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Info here [appft1.uspto.gov].
Geoff Perlman, CEO of Real Software, said the "is not" concept has existed for years in many computer languages, but Microsoft's patent appears to cover only BASIC-like languages.[eweek.com...]
[edited by: pmac at 4:06 pm (utc) on Feb. 22, 2005]
[edit reason] fixed scroll [/edit]
That seems to me the reason behind the patent, although I can't see how on earth it could possibly be granted.
Has (pointerA!= pointerB) not been around in C since the early 70's?
TJ
What is claimed:1. A system for determining if two operands point to different locations in memory, the system comprising: a compiler for receiving source code and generating executable code from the source code, the source code comprising an expression comprising an operator associated with a first operand and a second operand, the expression evaluating to true when the first operand and the second operand point to different memory locations.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the compiler is a BASIC-derived programming language compiler.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operator is IsNot.
In the patent application, the reference to basic is a dependent claim in claim 2 of the more general independent claim of claim 1. So, whether valid or not, a claim is made beyond just basic on the basis of the independent claim of claim 1. The reporter at Eweek should have run the concept past a patent attorney first.
3 Dim a, b As x a = New x( ) b = New x( ) . . . If Not (a Is b) Then (Perform Z) End If[0014] Such a language construction is ungrammatical, requires more typing and violates the philosophy on which BASIC rests. It would be helpful therefore, if a single more intuitive operator could perform the function that the combination of the two operators Is and Not typically performs.
...
[0049] If b IsNot Nothing
I believe that the same construct is available in at least transact sql, as in is not null as used in SQL Server. Although it is not specifically related to pointers. And since when does basic have pointers? I believe that this construct is also available in COBOL if one has to go back further in time for prior art.
Filed: May 14, 2003
The first disclosure or availability of the invention cannot have been before May 14, 2002 or the application should be barred from being granted. Was this, for example disclosed in any public beta of any version of Visual Basic prior to May 14,2002?
The only *innovation* here is the grammatical contraction from IS NOT to ISNOT.
This patent ought not(patent pending) be granted.
Of course, this flies in the face of the *logic* used by the US PTO examiners.
Inventors: Vick, Paul A. JR.; (Seattle, WA) ; Barsan, Costica Corneliu; (Bellevue, WA) ; Silver, Amanda K.; (Seattle, WA)
Correspondence Name and Address: WOODCOCK WASHBURN LLP
ONE LIBERTY PLACE, 46TH FLOOR
1650 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
Serial No.: 437822
Series Code: 10
Filed: May 14, 2003
chicken tracks for the patent examiner to find.
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