SEP (Standard Essential Patent) research has always been challenging. Many of our team members have been involved in this type of research their entire careers. Many of them have participated in the standards committees for which they are responsible. 

This type of research is expensive and time-consuming, which is why we are constantly looking for ways to be more efficient and provide more value and ROI for our clients.

This year, we launched the largest initiative in our history to maximize the potential of AI/ML tools. We now have a dedicated team with extensive experience integrating software tools into hardware testing protocols.

Our team is well-positioned to take on this task. Several of our subject matter experts were inventors who participated in standards development in multiple technology areas, including networking, semiconductor, and telecommunications.

With the advent of broad and diverse applications of technologies like 5G and the aspects of self-certification, essentiality determination is more challenging and critical than ever. 

Our other critical ingredient is our lab in Silicon Valley. We have years of experience developing test benches to verify SEP use and essentiality. This facilitates rapid proof profiles for the output that our software tools generate.

Our goal is always to find the most cost-effective and repeatable test process possible. For example, a highly repeatable and rapid test methodology is essential if every mobile phone sold needs to be tested for SEP use. We have experience setting up this type of "production" testing.

Our team has developed many unique testing methods to generate evidence of use in technology areas that previously were exorbitantly expensive to discover. An example would be in the automotive space. This type of testing can be challenging when the technology in question is located in a $70,000 dollar car, and the system must be fully operational outside of the host vehicle. We have developed much lower-cost test benches to achieve this.

Another example is RF testing in the field. This can be extremely challenging. We have the tools and experience to do mobile testing in both the US and European markets.