Ron Laurie will present an overview of the new patent monetization ecosystem, and will highlight the areas in which domain expert support is needed. He will also discuss the effect of the current legal and economic environments on the growth and adaptation of the various business models, and how the exploding market for IP has created opportunities for technical and patent experts. Flow cytometry is a technique for classifying and sorting blood cells. This presentation will discuss the embedded system design of the flow cytometers that are becoming increasingly important as tools for biological research and clinical diagnostics, particularly for the therapeutic monitoring of cancer, AIDS (measurement of CD4 T-Cells) and leukemia in patients. Consultants need to quickly understand previous technical developments associated with a proposed client project. A full literature search can reveal details unknown to the client and lead to better recommendations and solutions. This presentation will demonstrate how to use the IEEE's on-line database of journal and conference papers. This talk will provide an overview of the ZigBee Alliance and its mission. It will address the basic functionality delivered by the standard, where it fits in the wireless arena, plus next steps for the 230 member strong ecosystem of companies creating applications for use in home, commercial and industrial markets. This talk will consist of an overview of the implementation of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) within a microcontroller chip. The development of supporting drivers and the use of in-circuit debuggers will also be presented. The talk will conclude with a description of the Microchip Design Partner Program which allows consultants to benefit from their high-volume designs. Bruce Himebauch will present a history of the 802.11 standards family, the 802.11n Task Group N (TGn) and the issues surrounding implementation of 802.11 products. He will also describe the driving forces behind the creation of each new standard. Miguel Gomez's talk will provide an overview of the solar power industry, an outline of its technology challenges, and some of the ways in which technology consultants can participate in this important arena. Consultants often find face-to-face networking to be difficult, particularly in a room full of strangers. This meeting's panel will address how to approach this kind of situation, as well as others faced by consultants while they are marketing their services. Many Bay Area companies and startups are at some point approached with attractive proposals for a joint venture. These typically come from foreign companies, and they frequently have disastrous results. This talk will cover the risks of joint ventures, list some of the danger flags, suggest practical ways to minimize the risks, and offer suggestions regarding exclusive licensee risks. IEEE-CNSV will have a booth on the Exhibit Floor at this event, allowing CNSV members with a great vehicle for publicizing their skills as well as the merits of our organization. CNSV members also receive special pricing for this conference, and two CNSV members will be awarded full conference admission as well. Many aspects of this event that are free, so register now on the conference website.