Abstract: Flexible high-speed generation and formatting of application-specified strings in floating point and related formats is available through table-based base conversion which may be integrated with custom formatting, and through printf-style functionality based on separate control string parsing and specialized format command sequence execution.

Abstract: Flexible high-speed generation and formatting of application-specified strings in floating point and related formats is available through table-based base conversion which may be integrated with custom formatting, and through printf-style functionality based on separate control string parsing and specialized format command sequence execution.

Abstract: A game of strategy includes a game board, pieces which are movable on the board after placement, and pieces which are not movable during a game once placed on the board. The identity of some pieces is hidden from some players, and may be revealed temporarily and then hidden again.

Abstract: Base64 encoding and decoding advances are characterized. Some embodiments rely on only a single bit shifting operation; some have no reliance on bit-shifting. Some access data source bytes with multi-byte reads, and use those data source bytes as indexes into an encoding lookup table. Some use a table with four quadrants, each of which contains a copy of the same 64 encoding values. Some use a negative value as both a counter and an index. Some exclude BSWAP instructions even with a little-endian processor. Some partition a data source into N partitions, which are then encoded or decoded concurrently. In some, partition length is based on expected processor performance. Unrolled loops, exemplary assembly language code and coding choices, division using MagicNumber multiplication, terminal null addition, encoding/decoding applications, and other examples are also presented.

Abstract: Digital goods libraries are compared via their datasets, which include organizational data and history data. Potential comparison results include a shared multiple natural languages presence, shared genre frequency change, shared artist frequency change, shared digital good frequency change, shared outlier presence, shared similar songs presence, and/or shared recommendable goods presence. Proper subsets of datasets may be specified by playlist, genre, artist, category, date, play frequency, and/or play count, and then compared. Comparison results may be visualized, such as playlist content over time, play frequency over time, and/or play count over time. Some results include printed or spoken text such as an artist name, genre name, and/or review content. Control over disclosure of library owner identity is provided. In some cases a dataset is compared with multiple datasets in a group, e.g., to help assess compatibility between a prospective member and current members of the group.

Abstract: Flexible high-speed generation and formatting of application-specified strings is available through table-based base conversion which may be integrated with custom formatting, and through printf-style functionality based on separate control string parsing and specialized format command sequence execution. Mechanisms include digit group tables for immediate output with or without separation characters, dynamic format templates, format localization and customization, funnels, digit extraction in left-to-right or right-to-left order, scaling and size estimation, leading bit identification, casting, indexing with exponent bits, division via multiplication by select constants and shifts, fractional value manipulations, batching transformations, stamping safety zones, rounding tools, JUMP and CALL avoidance, tailoring to processor characteristics and word size, conversions between various numeric types and representations, command stitching, stack parameter analysis, printf compilation, and others.

Abstract: An educational and recreational apparatus includes a deck of cards adapted to form a linear sequence and/or a multi-dimensional tiling. A plurality of individual pips is imprinted on the cards at regularly spaced positions, such as at the corners and/or along the edges of the cards. When the pips are selectively read in an order based on their physical (or depicted virtual) arrangement, e.g., in an aligned order or an order circling a center point of a core, according to a linear sequence or a multi-dimensional tiling, the pips form a pattern. The pattern may be a poker hand, a rummy hand, a rummy set, a sequence of ranks, or another pattern. Use of the apparatus exercises human faculties for search, comparison, and memory, as various possible arrangements of the cards and their pips are explored and evaluated.

Abstract: Base64 encoding and decoding advances are characterized. Some of the described embodiments rely on only a single bit shifting operation; some have no reliance on bit-shifting. Some access data source bytes with multi-byte reads, and use those data source bytes as indexes into an encoding lookup table. Some use a table with four quadrants, each of which contains a copy of the same 64 encoding values. Some use a negative value as both a counter and an index. Some exclude BSWAP instructions even with a little-endian processor. Some partition a data source into N partitions, which are then encoded or decoded concurrently. In some, partition length is based on expected processor performance. Unrolled loops, exemplary assembly language code and coding choices, division using MagicNumber multiplication, terminal null addition, encoding/decoding applications, and other aspects of some embodiments are also presented.

Abstract: Improvements to the functioning of computers include algorithms and data structures for specific focal aspects of conversion from character strings to numeric values. Tables used include a Doubles10 table, BaseTbl, TensTbl, and others. Algorithms convert floating-point character strings into doubles or integers; process whitespace, signs, leading zeroes, and invalid characters; use addition instead of multiplying or shifting; use particular processor registers to advantage; eliminate some overflow testing; use few MULTIPLY commands and avoid DIVIDE instructions; create stub functions that call a core function as herein described; avoid carry-producing instructions; count digits before converting; use only aligned reads to access a memory via multiple-byte; and/or utilize other focal aspects.

Abstract: Flexible high-speed generation and formatting of application-specified strings in floating point and related formats is available through table-based base conversion which may be integrated with custom formatting, and through printf-style functionality based on separate control string parsing and specialized format command sequence execution.

Abstract: Familiar games are enhanced by expansion equipment which adds strategic possibilities, player interactions, and twists not found in original game rules. Games suitable for expansion include board games, card games, dice games, tile games, and parlor games, for example. Game-agnostic mechanism instructions function to alter one or more of: hand size, discards, draws, seating, turn count, turn order, rounds, scores, winning conditions, item ownership, item visibility, item possession, team membership, equipment in play, action targets, and other categories. Multiple games may be yoked together. Instructions injecting game mechanisms may be followed at specified times, even after an original game ends, to determine an ultimate winner. Game-agnostic mechanism instructions may be embodied in cards, spinners, and/or software, and may apply to all turn-based games, or to games in a particular category, or to a particular branded familiar game, for example.

Abstract: Familiar games are enhanced by modification equipment and/or rule changes which add strategic possibilities, player interactions, and twists not found in original game rules. Games suitable for pairing with modification equipment include board games, card games, dice games, tile games, and parlor games, for example. Game modification instructions function to alter one or more of: hand size, discards, draws, seating, turn count, turn order, rounds, scores, winning conditions, item ownership, item visibility, item possession, team membership, equipment in play, action targets, and other categories. Multiple games may be yoked together. Instructions modifying play may be followed at specified times, even after an original game ends, to determine an ultimate winner. Instructions may be embodied in cards, spinners, and/or software. Modification instructions may apply to all turn-based games, or to games in a particular category, or to a particular branded familiar game, for example.

Abstract: Familiar games are enhanced by modification equipment and/or rule changes which add strategic possibilities, player interactions, and twists not found in original game rules. Games suitable for pairing with modification equipment include board games, card games, dice games, tile games, and parlor games, for example. Game modification instructions function to alter one or more of: hand size, discards, draws, seating, turn count, turn order, rounds, scores, winning conditions, item ownership, item visibility, item possession, team membership, equipment in play, action targets, and other categories. Multiple games may be yoked together. Instructions modifying play may be followed at specified times, even after an original game ends, to determine an ultimate winner. Instructions may be embodied in cards, spinners, and/or software. Modification instructions may apply to all turn-based games, or to games in a particular category, or to a particular branded familiar game, for example.

Abstract: Digital goods libraries are compared via their datasets, which include organizational data and history data. Potential comparison results include a shared multiple natural languages presence, shared genre frequency change, shared artist frequency change, shared digital good frequency change, shared outlier presence, shared similar songs presence, and/or shared recommendable goods presence. Proper subsets of datasets may be specified by playlist, genre, artist, category, date, play frequency, and/or play count, and then compared. Comparison results may be visualized, such as playlist content over time, play frequency over time, and/or play count over time. Some results include printed or spoken text such as an artist name, actor name, author name, genre name, and/or review content. Control over disclosure of library owner identity is provided. In some cases a dataset is compared with multiple datasets in a group, e.g., to help assess compatibility between a prospective member and current members of the group.

Abstract: Specialized tape and tape-built articles help reduce problems such as load slippage, odd or varying load sizes, or the inconvenience of knots. A touch closure fastening means allows users to releasably fasten together different portions of the article. Example touch closure fastening means include hooks, mushroom heads, loops, a mat, or nanofibers. Some articles include a tape which is laned, striped, staggered, mottled, spiraled around a core, and/or braided; some include multiple tapes braided with one another. Some articles include suture material, polypropylene, nylon, or a para-aramid synthetic fiber in a tape substrate. Some articles include a grip strip to facilitate multigripping—not only does the article releasably fasten to itself, it also restricts movement of a load or other work piece. A grip strip and a tape can be spiraled or braided together. The grip strip has a mechanical indentation grip, or an adhesion grip, for example.

Abstract: Specialized tape and tape-built articles help reduce problems such as load slippage, odd or varying load sizes, or the inconvenience of knots. A touch closure fastening means allows users to releasably fasten together different portions of the article. Example touch closure fastening means include hooks, mushroom heads, loops, a mat, or nanofibers. Some articles include a tape which is laned, striped, staggered, mottled, spiraled around a core, and/or braided; some include multiple tapes braided with one another. Some articles include suture material, polypropylene, nylon, or a para-aramid synthetic fiber in a tape substrate. Some articles include a grip strip to facilitate multigripping—not only does the article releasably fasten to itself, it also restricts movement of a load or other work piece. A grip strip and a tape can be spiraled or braided together. The grip strip has a mechanical indentation grip, or an adhesion grip, for example.

Abstract: Specialized tape and tape-built articles help reduce problems such as load slippage, odd or varying load sizes, or the inconvenience of knots. A touch closure fastening means allows users to releasably fasten together different portions of the article. Example touch closure fastening means include hooks, mushroom heads, loops, a mat, or nanofibers. Some articles include a tape which is laned, striped, staggered, mottled, spiraled around a core, and/or braided; some include multiple tapes braided with one another. Some articles include suture material, polypropylene, nylon, or a para-aramid synthetic fiber in a tape substrate. Some articles include a grip strip to facilitate multigripping—not only does the article releasably fasten to itself, it also restricts movement of a load or other work piece. A grip strip and a tape can be spiraled or braided together. The grip strip has a mechanical indentation grip, or an adhesion grip, for example.

Abstract: A vetting service protects personal information while nonetheless allowing its authorized use to perform background investigations of consenting participants. Raw background search results are filtered, redacted, and otherwise sanitized in compliance with an agreement by the participants, to produce background reports.

Abstract: Digital goods libraries are compared via their datasets, which include organizational data and history data. Potential comparison results include a shared multiple natural languages presence, shared genre frequency change, shared artist frequency change, shared digital good frequency change, shared outlier presence, shared similar songs presence, and/or shared recommendable goods presence. Proper subsets of datasets may be specified by playlist, genre, artist, category, date, play frequency, and/or play count, and then compared. Comparison results may be visualized, such as playlist content over time, play frequency over time, and/or play count over time. Some results include printed or spoken text such as an artist name, actor name, author name, genre name, and/or review content. Control over disclosure of library owner identity is provided. In some cases a dataset is compared with multiple datasets in a group, e.g., to help assess compatibility between a prospective member and current members of the group.

Abstract: Digital goods libraries are compared via their datasets, which include organizational data and history data. Potential comparison results include a shared multiple natural languages presence, shared genre frequency change, shared artist frequency change, shared digital good frequency change, shared outlier presence, shared similar songs presence, and/or shared recommendable goods presence. Proper subsets of datasets may be specified by playlist, genre, artist, category, date, play frequency, and/or play count, and then compared. Comparison results may be visualized, such as playlist content over time, play frequency over time, and/or play count over time. Some results include printed or spoken text such as an artist name, actor name, author name, genre name, and/or review content. Control over disclosure of library owner identity is provided. In some cases a dataset is compared with multiple datasets in a group, e.g., to help assess compatibility between a prospective member and current members of the group.