Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for utilizing smart monitoring devices such as smart phones to provide video and environmental data monitoring services. Smart monitoring devices used in accordance with the systems and techniques described herein may monitor an environment continuously by capturing monitoring data such as still images, video, and/or environmental data and stream the monitoring data via the Internet and/or another network to a cloud storage provider. The cloud storage provider may provide users and/or others with the ability to view live or stored monitoring data, captured by a smart monitoring device, via the Internet and/or another network.

Abstract: An interactive contest system is provided which permits competition among a plurality of remote participants. The system includes a central controller, storage devices for storing a Contest Roster from which each participant selects a team roster, a plurality of Touch-Tone.TM. telephones linked to the controller, and a publication such as a newspaper distributed to all participants. Each participant's team roster is evaluated on a periodic basis according to a formula for calculating each member's score employing a database of variable performance statistics which reflect the roster members' actual performances. Team roster totals are compared for discrete periods of competition to determine which participants have accumulated the highest score.

Abstract: An interactive contest system is provided which permits competition among a plurality of remote participants. The system includes a central controller, storage devices for storing a Contest Roster from which each participant selects a team roster, a plurality of Touch-Tone.TM. telephones linked to the controller, and a publication such as a newspaper distributed to all participants. Each participant's team roster is evaluated on a periodic basis according to a formula for calculating each member's score employing a database of variable performance statistics which reflect the roster members' actual performances. Team roster totals are compared for discrete periods of competition to determine which participants have accumulated the highest score.

Abstract: An interactive contest system is provided which permits competition among a plurality of remote participants. The system includes a central controller, storage devices for storing a Contest Roster from which each participant selects a team roster, a plurality of Touch-Tone.TM. telephones linked to the controller, and a publication such as a newspaper distributed to all participants. Each participant's team roster is evaluated on a periodic basis according to a formula for calculating each member's score employing a database of variable performance statistics which reflect the roster members' actual performances. Team roster totals are compared for discrete periods of competition to determine which participants have accumulated the highest score.