U.S. Patent Office Grants Patent to KeyLabs Inc.; Covers BootWorks, Boot Sequence Management Software.

PROVO, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 1998--KeyLabs(TM) Inc. Monday announced that it has been awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the Method and System for the Interception and Control of a Computer Boot Process.

Dated June 9, 1998, the patent, number 5764593, covers the technology KeyLabs refers to as BootWorks(R). This technology benefits network managers by allowing them to take control of a PC before it loads its normal operating environment such as Windows 95/98, NT, Unix or any other Intel-based operating system.

In order to control PC resources, most management systems today require proprietary hardware or management agents and an operating system loaded in memory. However, if a PC enters an unstable state, these systems can be rendered useless.

Because BootWorks executes before any system software is loaded, it guarantees a network manager access to a PC at boot time, regardless of the state of the other software loaded on the system. BootWorks supports both IP and IPX, is operating system and NIC independent and can be easily installed on any PC.

"The technology covered in this patent, along with other KeyLabs' technologies that are patent pending, help differentiate our products in the marketplace," said Jan Newman, president and chief executive officer, KeyLabs Inc. "We are integrating BootWorks across our line of software deployment and management solutions and providing licensing programs to allow other vendors to take advantage of this technology."

BootWorks is already a component of LabExpert(R), the industry's leading computer lab/classroom setup solution. LabExpert allows a single administrator to install or reinstall hundreds of PCs in minutes without leaving their desk.

BootWorks provides LabExpert users with remote control of PCs allowing them to install and setup PCs without having to visit each PC with a boot floppy. This reduces the number of times a technician or classroom administrator has to touch each PC, thereby reducing the overall cost of managing PCs.

About KeyLabs

KeyLabs Inc., located in Provo, was established in 1996 as an independent network test lab. Now the largest independent, professional testing lab of its kind, KeyLabs has created the most highly automated open systems testing facility in the world. In addition to its testing services, KeyLabs also develops and markets a line of software products.

Developed for use in its own labs, KeyLabs' RapiDeploy and LabExpert are the most advanced software deployment and PC setup solutions available. For use anywhere PCs are installed or updated, these products provide quick and painless system setup and configuration.

    CONTACT: KeyLabs Inc., Provo
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              Connect Public Relations, Provo
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