IBM Again Receives Most U.S. Patents, Surpassing Own Record for a Single
Year

ARMONK, N.Y., January 10, 1996 . . . IBM today announced it was awarded the
most U.S. patents for the third straight year, receiving a record 1,383
patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office -- 27 percent more than
any other company received in 1995.

The previous record was 1,298 U.S. patents, set by IBM in 1994. IBM also
led with 1,087 patents in 1993, the first year since 1985 that a company
based in the U.S. received the most U.S. patents.

Trailing IBM in the top 10 for 1995, according to IFI/Plenum Data
Corporation**, were Canon KK, which had 1,088 patents; Motorola, 1,012;
NEC, 1,005; Mitsubishi Denki Ltd., 971; Toshiba, 970; Hitachi Ltd., 909;
Matsushita, 852; Eastman Kodak, 772; and General Electric, 757.

"IBM will continue to be the foundry for much of the intellectual capital
created in our industry," said Marshall Phelps, Jr., vice president of
intellectual property & licensing services for IBM. "We are pleased with
the ranking and will continue to work hard to bring these innovations to
market quickly. IBM continues to invest in key technological areas like
software, networking, data storage and microelectronics -- as our patent
portfolio for 1995 attests."

The IBM patents were almost exclusively in the field of information
processing. Among the record number of 1995 U.S. patents issued to IBM are
those for:

o    A way for a user to configure a computer network using a
     front-of-screen display, saving the user from the hassle of
     sending and installing command files.  This software
     invention, another example of IBM's network-centric
     computing strategy at work, will automatically configure a
     user's PC and send related configuration files to other
     workstation locations.  (U.S. 5,394,522)

o    A mobile networking system that brings digital data
     capability to present cellular phone systems.  The digital
     cellular overlay network collects unused or unusable air
     time, normally used for voice traffic, to send digital data.
     This invention is already used in wireless adapters for the
     IBM ThinkPad*.  (U.S. 5,404,392)

o    A method and system that allows a microprocessor to carry
     out several instructions simultaneously instead of serially.
     Multiple instructions are sent at the same time to execution
     units and the results are stored in intermediate "buffers."
     The intermediate buffers handle the results in a way that
     allows the simultaneous processing of several instructions
     at once without conflicts.  When processing is complete, the
     final results appear in registers, or storage locations,
     where the results can be used.  This technique greatly
     increases processing power.  This invention is already used
     in PowerPC* 603 and PowerPC 604 microprocessors.
     (U.S. 5,465,373)

o    A new formatting technique allows up to 30 percent more data
     to be stored on magnetic hard-disk drives used for computer
     data storage.  The new format increases data-storage
     capacity by removing all of the disk-sector-identification
     (ID) information that until now has preceded every block of
     data on the disk.  The necessary functions formerly served
     by the ID fields are now handled electronically.  When used
     in conjunction with the sensitive magnetoresistive recording
     head, another IBM innovation, this new formatting system
     also permits the data tracks to be closer together.
     (U.S. 5,438,559)

o    A system that allows a PC user to automatically retrieve
     video or audio from a database on an electronic network
     database resource.  A first user sends e-mail and places
     references to the database resource in the e-mail.  The
     recipient can simply use icons on the display to request the
     references without having to leave the e-mail item to
     issue access commands for the reference.  This invention
     provides a user-friendly way to send a request to a remote
     database, and the requested sound, audio or text is
     retrieved and displayed in a window.  (U.S. 5,418,908)

o    A method that organizes multiple windows on a display screen
     in proportion to the length of time each window is active.
     Upon receipt of a simple command from the user, the more
     active windows appear larger than windows that are active a
     shorter length of time.  This allows an easy way for a user
     to find windows that have become hidden or to turn windows
     into icons when they're seldom used.  (U.S. 5,390,295)

IBM news releases are available on the Internet, via the IBM Home Page at
http://www.ibm.com

The IBM Fax Information Service allows you to receive facsimiles of prior
IBM product press releases.  Dial 1-800-IBM-4FAX and enter "99" at the
voice menu.
 
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