Applied Science Fiction Purchases Key Technology Patents From IBM; Both Companies Enter into a Patent Cross Licensing Agreement.Business Editors & Technology Writers AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 1, 2000 Applied Science Fiction(TM) (ASF See Windows Media formats. 1. (language) ASF - Algebraic Specification Language. 2. (body) ASF - Analytical Solutions Forum. (TM)), a developer of image enhancement See image editing. and correction technology, announced today the purchase of 18 core technology United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. patents, and their international counterparts, from International Business Machines (IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) ). The purchased patents relate to ASF's award winning Digital Image Correction and Enhancement (Digital ICE) and Digital Film Processing (DFP (Digital Flat Panel) A digital interface for a flat panel display from VESA (www.vesa.org). Based on the electrical interface of the earlier P&D (Plug & Display) standard, DFP uses TMDS transmission and a 20-pin mini-D ribbon (MDR) connector. ) technologies. In addition, ASF and IBM have also entered into a patent cross licensing agreement whereby each company gains a license to the patents of the other company within their respective business areas. "The purchase of 18 patents, as well as the cross licensing agreement with IBM, further underscores our vision and strategy, which is to develop the best imaging technology for our customers," stated Mark Urdahl, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. , ASF. "The patents we purchased were the same patents our chief scientist, Dr. Al Edgar, developed while at IBM. His vision to bring end-users a perfect digital image will continue with this agreement and it will help Applied Science Fiction develop innovative new technologies for use in the converging photographic and digital imaging markets." This agreement gives ASF greater freedom of action in developing and marketing its current products as well as developing new products and technologies. The addition of these core technology patents and their international counterparts enhances ASF's patent portfolio. ASF has aggressively been building its Intellectual Property (IP) portfolio with 68 United States patent filings in 1999, and over 20 patent filings, to date, in 2000, bringing the total patent filings to 105 since the company's inception. Given this strong IP foundation, ASF plans to continue to expand its family of products. ASF and IBM also agreed to a preferred supplier arrangement where IBM will be given preferential treatment in supplying ASF with advanced storage devices for use in digital film processing systems. About Digital ICE3(cubed): ASF's Digital ICE3 imaging suite is a combination of sophisticated digital enhancement tools which, when embedded Inserted into. See embedded system. into a scanner by an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and , provides the user with a near perfect scanned digital image. Digital ICE3 technology is comprised of three proprietary technologies: ASF's award winning Digital ICE(TM) (Image Correction & Enhancement), Digital ROC(TM) (Reconstruction of Color not of the white race; - commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or mixed. See also: Color ) and Digital GEM(TM) (Grain Equalization In communications, techniques used to reduce distortion and compensate for signal loss (attenuation) over long distances. and Management). Digital ICE3 technology bridges the gap between photography and digital imaging for publishers, photo labs, service bureaus, mini-labs and all users of personal computers who work with photographic images and desktop film scanners. ASF licenses and brands its technology to imaging OEMs, whose products then carry the Digital ICE logo. Digital ICE3 eliminates scratches on photographic film or slides, restores accurate color fidelity and improves on a photograph's overall appearance by minimizing the visual noise, known as grain, quickly and automatically during the scanning process. About DFP: Digital Film Processing (DFP) is a proprietary technology that processes exposed film directly into a digital format. When commercially introduced, DFP will be an environmentally friendly Environmentally friendly, also referred to as nature friendly, is a term used to refer to goods and services considered to inflict minimal harm on the environment.[1] alternative to the conventional wet chemistry film processing system currently in use. About Applied Science Fiction: ASF develops proprietary technologies for the imaging industry that link traditional photography with the digital age. ASF licenses and brands its technologies through Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that provide products for professional, retail and consumer imaging markets. ASF currently staffs over 175 employees worldwide. More information can be found on ASF's Web site at www.asf.com. Digital ICE, Digital ICE3, Digital ROC, Digital GEM, ASF and Applied Science Fiction are trademarks of Applied Science Fiction, Inc. All other trade names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
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