TOKYO, Nov. 17, 2016 — FRONTEO, Inc. (“FRONTEO” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:FTEO) (TSE:2158), which provides big-data analytics services using its proprietary artificial intelligence (“AI”) engine, today announced that the Japan Patent Office has issued a Notification of Decision to grant a patent to the Company for an AI-based technology that assists users’ online social networking.
The necessary procedures of patent registration have been executed, and the patent is currently pending issuance.
Patent application number: 2016-542301
Registration number: Pending issuance
Patent application filing date: May 30, 2016
Priority date: October 23, 2014
Today, information used in people’s daily lives are enriched by the reduced cost of computer resources and their performance improvement, coupled with the expanded use of the Internet. However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to identify meaningful information due to the explosive growth of social data. For example, although a social network service (SNS) can provide a list of friend suggestions, finding a friend who has common interests on one’s own (e.g., via joining a community that shares what one likes to do, one’s favorite celebrity or favorite food) has become more difficult because of the enormous data that is available.
The innovative technology covered by this patent enables the Company’s proprietary AI engine, “KIBIT,” to learn the user’s preferences, and recommend other users who have the same likes and dislikes based on the learned criteria. This simple yet effective process allows the user to get to know others who share similar preferences.
“We believe that this patent is a testament to the superior innovation underlying the highly accurate data analytics solutions provided by FRONTEO,” stated FRONTEO Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Masahiro Morimoto. “Our data analytics solutions are expanding into increasingly important business fields, such as healthcare, business intelligence and marketing, where vast data processing is necessary. By further honing our AI-based technologies and expanding our portfolio of intellectual properties, FRONTEO will continue to provide sophisticated data analytics services to people around the world.”
About FRONTEO, Inc.
FRONTEO, Inc. (“FRONTEO”) (Nasdaq:FTEO) (TSE:2158) supports the analysis of big data based on behavior informatics by utilizing its technology, “KIBIT”. FRONTEO’s KIBIT technology is driven by FRONTEO artificial intelligence based on knowledge acquired through its litigation support services. KIBIT incorporates experts’ tacit knowledge, including their experiences and intuitions, and utilizes that knowledge for big data analysis. FRONTEO continues to expand its business operations by applying KIBIT to new fields such as healthcare and marketing. FRONTEO was founded in 2003 as a provider of e-discovery and international litigation support services. These services include the preservation, investigation and analysis of evidence materials contained in electronic data, and computer forensic investigation. FRONTEO provides e-discovery and litigation support by making full use of its data analysis platform, “Lit i View”, and its Predictive Coding technology adapted to Asian languages. The company name was changed from UBIC, Inc. to FRONTEO, Inc. as of July 1, 2016.
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