HERNDON, Va., March 26, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ePlus inc.
(Nasdaq:PLUS) today announced the issuance of a patent for network
collaboration through embedded annotations by the U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO).
U.S. Patent No. 7,647,373 B2 entitled “System and Process for Network
Collaboration Through Embedded Annotation and Rendering Instructions”
was issued on January 12, 2010, and the term of the patent has been extended
for an additional 1,482 days so that it remains in effect through April 4,
2025, provided that maintenance fees are paid at respective intervals.
The patent covers an innovative technique that makes it easier and more
efficient for people to collaborate on documents and Web pages. Unlike prior
approaches, ePlus’ patented technique does not require the installation of
any dedicated collaboration software. Using a Web browser, each user can
annotate a base document and then share the annotations with others by
transmitting a message containing a special Universal Resource Locator
(URL). Embedded in the URL is the location of the base document as well as
an encoded representation of the annotations and instructions for the
computer’s display of such annotations. A recipient of the URL is then able
to view in a Web browser the base document with the annotations displayed in
substantially the same way as intended by the annotator. Such collaboration
processes can be implemented in either a server-client model or a
peer-to-peer model.
“The ability for people to effectively and efficiently share ideas and
collaborate is at the core of team productivity,” said Ken Farber, president
of ePlus Systems. “The underlying technology in this patent is a key
component of our advanced business applications that allow sharing of
critical business information over the Web, such as DigitalPaper XE, which
incorporates DirectSight, ViewMark, and DocPak software. These solutions
benefit our customers by reducing the time between communications over the
Web, enabling more people to participate in the communications, and
improving the accuracy of the communications. In common with all of the
business solutions we provide, these benefits translate into compliance,
productivity, and cost savings.”
About ePlus Systems, inc.
ePlus Systems, inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ePlus inc., delivers
advanced supply management solutions and services to help companies across
all industries get the most value from their spend. ePlus Systems provides
on-demand and enterprise solutions including eProcurement, catalog content
management, spend analytics and document management solutions to drive cost
savings, compliance, and productivity improvements. Its on-demand solutions
for eProcurement and catalog content management received unqualified SAS 70
Type II examinations for three consecutive years.
About ePlus inc.
ePlus is a leading provider of technology solutions. ePlus enables
organizations to optimize their IT infrastructure and supply chain processes
by delivering world-class IT products from top manufacturers, professional
services, flexible lease financing, proprietary software, and patented
business methods. Founded in 1990, ePlus has more than 625 associates in 20+
locations serving federal, municipal, and commercial customers. The Company
is headquartered in Herndon, VA. For more information, visit
http://www.eplus.com, call 888-482-1122, or email [email protected].
ePlus(R), DigitalPaper(R), DirectSight(R), ViewMark(R), DocPak(R), and ePlus
products and ePlus products referenced herein are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of ePlus inc. in the United States and/or other
countries. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be
the trademarks of their respective owners.
Subject to one or more of the following: U.S. Patent Nos. 6,023,683;
6,055,516; 6,505,172; 6,892,185; 6,182,127; 6,510,459; 7,047,211; 7,185,069;
7,254,581; 7,526,494; and corresponding foreign patents and patents pending.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be deemed
to be “forward-looking statements.” Actual and anticipated future results
may vary materially due to certain risks and uncertainties, including,
without limitation, possible adverse effects resulting from the recent
financial crisis in the credit markets and general slowdown of the U.S.
economy such as our current and potential customers delaying or reducing
technology purchases, increasing credit risk associated with our customers
and vendors, reduction of vendor incentive programs, the possibility of
additional goodwill impairment charges, and restrictions on our access to
capital necessary to fund our operations; the demand for and acceptance of,
our products and services; our ability to adapt our services to meet changes
in market developments; the impact of competition in our markets; the
possibility of defects in our products or catalog content data; our ability
to hire and retain sufficient personnel; our ability to protect our
intellectual property; our ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions;
our ability to raise capital and obtain non-recourse financing for our
transactions; our ability to reserve adequately for credit losses; and other
risks or uncertainties detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. All information set forth in this press release is
current as of the date of this release and ePlus undertakes no duty or
obligation to update this information.
