IBM's 1998 U.S. patent portfolio includes more than 700 software-related patents and over 375 related to network computing. The previous record for the most U.S. patents issued to a company in a single year was also established by IBM, with nearly 1,900 patents in 1996. This patent will lead to improved performance of these displays. OLEDs, mostly made of organic materials such as polymers, can bend around corners and stretch for use in applications ranging from wearable computers to large area displays used in venues such as airports and train stations. This patent provided IBM with a means for exporting strong cryptography to foreign customers, while meeting the U.S. Government's export regulations.
Strong cryptography is a key enabling technology for secure e-business.
Based in part on this patent, the key recovery features of IBM's Keyworks product line are in full compliance with the technical recommendations proposed by the Key Recovery Alliance, a consortium of companies and organizations working together to find the best approach to meeting the Government's requirements. SOI provides an insulating layer beneath transistors on a chip, improving their electrical characteristics and allowing their designs to be further optimized. Products using this technology will be introduced later this year. Automatic sales promotion selection system and method This e-business system uses neural networks to help businesses identify promising sales promotions based on customer purchasing patterns. It receives customer data, measures it against a database of inventory items and other customer purchases, and then suggests the most promising sales opportunities to meet both the customer's and merchant's needs.