Science & Technology 
Science and Technology
Science and Technology 
Mon, August 3, 2009
Sun, August 2, 2009
Sat, August 1, 2009
Fri, July 31, 2009
ePlus inc.: ePlus Adds a Content-Related Patent to Its Patent Portfolio
HERNDON, VA--(Marketwire - July 31, 2009) - ePlus inc. (
U.S. Patent No. 7,526,494 entitled "System and Method for User Creation and Direction of a Rich-Content Life-Cycle" assists in the development of rich-content (i.e., enriched, enhanced, and extended information) to permit the capture, development, and automated update of a rich-content repository in systems that utilize e-catalogs.
The invention provides for a customizable process workflow based upon the various stages that content must go through in order to take un-normalized, unstructured data from many sources, and consolidate it into meaningful, normalized, classified data ready for import into procurement, inventory, and online web sites used for purchasing and sourcing of goods and supplies.
The patent describes how users can adapt to and reflect the descriptive nuances of products available from individual suppliers and incorporate data aggregation, data transformation, catalog administration and publishing, catalog maintenance, catalog browsing, and data syndication.
"We have used Content+ AE from ePlus to support our item master and item maintenance in support of our managed inventory business," said Anthony Smith, IT operations manager for Strategic Distribution, Inc. "We utilize Content+ AE's normalization, aggregation, and enrichment features to produce rich item data that we publish to our PeopleSoft Procurement application for end user requisitioning. ePlus content architects help us with data cleansing and are very responsive to our dynamic work environment."
"We are very pleased to have been awarded this patent in recognition of our innovation for the management and creation of rich content for systems that utilize electronic catalogs," said Ken Farber, president of ePlus Systems. "Rich and descriptive content is the foundation for supply chain and spend management solutions and helps enable applications to reach their full potential."
ePlus' Content+ Advanced Edition (AE) solution incorporates the patent functionality for the lifecycle management of product information from within an intuitive user interface designed to logically lead the user through the steps to create rich, powerful content for today's e-commerce needs.
Content+ AE also enables users of the system to create customized classification schemas, company specific attributes, and global business rules to classify data and perform extraction routines that mine rich data from raw product descriptions. The system supports importing existing schemas from standardized sources and allows users to modify the schema or create a completely new schema. The system's built-in automated tools help users visually see all changes made to the content, compare those differences, and approve or reject changes.
About ePlus Systems, inc.
ePlus Systems, inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ePlus inc., develops and markets [ enterprise supply management ]applications and services to meet the needs of supply management and product content management for customers across all industries. The combination of software and services gives customers the choices and tools to optimize their spend, including supplier enablement, catalog content management, eProcurement, spend analytics, document management, and asset management.
Founded in 1990, ePlus has more than 625 associates in 20+ locations serving federal, municipal, and commercial customers. The Company is headquartered in Herndon, VA. For more information, visit [ http://www.eplus.com ], call 888-482-1122, or email [ info@eplus.com ].
ePlus®, Content+® Advanced Edition, and other ePlus products referenced herein are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ePlus inc. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. Subject to one or more of the following: U.S. Patent Nos. 6,023,683; 6,055,516; 6,505,172; 6,892,185; 6,182,127; 6,510,459; 7,047,211; 7,185,069; 7,254,581; 7,526,494; and corresponding foreign patents and patents pending.
Statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements." Actual and anticipated future results may vary due to certain risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, possible adverse effects resulting from the recent financial crisis in the credit markets and general slowdown of the U.S. economy such as our current and potential customers delaying or reducing technology purchases, increasing credit risk associated with our customers and vendors, reduction of vendor incentive programs, and restrictions on our access to capital necessary to fund our operations; the existence of demand for, and acceptance of, our services; our ability to adapt our services to meet changes in market developments; the impact of competition in our markets; the possibility of defects in our products or catalog content data; our ability to hire and retain sufficient personnel; our ability to protect our intellectual property; our ability to consummate and integrate acquisitions; our ability to raise capital and obtain non-recourse financing for our transactions; our ability to reserve adequately for credit losses; and other risks or uncertainties detailed in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information set forth in this release is as of the date of this release. ePlus undertakes no duty to update this information.