DIVA Granted Several New Patents for Delivering Video-On-Demand -- VOD -- Services; DIVA Leverages Technical Expertise as it Leads Industry in Intellectual Property Development.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 5, 2001

DIVA(TM), the video-on-demand (VOD) solutions leader for the cable TV industry, today announced the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has awarded six patents to DIVA that cover many of the key technologies associated with VOD services. These patents add to DIVA's extensive portfolio and represent a solid foundation upon which DIVA will expand with future advances in VOD solutions.

DIVA's solutions enable cable operators to leverage their investment in digital upgrades with the potential to increase revenue and reduce customer churn. DIVA's unique suite of products consists of innovative VOD management software running on a cost-effective delivery platform, as well as billing, content management, and technical support. The DIVA solutions function on both the Motorola and Scientific Atlanta platforms, and are integrated with all the major cable industry billing systems and electronic program guides, as well as interactive TV applications.

Among the recently awarded patents are three that cover the essential technologies required to deliver VOD. The first of these protects the concept of an on-demand session with an associated content delivery path, through which a customer is provided both menus and selected programs. A second patent protects the process of bookmarking on-demand movies to allow a VOD customer to return to a program they have previously purchased. The third patent protects the ability of a customer to define spending limits and viewer restrictions for VOD purchases -- a major concern for families with young children.

"Since DIVA's early days in 1995, our focus has been on building a complete, cost-effective solution," said Stan Knight, DIVA's chief scientist. "This portfolio of patents exemplifies our end-to-end expertise in delivering VOD to cable operators."

"We are extremely proud of our growing patent portfolio. The breadth of our expanding collection of intellectual property will open the door for DIVA to explore new and exciting licensing and marketing opportunities," said Henk Hanselaar, president and CEO of DIVA. "Our company is home to the best intellectual and technical expertise in the industry -- people who are seriously dedicated to innovation. We will continue to leverage our knowledge so that the cable companies and their customers will benefit by being first-in-line for the future of home entertainment."

The newly issued patents enhance DIVA's active technology protection program which includes more than 200 foreign and domestic patent applications, of which 27 have been issued. Today's announcement encompasses the following:

-- 6,163,272 -- "Method and Apparatus for Managing Personal Identification
Numbers in Interactive Information Distribution System"

-- 6,616,730 -- "System for Interactively Distributing Information Services"

-- 6,209.024 -- "Method and Apparatus for Accessing an Array of Data Storage
Devices by Selectively Assigning Users to Groups of Users"

-- 6,233,607 -- "Modular Storage Server Architecture with Dynamic Data
Management"

-- 6,240,553 -- "Method for Providing Scalable In-Band and Out-of-Band Access
Within a Video on Demand Environment"

-- 6,253,375 -- "System for Interactively Distributing Information Services"

About DIVA

DIVA (www.divatv.com) is the nation's leading video-on-demand (VOD) solutions provider to the cable television industry. DIVA's services and interoperable technology allow cable operators to deliver a complete VOD solution, including software and server platforms, billing and support services, and content management and distribution. DIVA's advanced video-on-demand solutions provide consumers with complete control over their viewing experience and, with VCR-like capabilities, they can watch new releases, library films and basic and premium cable programming, as well as children's programming. DIVA's systems are either deployed (or scheduled for deployment) in 26 markets by large-scale operators such as AT&T Broadband, Charter Communications and Insight Communications, which together reach 44 percent of all U.S. digital cable subscribers. Founded in June 1995, DIVA is a privately held company and is headquartered in Redwood City, Calif. DIVA's strategic investors include Charter Communications, NTL, OpenTV, Starz Encore, Liberate and Motorola. DIVA is a registered trademark of DIVA Systems Corporation. More information can be found at www.divatv.com.