Corporate News
uSonar Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Chairman: Nami Fukutomi; CEO: Katsuhito Nagatake; hereinafter "uSonar") announces that as of March 31, 2026, it has become the patent holder for five patents related to technology that integrates business card information with external data, following their transfer from Ricoh Company, Ltd. (Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo; President: Akira Oyama; hereinafter "Ricoh").
This acquisition formalizes uSonar's ownership of the technology it has utilized since 2020 under a licensing agreement*1, establishing a framework to stably manage and develop the core technologies of its corporate data infrastructure.
Overview of Transferred Patents
The patents transferred in this transaction are as follows:
| Patent Number | Patent Summary |
|---|---|
| Patent 6299498 Patent 6614255 |
Technology for identifying individuals for whom business card information has not been acquired by utilizing business card information and information from other media. |
| Patent 6369140 Patent 6683219 |
Technology for updating organizational information to distinguish between acquired and unacquired business card data, and outputting the information in a manner corresponding to each. |
| Patent 6550810 | Technology for visualizing members of a specific segment involved in a target transaction within organizational information, and visualizing the achievement level of activities for that segment. |
These patents represent technology that structures and visualizes corporate data starting from business card information. They are positioned as foundational technologies for corporate data management, which is critical in the AI era.
Background of Patent Acquisition and Strategic Positioning in the AI Era
In recent years, the evolution of generative AI has shifted the factors that differentiate traditional SaaS businesses, increasing the importance of data infrastructure in the AI era. Based on these environmental changes, uSonar believes that function-providing SaaS and data-infrastructure-based businesses have fundamentally different structures.
With the widespread adoption of generative AI, the differentiation of application functions such as SaaS is relatively decreasing, while the recognition that high-quality, structured data infrastructure determines the accuracy and value of AI is growing.
For over 35 years, uSonar has independently built and updated the "LBC"*2, Japan's largest corporate database covering over 12.5 million business locations. This data infrastructure, which enables the matching and integration of data at the corporate group, company, and business location levels, is utilized as a core data infrastructure that supports the advancement of sales and marketing activities.
Through this patent acquisition, uSonar will utilize the technology to integrate business card information with corporate data, including LBC, as its own intellectual property across uSonar services, including the corporate information and business card management app "mSonar"*3. This will further enhance the uniqueness and sustainability of our corporate data structuring, strengthen our competitive advantage as a corporate data infrastructure company in the AI era, and serve as the data foundation for future AI services and data linkage services.
Future Outlook
High-quality structured data is what determines competitiveness in the AI era. Corporate data, in particular, demonstrates higher value when linked with contact information, which serves as the entry point for corporate activities. To aim for medium- to long-term growth in the corporate data market, uSonar will promote the following:
• Improvement of Integration Accuracy Between Business Card Data and Corporate Data
• Advancement of Contact Visualization at the Department Level
• Expansion of Data Utilization Areas Through Strengthened AI Integration
• Deepening of Integration With Various Devices and Business Platforms
*1: Regarding the licensing agreement concluded in 2020
We had received an exclusive license for business card-related patents held by Ricoh. This technology visualizes relationships with individuals and companies that previously had no contact by combining business card information with external information.
https://usonar.co.jp/news/20200820_5117.html
Japan's largest corporate database, in which an 11-digit management code is assigned to business locations across Japan. It centrally manages a wealth of corporate attribute information, such as industry, sales, profit, number of employees, and fixed IP addresses. By matching client data with "LBC," it enables precise targeting, including cleansing of client data, attribute enrichment, and visualization of non-trading companies.
Japan's largest... Based on our own research on the number of head office and business location data held by Japanese companies (as of 2026/3/31)
https://usonar.co.jp/service/usonar/
With the catchphrase "Corporate data in the palm of your hand." It is an "evolved version of a business card management app" equipped with Japan's largest corporate database. It consolidates rapid information flow in business, from corporate research to business card management and internal communication, into a single smartphone app. When you capture a business card with your smartphone or scanner, it is instantly digitized and linked to the corresponding corporate data. In addition to checking information beyond what is on the business card, it can be used in conjunction with CRM/SFA, and because it includes chat and extension functions, there is no need to launch separate apps.
https://usonar.co.jp/content/msonar/
Public Relations Contact
uSonar Co., Ltd. Public Relations (Hiyama/Sawada)
Email: pr@usonar.co.jp
