Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for providing resources to participants over an electronic network. In one representative embodiment, a collection of resources is maintained, such that both the collection and the resources can be accessed by a participant over the electronic network at any given time; points are assigned to individual resources based on an amount of participant access of the individual resources over the electronic network; and the collection is modified based on the points assigned to the resources.

Abstract: Provided, inter alia, is a type of contest in which, at various intervals, geographically dispersed players attempt to answer the identical problem at substantially the same time. In representative embodiments, problems (typically, questions) are made available at seemingly random times throughout the day (or throughout some specified time interval), and players have the opportunity either to respond to the problem or (e.g., in the event that a given player is occupied when a particular problem arises) to pass on the current problem and wait for another one. In such embodiments, more questions are made available than the players are permitted to answer in accordance with the rules of the game, so that players have flexibility as to when they participate.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for decoding an audio signal from a frame-based bit stream. Each frame includes processing information pertaining to the frame and entropy-encoded quantization indexes representing audio data within the frame. The processing information includes: (i) code book indexes, (ii) code book application information specifying ranges of entropy-encoded quantization indexes to which the code books are to be applied, and (iii) window information. The entropy-encoded quantization indexes are decoded by applying the identified code books to the corresponding ranges of entropy-encoded quantization indexes. Subband samples are then generated by dequantizing the decoded quantization indexes, and a sequence of different window functions that were applied within a single frame of the audio data is identified based on the window information.

Abstract: Provided are wireless and standalone handheld devices, such as PDAs and wireless telephones, that are configured for inputting a unique contact identifier that uniquely identifies a desired contact record, querying a central database of contact information to obtain the desired contact record, receiving the record and storing it. In various embodiments, such requests can be made directly over a wireless network or indirectly when synchronizing the handheld device with a computer connected to the Internet or to another network.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for encoding an audio signal, in which is obtained a sampled audio signal which has been divided into frames. The location of a transient within one of the frames is identified, and transform data samples are generated by performing multi-resolution filter bank analysis on the frame data, including filtering at different resolutions for different portions of the frame that includes the transient. Quantization data are generated by quantizing the transform data samples using variable numbers of bits based on a psychoacoustical model, and the quantization data are grouped into variable-length segments based on magnitudes of the quantization data. A code book is assigned to each of the variable-length segments, and the quantization data in each of the variable-length segments are encoded using the code book assigned to such variable-length segment.

Abstract: Provided are methods and techniques for a spraying fibers. A container having an agitator or a blade assembly in its bottom section is obtained and then partially filled with fibers, so as to at least partially cover the agitator or blade assembly. The agitator or blade assembly is operated with the container substantially closed, thereby causing a plurality of the fibers to become airborne within the container, and then an airflow is created to draw the airborne fibers out of the container. Finally, the airborne fibers that have been drawn out of the container are directed into a desired spray, using a sprayer.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for lifting a retractable lower safety-guard on a circular saw. In one representative implementation, an actuator is attached to the circular saw and an elongated arm is coupled to the actuator such that operating the actuator causes the elongated arm to lift. In addition, an engagement element is attached to the retractable lower safety-guard of the circular saw. When lifted, the elongated arm engages the engagement element, thereby retracting the retractable lower safety-guard of the circular saw. Preferably, the actuator is configured, and is located sufficiently close to a power switch for the circular saw, so that the actuator can be operated simultaneously with the power switch using a single hand. Also provided are retrofitting techniques for attaching such a device to an existing circular saw.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for making a shoe outsole and to shoe outsoles made using such techniques. In one such technique, a sheet of composite material is produced by extruding a base material together with a sheet of fabric material. The sheet of composite material is then cut into an outsole component, and a shoe outsole is fabricated using the outsole component.

Abstract: Provided, inter alia, is a system for generating substantially simultaneous alerts, in which a plurality of user devices is accessible via at least one publicly available network. Each such user device has installed on it an alert-based client. A server is configured to download identical alert information, including a message that has been encrypted, to the plurality of user devices. The alert-based clients are configured to receive the alert information and, in response: (i) to store the message in encrypted form until just prior to a specified delivery time; and (ii) to decrypt and deliver the message substantially at the specified delivery time. By virtue of the foregoing arrangement, substantially simultaneous delivery of the message to the user devices is achieved.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for manufacturing a shoe sole, in which a shoe sole is preliminarily assembled by bonding together a plurality of layers with a temporary insert disposed between two adjacent layers. Then, an outer edge of the shoe sole is ground and, following that, the temporary insert is removed and a permanent insert is bonded in place of the temporary insert, such that the permanent insert forms a portion of a side wall of the shoe sole.

Abstract: Provided are systems, methods and techniques by which a wind-powered energy generating platform, secured to an anchor, can pull (or winch) itself beneath the surface of the water and thereby avoid most of the significant effects of storms and waves. In more particularized aspects, a variable-buoyancy anchor is utilized, thereby facilitating the construction and transportation of the entire assembly.

Abstract: Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for manufacturing sheet material. In one representative embodiment, a sheet of fabric material is positioned across a patterning template that has a number of openings; and the sheet of fabric material and the patterning template are fed through an extrusion device in which extrusion material coats the fabric material and forces the fabric material into the openings in the patterning template, thereby producing a composite sheet material.

Abstract: A shoe (and fabrication techniques therefor) on which is provided a bottom portion that includes a sole portion and a heel portion and that has a bottom surface and an upper portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion. The bottom surface of the bottom portion of the shoe has areas of a fabric material (such as cotton, nylon, polyester, any other cloth or fabric), or any of a variety of other first materials, interspersed with areas of a durable material (such as ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic rubber, any other plastic, and/or any other natural or synthetic leather or rubber), or any of a variety of other second materials.

Abstract: Provided is a carrying case that utilizes two straps, e.g., for looping over the top of a cellular telephone or similarly sized item. Attachment devices are located on the body of the carrying case, and in certain implementations often can provide flexibility in how the carrying case is configured and used.

Abstract: Communication occurs between a source and a destination over plural communications paths by first identifying content to be sent to a destination via a communications system. After discovering that plural communications paths connecting directly to the destination are available, the content is divided into plural different portions and is transmitted to the destination such that each of the plural different portions is routed via a different one of the plural communications paths.