On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 08:27:22AM -0500, Robert Heller wrote: > At Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:07:15 +0800 CentOS mailing list <centos at centos.org> wrote: > > > > > > > > > http://blogs.computerworld.com/15082/omg_microsoft_patents_sudo_linux_and_macos_dead?source=CTWNLE_nlt_dailyam_2009-11-12 > > > Is this for real? Blogs.computerworld.com seems to be down/dead/broken > database... > Yes real. But they have not patented sudo but a twist on it. As best I can tell they have solved one of the things I hate about WindowZ security. It is that it is opaque. This twist opens some windows of information to the user when privledge change is needed. i.e. and hints what account/ password to type and has the data and authentication methods to get there. The patent was filed in 2004 or so so ya got to reach back into the way back machine if you are going to find prior art. The best place to look is in retail software and the data base world perhaps banking software. If I understand it... this system has it all and I have seen it in action for years... Retail, Login enter coat #SKU12345 price $1234567.00 Customer has a coupon to get the coat for $5.00 enter price override #SKU12345 to $5.00 one time Bzzz- call manager override and approval required manger pass word ********** entered Customer pays $5.00 and checks out. A common view of an operating system is a data base engine that manages data including authentication. The data base folk have been doing this for decades. I fail to see anything new here. Anyhow this was posted on /. and discussed in depth and to death. http://yro.slashdot.org/story/09/11/11/2055226/Microsoft-Patents-Sudos-Behavior http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,617,530.PN.&OS=PN/7,617,530&RS=PN/7,617,530