Contact:
Laura Margolis
PR 21 for Hilgraeve, Inc.
312-396-9726
laura_margolis@pr21.com

Peer-to-Peer Communication Process Patent Issued to Hilgraeve Inc.
Innovative Technology Extends Potential of Internet-based Computing

Monroe, Mich., August 14, 2000 - The U.S. Patent Office just issued a patent on a new Internet technology, Method and Apparatus for Peer to Peer Communication, Pat No. 6,094,676, to Hilgraeve Inc., a long-time leader in communications software. The process, dubbed Internet Rendezvous in Hilgraeve products, enables computer users to initiate Internet connections to modem users who are not presently online. The company intends to license the technology widely to extend the usefulness of instant messaging, Internet telephony, unified messaging, and conferencing.

This new technology enhances the potential of peer-to-peer communication by enabling communication-on-demand. Until now, the functionality of such applications was limited to occasions when all parties happened to be online. The new process overcomes this barrier, enabling one computer to “invite” another to meet online. It places a 3-second call directly to the other computer through telephone lines to trigger the automatic Internet connection process.

“Internet Rendezvous moves peer-to-peer applications from being hobbyists’ toys to something that can really improve peer-to-peer applications and lead to communication-on-demand. If I want to swap files, chat or talk to someone through the Internet, I don’t want to have to call my colleague on the phone first, to ask them to get online,” said Hilgraeve President Matthew Gray. “That’s why we created Internet Rendezvous – to enable true peer-to-peer communication-on-demand. We’re helping many IP-based application providers make this leap to practicality.”

If a person is connected to the Internet via modem, Internet Rendezvous disconnects that user’s computer from the Internet momentarily and places a split-second “invitation call” to another computer. During the call, Internet Rendezvous instructs the target computer to connect to the Internet. Following receipt of the invitation, both computers are online, and file swapping or other peer-to-peer communication can begin.

Internet Rendezvous enables a remote user to elicit responses from another computer. For instance, when using an Internet Telephony application, a caller can make another person’s computer “ring,” notifying the other party that someone would like to speak via computer. Similarly, applications that use Internet Rendezvous can allow one person to call other online to chat or videoconference. In the case of file-swapping, users can get shared files from another’s computer, even if the other participant’s computer is not currently in use or logged online.

Internet Rendezvous premiered in Hilgraeve’s DropChute instant file delivery software in 1998, and is already used by many customers to eliminate dependence on costly long-distance calls. For more information, contact Hilgraeve sales at 734.243.0576. Developers and individual users who want to experience Internet Rendezvous can download DropChute Pro or DropChute Enterprise from Hilgraeve’s Web site, www.hilgraeve.com.

About Hilgraeve, Inc.
Hilgraeve, Inc. is a leading provider of solutions for mission-critical business communication challenges. Founded in 1980, Hilgraeve ranks among the world’s most prolific communication software companies. Its HyperTerminal product is on more than 50 million desktops worldwide as a standard feature within all Microsoft Windows products since Windows 95. Publications such as Fortune, PC Week, PC World and PC Magazine have recognized Hilgraeve products with their reviews and awards. For more information, please visit www.hypersend.com and www.hilgraeve.com.