Google Patents Shipping-Container Data Centers

theodp writes "Two years ago, Robert X. Cringely wrote that Google was experimenting with portable data centers built in standard shipping containers. The idea, Cringely explained, wasn't new and wasn't even Google's, backing up his claim with a link to an Internet-Archive-in-a-Shipping-Container presentation (PDF, dated 11-8-2003) that was reportedly pitched to Larry Page. Google filed for a patent on essentially the same concept on 12-30-2003. And on Tuesday, the USPTO issued the search giant a patent for Modular Data Centers housed in shipping containers, which Google curiously notes facilitate 'rapid and easy relocation to another site depending on changing economic factors'. That's a statement that may make those tax-abating NC officials a tad uneasy."

Oops!

[Cap'nPedro]

This doesn't look good for Sun's Blackbox [sun.com] project.

Re:Oops!

[locokamil]

I'm no expert on patent law, so be gentle.

Doesn't the existence of Blackbox imply prior art for Google's patent?

Uncle Sam beat em to it...

[BiloxiGeek]

The military has been building and using that concept for decades. Portable satellite ground stations, portable phone switches, portable power generation, portable communication centers, portable damned near anything else you can think of that would be needed in a theater of operation. All built in a container like structure for easy transportation via land, sea and/or air.
I worked in one such container that housed a full Digital Subscriber Terminal Equipment (DSTE) suite with a second container of backup equipment while Saudi Arabia in 1986. (oops, that really showed my age.)

What's new about this?

[saltydog56]

Back in the late 70's I worked with Marine Air Group 24 over at K-Bay, HI and the group's data center was contained in two big metal containers each about the size of a small semi-trailer - when they needed to move they popped them on a trailer, shoved them in the back of a plane, or whatever.

Each data center was made up of a Univac 1218 processor, an online card reader-punch unit, a drum printer, and a bunch of tape drives.

Seems like the same concept to me.

Re:Evil

[Scrameustache]

Could someone please remind me how patenting something obvious is not evil?

When you patent it but allow anyone to use it free of charge, preventing someone else from patenting it and restricting its use.

I have no idea if that is what's going on, but that answer your question about "how" :)

Sun 'project blackbox' photos

[TheGratefulNet]

Sun has this already done and working, too. (I was there at the menlo park 'ceremony' and shot some photos of it):

http://www.netstuff.org/Sun_blackbox/ [netstuff.org]

sorry, no index.html yet - but I put together a thumbnail view in the time being:

http://www.netstuff.org/Sun_blackbox/contact_sheet.jpg [netstuff.org]

Give the patent to the people

[Anonymous Coward]

Google could always just grant the patent to the public domain. Other companies have done similar things with obvious patents. I consider such actions to be the proactive opposite of evil.

Defensive patents

[mike449]

Defensive patents are not used to protect the patented idea. They are usually used as a weapon when the company is sued by a competitor for something completely different. This tactics doesn't work against patent trolls, but works very well against competitors.
No computer company can touch IBM because of fear of their patents. I think Google is trying to achieve the same status.

Re:Oops!

[Seantotheizzo]

Rackable Systems has their version as well - http://rackable.com/products/icecube.aspx?nid=datacenter_5 [rackable.com] - and I think the idea was in the works long before Sun, although Sun has a lot more public spotlight than Rackable Systems, so everyone assumes it was their idea.