger, the next time you push your power button on. A patent filed by Microsoft points to its plan for an operating system environment beyond Windows 8 that depends on cloud computing, not locally installed software. The patent suggests your computer will be booted through remote storage in a cloud computing construct, where software services control your digital work.
The patent calls for an operating system booted through a chain of storage devices with various priorities forming a centralized environment. The patent says:
“Various aspects of the subject matter described herein are directed towards a technology by which a virtual storage device for a physical or virtual computing machine is maintained as a chain of data structures (e.g., files) including far data maintained at a far (e.g., remote) backing store and near data maintained at a near (e.g., local) backing store (which initially may be empty).”
Reports in ConceivablyTech and Geek.com detail the patent, filed in February 2010, but which are surfacing now.
The patent 20110197052 is called “Fast Machine Booting Through Streaming Storage.“ Inventors’ names are listed as Dustin Green, Jacob Oshins, and Michael Neil.
One of the advantages is called out as fast booting time.
“Described is a technology by which a virtual hard disk is maintained between a far (e.g., remote) backing store and a near (e.g., local) backing store, which among other advantages facilitates fast booting of a machine coupled to the virtual hard disk,” says the patent.
The patent explains that “the virtual disk is available for use immediately, rather than needing to download an entire operating system image before booting from that downloaded image. For example, during a boot operation, only a relatively small amount of data is needed from the boot disk, which is available from the far data and/or the near data.”
News of the patent is seen as proof that rumors and tips over Microsoft’s research project Midori back in 2008 and 2009 were on to something big. Midori, an operating system project at Redmond, was believed to be focusing on the company’s OS future directions and a path to integration with Azure, which is Microsoft’s cloud platform.
The patent’s details and intent will most likely be the subject of conversation in the corridors if not meeting places next month in Anaheim, at the sold-out Microsoft BUILD conference for developers.
More information: Patent: http://appft1.uspt … /20110197052
© 2011 PhysOrg.com
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Aug 17, 2011
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I'd like to see the day when booting over the net would be faster than booting off a local disk.
Instead, what I could imagine is a transparent and real-time backup system that keeps a remote copy always up-to-date. And, and this is very important, it would keep "deleted files" available for up to a month, in case I change my mind!!!
Now, this system I'd pay for. And I want it for my laptop, desktop, and my smartphone.
Aug 17, 2011
Rank: 3.1 / 5 (7)
1) If your computer can't connect to the network, then it's completely useless, even for off-line applications. That miiiight be a big negative. yeah.
2) It's clearly an attempt to tighten their grip on the entire software market in a very NEGATIVE and monopolistic way.
3) Boot time is only a few seconds anyway, which while being annoying, you find you spend less than 1000th of your computing time waiting for boots.
b) Unless you power down your computer often, which you shouldn't because it wears out the power supply and power switch, among other things.
4) In a few years, we'll have spintronic processors, cache, and ram anyway, which will make even percieved advantages of this completely pointless and obsolete.
5) This is exactly the opposite of what the new internet and computing age needs. We need to REMOVE the ISP and the server farms, not bolster them. We need OPEN NETWORKING in the new internet.
Aug 17, 2011
Rank: 4 / 5 (1)
In fact remote becomes local and viceversa.
Not to mention that Microsoft will control who boots and who doesn't.
Aug 17, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (5)
Aug 17, 2011
Rank: 1 / 5 (4)
Aug 17, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
Aug 17, 2011
Rank: 3.7 / 5 (3)
Now Royale, we hate all monopolistic companies no matter what their names because they tend to be against progress and they like to dictate to people what to do, how to do it and when to do it and with whom.
Aug 17, 2011
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Aug 18, 2011
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
Apple shows how to do that.
I am not willing to open all doors to Big Brother (MS, Apple, Google or who ever) - cloud computing is not the way to go with an OS, and also not for basic standard programs
Aug 18, 2011
Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
Aug 21, 2011
Rank: not rated yet
And pay, and pay, and pay... Cloud storage vendors charging you monthly data storage fees, cloud OS vendors charging you monthly fees for organized access, cloud software vendors charging you per-use or monthly fees to use their applications...
Who knows how far they can squeeze the cash cow? Oh, you want to open a new file? That will cost $.05. Oh, you want to render that file for printing? That will cost $.05. Oh, that cloud application opens temporary files on your personal cloud storage, well, that burst of temporary storage will cost you $.01. Oh, you want fast personal cloud storage to work with your premium cloud application, well, that requires a premium service package...
This model may be appealing to many people and there are many advantages, but there are also major drawbacks. If you thought cell phone plans were bad, hold on to your wallets, that giant sucking sound is coming from the cloud...
Aug 21, 2011
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Aug 21, 2011
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Aug 22, 2011
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And no doubt that Apple will contend the application on the grounds that it was their product/invention/pipedream in the first place and try to sue MS on those grounds...