OpenCL and patents....

[ShintaiDK]

This seems to defeat the purpose of OpenCL.

1. A computer implemented method comprising: determining, in response to an API (Application Programming Interface) request from an application running in a host processing unit, a total number of threads to concurrently execute one or more executable codes compiled from a single source for one or more target processing units, the API request including a global thread number having a multi-dimensional value; verifying if a thread group size has been specified by a particular one of the executable codes, the particular executable code to be executed in a particular one of the one or more target processing units, the thread group size to partition the total number of threads; in response to verifying the thread group size has not been specified by a particular one of the executable codes, determining the thread group size for the particular target processing unit based on current resource usage status of the particular target processing unit; and loading the particular executable code of the one or more executable codes to be executed in a thread group of the thread group size concurrently in the particular target processing unit.

http://www.patentlyapple.com/patent...tents-relating-to-opencl-unreleased-dock.html

 

[Arkadrel]

Apple Wins Patents Relating to OpenCL & Unreleased Dock

lol dammnit apple.

1. A computer implemented method comprising: determining, in response to an API (Application Programming Interface) request from an application running in a host processing unit, a total number of threads to concurrently execute one or more executable codes compiled from a single source for one or more target processing units, the API request including a global thread number having a multi-dimensional value; verifying if a thread group size has been specified by a particular one of the executable codes, the particular executable code to be executed in a particular one of the one or more target processing units, the thread group size to partition the total number of threads; in response to verifying the thread group size has not been specified by a particular one of the executable codes, determining the thread group size for the particular target processing unit based on current resource usage status of the particular target processing unit; and loading the particular executable code of the one or more executable codes to be executed in a thread group of the thread group size concurrently in the particular target processing unit.

Is it just me or is it hard to understand/purposefully vague?
Why are companies allowed to patent stupid things and "idea'" that are at best very vague?
At the very least you should be able to show a finished product before being allowed to patent something, and it should only count on that product. Vague defined idea's shouldnt be allowed to be patented.

There should be laws against companies getting stupid patents.
Like if apple said, no one is allowed to make a white phone, because thats our colour.
Its stupid because you cant claim to own a colour.

Same with the "shape" of a phone, its just silly, you cant force people to make triangle/circle shaped phones, because you patented a "rectangled" shaped one. Its beyound silly.


Also where does it mention OpenCL? this sounds like apple want to patent all parallel workloads or something silly like that
The only place OpenCL is mentioned is by the author of the artical, thats guessing its related to opencl.

 

[dma0991]

I was reading this earlier. Apple is becoming a bigger patent troll than I've ever expected. Maybe I should boycott their products for good.