| SEATTLE, September 23, 1999 -
Punch Networks Corp. today announced it has been issued a second U.S. Patent (5,937,405), a continuation of U.S. Patent 5,694,596 issued in December 1997. Both patents cover a "system and method" of updating data across a network or the Internet. While the first patent dealt primarily with updating data on terminal machines in a client-server paradigm, the second covers the updating of data in any network paradigm, regardless of where the data is stored. Locations include, but are not limited to, desktop computers, databases, applications, set-top boxes, cellular phones, personal data assistants (PDAs) - even semiconductor chips.
"This second patent is significant for Punch Networks and the industry as a whole," said the president and CEO of Punch Networks. "There is a growing number of companies offering similar technologies that could be affected by this issuance. This would include products and services that help businesses and users share and update files and other personal information using a range of devices, from laptops to cell phones to PDAs."
Punch Networks' intellectual property assets can be simplified into the five steps described below.
- Identifying a machine (or device) "A" having a "module" of information (i.e. a file, a folder, a hard-drive, etc.);
- Identifying a machine (or device) "B" having a corresponding module of information (i.e. a file, a folder, a hard-drive, etc.);
- Identifying any "module-block(s)" or piece(s) of information (i.e. files or parts of files) that are new or more recent;
- Sending identified new or changed module blocks from Machine B to Machine A (or vice-versa as necessary);
- Updating the existing information with the new or changed piece(s) of information (i.e. a file is updated, or a file is added to a folder, or a folder is added to a drive, etc.).
"We're fortunate that the founder of Punch Networks, David Campbell, had the vision in 1993 to see that the Internet would someday enable users to automatically keep their information up-to-date no matter where they are or what device they use," continued the Punch's President and CEO. "There are a number of companies who have since come to share this vision and have begun to build products and services with a similar scope. We are now in the position to connect with these companies to discuss business and licensing opportunities with Punch Networks."
"There are lots of approaches to keeping files and other information updated," said Punch Networks Founder and Chairman David Campbell, who is the inventor of the patented technology. "We believe our self-updating technology, as it is used in our existing product line, and in the products of our partners and licensees, provides the most flexible, efficient and effective means of keeping any type of distributed information up-to-date on any machine or device."
Punch Networks offers a Web-based file storage, sharing and updating service from its Web site, called Punch WebGroups. This service lets a single user and/or groups of users create a WebGroup, essentially a private disk drive on a secure Web server hosted by Punch Networks. Users can upload documents and other data from their machines to the Web server, from which others in the WebGroup can download the file. Any time a shared file is new or updated, Punch WebGroups notifies each user via email. Users can then come to the WebGroup and download the new or changed files directly to their machine. Importantly, WebGroups uploads and downloads only the changes between versions of files, so updating files occurs quickly.
The company currently offers Punch WebGroups as a service to users from its Web site as well as through partnerships with other providers, such as portals including intellifact.com, workz.com, powerstudents.com and cos.com. Users can always create a WebGroups account for up to 10mb of file free storage directly from the Punch Networks Web site, www.punchnetworks.com.
About Punch Networks Corporation
Founded by David Campbell in 1995, Punch Networks develops software products, services and technologies that help people effectively manage changing digital information. The company's first service, Punch WebGroups, lets anyone store, share and automatically update their files using just their Web browser. The Company offers WebGroups as a hosted service to business partners and to companies as an outsourced service.
For more information, visit the Punch Networks website at www.punchnetworks.com, email info@punchnetworks.com, or call (206) 343-7661.
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