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Press Release

Patented Acquired for Overlay Technology, Allowing
Instructions over Streaming Video from Smart Devices

Standard function in Japan's first remote medical consultation service, Pocket Doctor
Providing essential smooth communication capabilities for the IoT age

TOKYO, Japan (February 9, 2016) - OPTiM (TSE: 3694), a leading provider of IoT platform services, announced patent acquisition for "Overlay Technology." The patent is for technology that allows graphic instructions to be placed over live streaming video from smart devices, including smartphones, tablets and smart glasses. With this technology, OPTiM is providing essential smooth communication (experience sharing, remote instruction, operation support) for the IoT age. Furthermore, this technology is a standard function in Japan's first remote medical consultation service, Pocket Doctor, which was announced on February 4, 2016.

【Image of patented Overlay Technology, allowing instructional graphics over live streaming video】

This patent covers the instruction methods shown above: red pen drawing, finger indicator and text instructions. (Japan patent no. 5192462)

■Background

In the face of rapidly-evolving technology, the popularization of smart devices and the improvement of communication infrastructures' speed and quality, smart device usage is increasing in-home and at-work. Moreover, smart device usage is expected to further increase with the dawn of the IoT and wearables era. These developments are making lives easier, while at the same time necessitating that knowledge of a rapidly-growing number of new devices and technologies. Making this environment even more complex is the fact that Japan's workforce is shrinking due to the graying of the current workforce and the decrease of the national birthrate. This has led to a large-scale societal problem, a symptom of which is the lack of specialists across a variety of industries. Considering this, OPTiM has developed a remote technology strategy for the IoT age, Remote Experience Sharing. This is an environment that allows everyone to remotely share experience (knowledge, know-how, and information) with individuals and groups in real-time, contributing to a world in which users can concentrate on their primary tasks and enjoy the benefits of technology's evolution without being an expert. With being able to share instructions with a live video on smart devices, can review a work site's status in real-time from the worker's or customer's point of view and provide detailed support, as if there in person. This service is ideal for corporations that face labor shortages, support cost increases or specialized training for employees.

■Example services utilizing Overlay Technology

• Remote medical consultation service Pocket Doctor
  Pocket Doctor uses OPTiM's existing remote management technology, which was optimized in the development of this project to best suit the requirements for remote medical consultation. This technology, in combination with MRT's wealth of medical knowledge and network of doctors and medical institutions, allows for Pocket Doctor to match those in need of medical advice with specialists, no matter they are located. Up until now, remote medical consultation has usually been conducted over the phone, which has its limitations. When using the phone, a doctor can only evaluate the patient based on the patient's oral description of the symptoms. However, Pocket Doctor helps provide more practical information. Patients can use their built-in cameras in their smart devices to show their complexions and conditions. Furthermore, wearable devices can collect and transmit various vital signs and other data to the patient's doctor. This allows medical professionals to give more detailed and accurate advice.

  In addition, with Pocket Doctor, patients who are having trouble going to a hospital or who are unsure if they should go a hospital can receive proper advice.

【Image of consultation】

• Remote operational work dedicated smart glass Remote Action
  Remote Action is a remote operational work dedicated smart glass to be equipped to an on-site worker that allows capturing the actual worksite condition and remotely receiving operation instructions and support. With this, a remote operator can review a site's status with real-time images and provide detailed support. Since the on-site worker wears the smart glass, they can use it hands-free, optimizing their work. Furthermore, it is used for farm work in the three-party collaboration agreement for IT Agriculture with Saga University and Saga Prefecture.

※Agriculture IT examples

• Visual remote support service Optimal Second Sight
  Optimal Second Sight is a service that shares video taken by the camera of a smart device. With Optimal Second Sight, a remote operator can review a site's status in real-time from an on-site worker's point of view and provide detailed support, as if he or she were there in person. This service is used by Komatsu Ltd, where it helps provide remote support to construction sites.

■Remote instruction is possible from any device

Live streaming video from smartphones, tablets and smart glasses can be shared, and instructional graphics can be remotely added with the patented Overlay Technology.

■Other patents

・What is Smart UI?
Smart UI is OPTiM's patented screen-sharing technology that acquires the dimensions of the host device's displayable area and adjusts the screen display ratio of the sharing devices to be the same or near to the width/height acquired.

Furthermore, it allows a device performing remote control to judge whether a device displaying screen information is in vertical orientation or horizontal orientation and to display the screen accordingly.

These technologies allow the best experiences shared among host and sharing devices.

※Smart UI usage scope

■Patented Overlay Technology

• Technology to allow remote instruction overlay on live streaming video
  【Invention category】Remote support process, system, program
• Japan patent no. 5192462

About OPTiM

OPTiM is a leader in internet-based services that improve its clients’ interactions with technology in all aspects of everyday life. Its services include Optimal Biz, a cloud device management service, Optimal Remote, a remote management service, Optimal Support, a setup support service, and the Unlimited content and software suite series. Its business partners include NTT, KDDI, Canon, and Fuji Xerox. Based in Tokyo, Japan, its corporate motto is, “We make the net as simple as breathing.” For more information, please visit the company website.

【Copyright/Trademark】

※The corporate names and product names mentioned above are registered trademarks or trademarks.

※The information presented in this press release is subject to change without notice.

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