Procession and Microsoft reach agreement over Procession’s Patent complaint

From: Procession
Published: Thu Feb 14 2008


Microsoft has undertaken to submit notification of Procession’s prior art to the US Patent Office. Consequently, Procession regards its Patent complaint with Microsoft as resolved.

In the same week, Procession welcomed a Microsoft hint at a new programming language based on the business model to enable better collaboration between business and IT - a capability already built and deployed by Procession. According to Procession, Microsoft’s new initiatives focusing on people in the workplace, bring greater credibility to the Procession breakthrough in business software.

Following a letter to Bill Gates from Procession’s CEO, David Chassels, seeking an early discussion to resolve what - to Procession - was a serious issue (where certain Microsoft patent applications lodged in 2005 failed to acknowledge Procession’s prior art) Chassels reported that a meeting in Chesham had resolved the issue as far as Procession was concerned.

"It always was a Microsoft problem and I am delighted it has accepted the legitimacy of our claims and has accepted responsibility to lodge the Procession prior art - and let the appropriate authorities pass judgement," Chassels commented. "I am much more interested in seeing Microsoft move towards the totality of our capability which we have pioneered in isolation for ten years."

Only last week, Mary Jo Foley's blog – which covers the products, people and strategies that make Microsoft tick - suggested that plans are advancing to build a new programming language, codenamed ‘D’, based upon a declarative process to build applications from the business model.

Chassels explained: "At last, we can see that the pieces of the jigsaw are coming together at Microsoft – in the adaptable user form, recognising people, roles, task type and data required, delivering the correct information to the right person at the right time.

"This reflects one of the patents which we disputed. In one of the other patents, Microsoft is focusing on putting all task attributes from a model into a database.

"There has already been an announcement that Microsoft sees the future as being able to build the application direct from the model. Now we have the revelation of this new declarative language, codenamed "D".

"These are the ingredients to take Microsoft to a new unified tool that business professionals or analysts can easily use to build any solution," Chassels added. "This is exactly what Procession has had for ten years - and it vindicates our approach.

"Procession’s software was built to be global and end users deserve access to this quicker than we could possibly provide on our own. As such, I am currently seeking to open discussions with other global business software technology players.

"Business software is, currently, far too complex. We have found a way to simplify this significantly.

"Now, it looks like Microsoft is getting there too," said Chassels.

"I have seen the capability and power this approach brings. It will change the shape of building applications.

"We support Microsoft’s move as described in their UK version of the 2007 white paper, ‘The New World of Work - Evolution of the UK Workforce’. This will bring to the business desktop the same sort of simplicity and power as Microsoft has done for the individual.

"However, this time, the new capabilities have been pioneered by Procession not Microsoft!"

End

Notes for Editors:

Copies of Procession’s White Paper, ‘Simplify IT, More For Less’, are available on its web site www.procession.com or from david.chassels@procession.com


About Procession
Procession is a UK-based and owned company that has developed original and innovative software in Task Orientated Applications (TOA). This TOA approach represents a dynamic alternative to pre-built and/or custom hard-coded applications. Their unique approach recognises that people are the source of all information and there are less than 13 task types, human and system, in any business activity. To aid simplicity the build is all fronted by a graphical model/designer allowing both set up of the data design and build by simple drop and drag and opening up task objects to allow configuration as required. The joining up of the task types is achieved through task links. This represents a paradigm shift in Business Software Development that many are visioning but not yet delivering.

Procession has created a Unified Framework that delivers dynamic applications as required by business in their language. It is entirely function independent and can therefore be deployed in any business environment and can allow business analysts to build both simple or complex applications with IT in support.

In the words of market analysts the Butler Group, Procession's unique, user-friendly technology "removes the disconnect between requirement and implementation." These TOA systems can be added to or modified easily, giving unrivalled ‘agility’. They can also provide management information in real-time to support dynamic Performance Management with guaranteed compliance, as required.

Further information from:
David Chassels, Procession: +44(0)1494 781 444; +44(0)7774 681773 (mobile)
Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR: +44(0)01727 860405

Company: Procession
Contact Name: Bob Little
Contact Email: bob.little@dial.pipex.com
Contact Phone: 00 44 (0) 1727 860405

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