Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 08:30:20 -0500 (EST)

Forwarded message:
>From eileen@mcnc.org Thu Nov  3 16:13:46 1994
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 16:12:49 -0500
Message-Id: <199411032112.QAA16126@robin.mcnc.org.mcnc.org>
To: staff@mcnc.org
From: eileen@mcnc.org (eileen@robin.mcnc.org)
Subject: Press Release

MCNC and U.S. Patent Office Launch Internet AIDS Patent Library
 
Research Triangle Park, N.C. - A system designed by MCNC for the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) will bring the text and images of more
than 1500 AIDS-related patents to the desktops of researchers, scientists
and the general public in locations around the world. U.S. Department of
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown made the announcement today during a press
conference in Washington, D.C.
 
The PTO and MCNC, a private, nonprofit corporation located in Research
Triangle Park, N.C., launched the nation's first Internet-accessible AIDS
patent library after initiating the project three months ago. 
 
Secretary Brown said, "The only way to start slowing down this global
[AIDS] epidemic is to break down the barriers that prevent researchers from
sharing technology and information."
 
MCNC Vice President of Information Technologies Alan Blatecky said: "The
AIDS patent project serves as an excellent model for radically changing the
way research is conducted across many disciplines.  We believe that this
project will speed investigative research, resulting in more commercially
viable products that will enhance the quality of life in all corners of the
world."

MCNC's Clearinghouse for Networked Information Discovery and Retrieval
(CNIDR) developed the prototype AIDS patent library that will serve as a
model for storing and disseminating government and other public documents
in the future.  Using CNIDR-developed information retrieval software, the
system supports direct access to patents through a variety of popular
network information services such as Z39.50 and World Wide Web using
clients such as NCSA Mosaic, MacWeb and electronic mail - mechanisms
familiar to many users. 

MCNC's Blatecky enthusiastically describes some of the characteristics that
will make the program a widely adopted tool by users and agencies alike.
"The system," he explains, "is very user-friendly... even a novice to
Internet can hit the ground running.  The reason is that the complexity and
technology behind the system are transparent."  

By using easy point-and-click computer mouse techniques or by typing in key
words, researchers trigger an instantaneous search through hundreds of
AIDS-related patents.  The system categorically retrieves complete patents
containing the search word.  Linkages among patents enable automatic
cross-references - a process that takes place behind the scenes.  In
addition, the system automatically generates a paper trail noting the
various patents retrieved and reviewed.

CNIDR's Jim Fullton spearheaded the effort at MCNC to build the existing
AIDS patent information into its network-accessible form, providing
researchers not only text-based access to patent information but also
high-resolution images complete with drawings, equations and diagrams of
the full patents as issued by the PTO.  The system also fully integrates
other significant patent resources such as U.S. Patent Classifications.  

Fullton adds that the Internet version eliminates geographic barriers,
providing users located virtually around the world with access to
information that would have been difficult to locate otherwise.  

The AIDS patent library currently resides at MCNC in Research Triangle
Park.  Because anticipated demand will severely tax available resources at
MCNC, the files will be relocated soon to a network fileserver at AT&T in
New Jersey.
 
Background: MCNC is a private, nonprofit corporation located in Research
Triangle Park, NC.  MCNC provides advanced resources in microelectronics,
communications and computing for education and industry and to enhance 
technology-based economic development in North Carolina.

Established in 1992 with the support of the NSF, CNIDR promotes the
development, use and advancement of networked information systems,
standards and technologies.