Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and system for predicting the availability of hot water for bathing. One or more parameters corresponding to the operation of a water heater are monitored over time and/or a temperature distribution of water in a hot water tank measured. Data corresponding to the monitored parameters and/or temperature distribution are processed to determine a rate at which hot water is being consumed by filling a bath and/or due to other hot water consumers and/or to determine a current hot water availability condition. Based on a hot water consumption rate and/or determination of a current hot water availability condition, a projection is made to whether there will be adequate hot water to fill the bathtub to a desired level or volume at a desired temperature.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a chip includes transmitters and generation circuitry to provide data symbols and special characters to the transmitters to be transmitted. The chip also includes match detection circuitry to detect when the data symbols match the special characters; and indicator symbol generation circuitry to create data indicator symbols in response to detected matches and to provide the data indicator symbols to the generation circuitry to be provided to the transmitters to be transmitted. Other embodiments are described.