Ariel
Bentolila is the founder of Bay Area Intellectual Property Group (Bay
Area IP). Mr. Bentolila earned a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering
(thesis option) from the University of Florida (U of F) where he graduated
with High Honors (cum laude) in the top 10% of his class and was on
the Dean's Honor List, and twice received the President's Outstanding
Student Award. At U of F he further earned a Masters of Science (thesis
option) in Electrical and Computer Engineering with research specialization
in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI). His Thesis work at the
Machine Intelligence Lab focused on R&D in advanced algorithms,
platforms, and sensors that lead to intelligent mobile robot behavior.
Over all, his discretionary course work emphasized computer science,
AI, mathematics, pattern recognition, signal processing, analog design,
and business development.
Mr.
Bentolila is a member of the U.S. Patent Bar, admitted to practice before
the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in all matters
related to patents. Over the past several years he has worked with patents
for law firm and in-house organizations.
In
industry, Mr. Bentolila acquired a technical background and knowledge
base that has significant breadth and depth, with technical areas of
expertise including, but not limited to the following: algorithms, advanced
modeling/simulation, AI, pattern recognition, data mining, robotics,
sensors, analog/digital systems, power management, software development/programming/systems,
embedded real-time applications, analog/digital signal processing, battery
technology, semiconductor processing and packaging, and wireless systems.
He possesses a particular in-depth knowledge of switching regulator
systems, robotic systems, and machine learning methods such as Fuzzy
Logic, Neural Networks, Hidden Markov Models, and Genetic Algorithms.
Beyond technology, Mr. Bentolila has significant experience in invention,
entrepreneurship, business models, marketing, and finance.
Prior
to founding Bay Area IP, Mr. Bentolila worked at Beyer Weaver &
Thomas, LLP (BW&T), a top Silicon Valley intellectual property (IP)
law firm, where he, along with other members of the firm, prepared and/or
prosecuted patent applications in a wide variety of technical areas
including digital systems, software, mechanical, data mining, and electronic
commerce areas.
Before
Mr. Bentolila's extremely productive time at BW&T, he enjoyed a
wide variety of practical industry experience. His last post in industry
was as a Software Marketing and Corporate Intellectual Property Manager
for a Santa Clara pre-IPO start-up corporation that provides embedded
speech recognition solutions. In marketing, he focused on developing
new products, market penetration strategies, and competition intelligence/analysis.
As their IP Manager, he, in coordination with others, drove patent strategy,
prosecution, and budgetary forecasts. In effectively combining strategic
marketing and IP analysis, a comprehensive competitive landscape and
action plan resulted.
Previously,
Mr. Bentolila worked as an Artificial Intelligence Research Scientist
at a Fremont based, pre-IPO start-up corporation in the interactive
TV, targeted advertising space. He was the sole inventor in two key
patents pending (US Pub. App. #'s: 20030101451, and 20030101449) covering
machine learning, data mining, intelligent agents, and user preference
modeling. He was co-inventor in over five pending patents (including
Pub. App. #'s: 20030097657, 20030093792, and 20030067554) covering business
methods, software, and metadata headers. Integral with his scientific
duties was a close working relationship with the director of IP in drafting
patent applications, and contributing to outside council in IP acquisition/infringement
studies.
In
addition to patent prosecution, Mr. Bentolila has, in a support capacity,
been a significant contributor to validity opinion, infringement study,
and licensing initiatives.
Mr.
Bentolila gained solid technical expertise in mixed-signal semiconductor
technology as a Systems Research Engineer for Texas Instruments. His
efforts included work in cell-phone power management system-on-a-chip
ASICs, behavioral simulation methodologies, Li-Ion battery modeling,
switching regulator designs, and product specification definition. To
solve critical "show-stopper" problems in a $100M project
he conceived of solutions that resulted in three patented inventions
(US patent nos. 6,285,173, 6,310,469, and 6,492,793) that he initially
drafted for TI's in-house legal department. Mr. Bentolila also was a
contributor in a select marketing team charged to map out next generation
DSP features, which among other things resulted in the decision to acquire
Unitrode, Inc.
Other
past technical positions include Research Electronics Engineer at Southwest
Research Institute (SRI) and the National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST). At SRI, Mr. Bentolila worked in the Automation and
Data Systems Division, where he was the lead designer of a fuzzy logic
tactile robotic arm controller, and made key contributions in applied
sensor fusion research. At NIST, he was under the Intelligent Systems
Division, Robot Systems Integration Group. Among many mobile robot endeavors,
Mr. Bentolila developed for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency (DARPA) sensors and systems that enabled bomb disposal, mobile
robots to convoy.
Prior
to Mr. Bentolila's technical and intellectual property career tracks,
he honed his entrepreneurial, business, marketing, and sales skills
through various inside/outside sales and small business endeavors.
Mr.
Bentolila's patent
agent practice directly provides patent, research, marketing, and
invention development services to the San Francisco Bay Area, which
includes Silicon Valley, and the greater cities of Berkeley, Oakland,
San Mateo, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara,
Milpitas, Sunnyvale, Fremont and all the smaller cities in between.
His practice also serves clients nationwide by way of the internet,
telephone, and when necessary on-site travel.