<PAGE>

                                                                   Exhibit 10.01

JEFFREY M. FORSTER (SBN 50519)
FORSTER & SEGAL
160 W. Santa Clara St., #1100
San Jose, CA 95113
Telephone: (408) 977-3137

Attorneys for Defendants
SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC.


TED A. GALFIN (SBN 95142)
GALFIN & PASSON, LLP
Attorneys at Law
18101 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1400
Irvine, California 92612-1043

Attorneys for Plaintiff
FINOVA TECHNOLOGY FINANCE, INC.


                   SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                             COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA



FINOVA TECHNOLOGY FINANCE, INC.              Case No: CV 780730

                  Plaintiff(s),              STIPULATION AND
                                             ORDER THEREON
v.

SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC.

                  Defendant(s).
-------------------------------

     IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED by and between Plaintiff, FINOVA TECHNOLOGY
FINANCE, INC. (hereinafter "FINOVA") and Defendant, SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH,
INC. (hereinafter "SVR"), that they have reached a settlement in the above-
captioned matter on the following terms and basis.

     1.   The parties hereto desire to settle all matters and controversies
between them, including the rights and obligations of the parties under the
terms of a certain Equipment Lease entered into in or about September, 1995 (the
"Lease") as it relates to certain computer equipment (the "Equipment").
<PAGE>

     2.   The parties have agreed that within five (5) days after the execution
of this Stipulation, SVR shall deliver to FINOVA the sum of $25,000 by cashier's
check or other immediately available funds.

     3.   The parties agree that upon its receipt of the payment of the $25,000,
FINOVA agrees to forbear from proceeding in the above-captioned litigation until
August 3, 2000 (at which time the court has scheduled a status/settlement review
hearing) in consideration for the payment of said $25,000.

     4.   The parties acknowledge and agree that, after FINOVA's receipt of the
sum of $25,000 from SVR as provided in Paragraph 2 above, the sum of $157,818.91
will remain due, owing and unpaid to FINOVA under the terms of the lease.
Therefore, SVR agrees to pay to FINOVA the sum of $157,818.91, plus interest
thereon at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum accruing from and after April
16, 1999 through and including August 3, 2000, at which time the remaining
balance of principal and interest shall be all due and payable, in full
settlement of this matter. Upon timely payment of said sum, together with any
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, FINOVA shall cause the above-referenced
action to be dismissed in its entirety, with prejudice.

     5.   A Request to Enter a Default Judgment was filed by FINOVA against SVR
on May 27, 1999. The parties hereby stipulate that the default or SVR entered on
May 27, 1999, shall be and it is hereby set aside.

     6.   As stated above, credit shall be given to amounts due and owing by SVR
to FINOVA for the $25,000 to paid upon execution of this Stipulation.
Furthermore a sale of the Equipment has been undertaken and the sale amount is
$1,700. SVR has procured the buyer and negotiated the sales price, which is
acceptable to FINOVA, and said $1,700 shall also be credited against amounts due
to FlNOVA by SVR as set out above. Said payment of $1,700 shall be in cashier's
check or other immediately available funds and made payable to FINOVA TECHNOLOGY
FINANCE, INC. Upon receipt of said payment, FINOVA shall forward a bill of sale
for the leased Equipment pursuant to instructions from SVR.

     7.   The Case Management Conference heard in Santa Clara County Superior
Court on July 27, 1999 before Judge Leonard Sprinkles in Department 9 was
attended by Jeffrey M. Forster on behalf of both parties. A new
Status/Settlement Review Hearing has been set by the court on August 3, 2000,
<PAGE>

at 10:00 a.m., in Department 9 of this court, when this settlement should be
finalized by the parties. Any other court appearances required by the parties to
this action in Santa Clara Superior Court in the interim shall be made by
Jeffrey M. Forster.

     8.   It is agreed that upon the execution and filing of this Stipulations,
counsel for SVR shall pay any appearance fee required by in the Santa Clara
Superior Court and shall attend any and all conferences or other required
meetings with the court and provide any case management statements that may be
required in the interim.

     9.   If the matter is not settled on or before August 3, 2000 by the
payment of the outstanding balance due by SVR to FINOVA as provided in paragraph
4 above, then FINOVA shall have all of its remedies available to pursue its
claims against SVR and put the matter back on calendar by attendance before the
court on August 3, 2000 at the Status/Settlement Review Hearing in order to
schedule court ordered proceedings, including any motions, other alternative
dispute resolution efforts that are made and thereafter trial if the foregoing
are not successful. Without limiting the foregoing, the parties expressly agree
that the terms of this Stipulation may be enforced by FINOVA by motion for the
entry of judgment under Code of Civil Procedure Section 664.6.

     10.  The parties agree to cooperate with each other in executing any and
all documents or other pleadings that may be required by the court in order to
finalize this settlement, including any other releases, dismissals or documents
necessary to remove and set aside the Request to Enter Default as set forth
above.

     11.  SVR and FINOVA have executed this Stipulation based upon their own
independent judgment without threat, coercion or duress. SVR and FINOVA fully
understand the terms and legal effect of this Stipulation, and both acknowledge
that they have had adequate opportunity to consult legal counsel in connection
with this Stipulation.

     12.  This Stipulation is made for the benefit of SVR and FINOVA and their
respective successors and assigns. No other person or persons shall have any
rights or remedies under or by reason of this Stipulation.

     13.  The parties further agree:
<PAGE>

          a.   This Stipulation may be executed in multiple counterparts, each
               of which shall constitute an original Stipulation, but all of
               which shall constitute one and the same Stipulation;

          b.   Any amendment to this Stipulation must be writing, must be
               executed and delivered by both parties, and must expressly refer
               to this Stipulation;

          c.   This Stipulation shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
               benefit of the parties hereto, their heirs, executors,
               administrators, successors, legal representatives and assigns;

          d.   This Stipulation shall be governed by the laws of the State of
               California as applicable.

          e.   SVR and FINOVA agree that the rule of construction to the effect
               that any ambiguities are to be or may be resolved against the
               drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of
               this Stipulation to favor one party against the other.

          f.   In the event any party to this Stipulation brings further
               proceedings and/or a separate suit to enforce any provision of
               this Stipulation or is required to defend any action, the
               unsuccessful party agrees to pay the successful party such costs
               and attorneys' fees as the court deems just and proper;

          g.   For purposes of this Stipulation, the addresses of the parties
               for all notices are set forth below:

                    Finova Technology Finance, Inc.
                    115 West Century Road
                    Paramus, NJ 07653
                    ATTN: O'Neil Ptrone, Manager-Collections

                    With a copy to:

                    TED A. GALFIN (SBN 95142)
                    GALFIN & PASSON, LLP
                    Attorneys at Law
                    18101 Von Karman Avenue, Suite 1400
                    Irvine, California 92612-1043
<PAGE>

                    Silicon Valley Research, Inc.
                    6360 San Ignacio Avenue
                    San Jose, California 95119-1231
                    ATTN:  James Benouis, President

                    With a copy to:

                    Jeffrey M. Forster, Esq. (SBN 50519)
                    Forster & Segal
                    160 W. Santa Clara Street, #1100
                    San Jose, California 95113

     15.  In witness whereof, the parties have executed this Stipulation as of
the dates set forth below.

FINOVA TECHNOLOGY FINANCE, INC.

By:  /s/ O'Neil Petrone                           Date:  8/18/99
     --------------------------------                    -------------
     O'Neil Petrone, Manager-Collections


SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC.


By:  /s/ James Benouis                            Date:  10/7/99
     --------------------------------                    -------------
     James Benouis, President


APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CONTENT:

GALFIN & PASSON, LLP


By:  /s/ Ted A. Galfin                            Date:  8/23/99
     --------------------------------                    -------------
     Ted A. Galfin
     Attorney for Plaintiffs
     FINOVA TECHNOLOGY FINANCE, INC.


FORSTER & SEGAL


By:  /s/ Jeffrey M. Forster                       Date:  9/2/99
     --------------------------------                    -------------
     Jeffrey M. Forster
     Attorney for Defendants
     SILICON VALLEY RESEARCH, INC.
<PAGE>

                                     ORDER

     Upon the foregoing Stipulation of the parties hereto and good cause
appearing therefor,

     IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: Oct. 13, 1999                    Leonard B. Sprinkles
       -------------                    --------------------