"Would please enlighten me by defining the ursurping sponge of dollars described by you as "essential multi-faceted"?"

Research into potential infringers' products;
Contact and communication with infringers ("hundreds");
Negotiation with companies who acknowledge infringement (hundreds would be nice);
Liaison with external legal counsel re "hundreds" of infringers.

. . . . . . .

Edit: beg forum's pardon - SGE already provided comprehensive answer.