<A HREF="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2082565,00.asp?kc=EWNAVEMNL011207EOAD">Borrowing a page directly from Microsoft's playbook,</A> Oracle has implemented an advance notice mechanism for its quarterly release of security patches. Beginning with the first CPU (Critical Patch Update) for 2007, due on Jan. 16, the database server giant is implementing a CPU Pre-Release Announcement that includes the name of version numbers of Oracle products affected by patches, a total count of vulnerabilities being fixed and a severity score for the most serious product flaws.