Abstract: An on-line gaming environment provides a forum for competitors to play against each other. Each competitor pays a fee for a game which comprises a number of rounds. A prize fund is generated for each competitor from their entry fee and the prize for a round is the combined prize funds of the two competitors. In each round, opponents are selected at random. A player who loses any rounds is eliminated from the game. A player who wins a predetermined number of consecutive games wins the accumulated fund. Players may select between a number of available games to play and may switch which game is being played in between rounds.

Abstract: A method of matching a receive-only antenna (60) for use in receiving video signals in which measurements made on a transceiver's antenna (14) when in an transmitting mode are used in matching the receive-only antenna. The ratio of the amplitude of the reflected signal to the strength of the transmitted signal strength is used not only in selecting components for matching the transceiver's antenna (14) but also in selecting components for matching the receive-only antenna (60). The ratio may be applied to respective look-up tables (54, 64) for selecting the components to be used in matching the respective antennas.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antenna diversity comprising a first and a second antenna element where the first antenna element is operated in an active mode whereas the second antenna element is operated in a parasitic mode. The present invention minimizes the amount of mismatch while still being able to maximize a predetermined signal quality criterion for the electromagnetic signal on the active path between the first antenna element and the transceiver. By providing a pre-selection unit 130 as well as a selection unit 140 for selecting an optimal adjustable impedance connected to the second antenna ensuring that the amount of said mismatch is below a predetermined threshold value and that simultaneously a predetermined quality criterion for the transceived electromagnetic signal is fulfilled best within the range determined by the allowable mismatch. The invention further relates to a method for operating such an antenna diversity.

Abstract: The invention is a novel class of error-correcting codes as well as a method of decoding them. The binary codes can have relatively large minimum distances even for small codeword lengths. The codes are based on an internal structure such that an unusual type of trellis is the basis for an iterative method of decoding which has low-complexity. The unusual trellis has more than one-state, may have parallel branches, and trellis-sections are labeled by duplications of both information symbols and parity symbols. The new method of decoding is superior to the prior art method known as belief propagation for short to moderate codeword lengths.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement comprises a ground conductor (302) incorporating two slots (304a,304b) having an electrically small separation and means (308a,308b) for coupling a transceiver to each slot to enable the ground conductor to function as two substantially independent antennas. Such a device enables efficient diversity performance to be obtained from a significantly smaller volume than known antenna arrangements. In one embodiment the ground conductor, slots and transceiver are integrated in a module (206) adapted for connection to a further ground conductor which provides the majority of the antenna area. The further conductor would typically be a printed circuit board ground plane or mobile phone handset. Matching and broadbanding circuitry may conveniently be incorporated in the module. By varying the area of the connections between the module and the further ground conductor, the resonant frequencies of the slots can be modified.

Abstract: An on-line gaming environment provides a forum for competitors to play against each other. Each competitor pays a fee for a game which comprises a number of rounds. A prize fund is generated for each competitor from their entry fee and the prize for a round is the combined prize funds of the two competitors. In each round, opponents are selected at random. A player who loses any rounds is eliminated from the game. A player who wins a predetermined number of consecutive games wins the accumulated fund. Players may select between a number of available games to play and may switch which game is being played in between rounds.