Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling a growth environment 50 of a plant 2, the method comprising: obtaining an electrical signal from the plant; generating, using at least one machine learning model, prediction data based upon the electrical signal, wherein the at least one machine learning model has been trained to assess at least one characteristic of the plant, and wherein the prediction data are based upon output(s) of the at least one machine learning model and indicate an assessment of the at least one characteristic of the plant; and applying a user defined rule set to the prediction data to generate a plant control signal, wherein the plant control signal is configured to change the growth environment of the plant.

Abstract: A method of assessing a health state of a group of plants within a growth environment includes: for each of a plurality of plant specimens within the growth environment with the plurality of plant specimens being a subset of the group of plants: obtaining an electrical signal from a respective plant specimen during a first time period; comparing the obtained electrical signal with data indicative of a historical electrical signal, with the historical electrical signal obtained from the respective plant specimen during a second time period; and generating plant data based upon a comparison of the obtained electrical signal with the data indicative of the historical electrical signal, wherein the plant data is indicative of an extent of divergence between the obtained electrical signal and the historical electrical signal for the respective plant specimen; assessing the health state of the group of plants within the growth environment during the first time period, based upon the plant data of the plurality of p

Abstract: There is provided a method of assessing a characteristic of a plant (2), comprising: obtaining a training dataset, wherein the training dataset comprises first data characterising a first electrical signal obtained from a first plant during a first time period when a stressor is present in the first plant or a growth environment of the first plant, second data characterising a second electrical signal obtained from the first plant during a second time period when a stressor is not present in the first plant or the growth environment of the first plant, and third data indicative of a characteristic of the first plant during the first time period and a characteristic of the first plant during the second time period; training a machine learning model based upon the training dataset; obtaining a third electrical signal from a second plant; and assessing, using the trained machine learning model, a characteristic of the second plant based upon the third electrical signal.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling a growth environment 50 of a plant 2, the method comprising: obtaining an electrical signal from the plant; generating, using at least one machine learning model, prediction data based upon the electrical signal, wherein the at least one machine learning model has been trained to assess at least one characteristic of the plant, and wherein the prediction data are based upon output(s) of the at least one machine learning model and indicate an assessment of the at least one characteristic of the plant; and applying a user defined rule set to the prediction data to generate a plant control signal, wherein the plant control signal is configured to change the growth environment of the plant.

Abstract: A melting kettle for processing of thermoplastic material. The kettle disclosed herein obtains heat transfer by use of an oil jacketed tank with an adjoining main tank for storage of hot oil and a hose tank for recovery of the hot oil. Oil expelled from the oil jacket is directed to the main tank through an opening. Spillage of oil from the hose tank is directed to the main tank through an aperture. The melting kettle reduces the space needed for oil storage, and increases operator safety by eliminating additional transfer lines. Dual kettles benefit by having the adjoining main tank placed therebetween.

Abstract: A melting kettle for processing of thermoplastic material. The kettle disclosed herein obtains heat transfer by use of an oil jacketed tank with an adjoining main tank for storage of hot oil and a hose tank for recovery of the hot oil. Oil expelled from the oil jacket is directed to the main tank through an opening. Spillage of oil from the hose tank is directed to the main tank through an aperture. The melting kettle reduces the space needed for oil storage, and increases operator safety by eliminating additional transfer lines. Dual kettles benefit by having the adjoining main tank placed therebetween.

Abstract: A method of processing signals comprising: obtaining an electrical signal from one or more plant specimens; and processing said obtained electrical signal to generate plant data; wherein the plant data is data indicative of a characteristic of said one or more plant specimens, wherein said characteristic comprises at least one of: a measure of the health of said one or more plant specimens, a measure of the vitality of said one or more plant specimens, and a reaction to environmental changes of said one or more plant specimens.

Abstract: There is provided a method of assessing a characteristic of a plant (2), comprising: obtaining a training dataset, wherein the training dataset comprises first data characterising a first electrical signal obtained from a first plant during a first time period when a stressor is present in the first plant or a growth environment of the first plant, second data characterising a second electrical signal obtained from the first plant during a second time period when a stressor is not present in the first plant or the growth environment of the first plant, and third data indicative of a characteristic of the first plant during the first time period and a characteristic of the first plant during the second time period; training a machine learning model based upon the training dataset; obtaining a third electrical signal from a second plant; and assessing, using the trained machine learning model, a characteristic of the second plant based upon the third electrical signal.

Abstract: A method of determining suitable communication paths between a first device and a second device, the first device being connected to a plurality of third devices to which the second device is also connected. The method comprises, at the first device: for each of the third devices, obtaining first information indicating a characteristic of communications between the first device and the second device via the third device, obtaining second information associated with first data to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, and determining, based upon the first and second information, whether any of the third devices should receive the first data for communication of the first data to the second device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: an electrical signal generation device configured to generate a first electrical signal, the first signal being based upon captured or expected data related to one or more human or animal subjects; and an electrical signal application device configured to apply the first electrical signal in a processed or unprocessed form to a human or animal subject.

Abstract: A method of processing signals comprising: obtaining an electrical signal from one or more plant specimens; and processing said obtained electrical signal to generate plant data; wherein the plant data is data indicative of a characteristic of said one or more plant specimens, wherein said characteristic comprises at least one of: a measure of the health of said one or more plant specimens, a measure of the vitality of said one or more plant specimens, and a reaction to environmental changes of said one or more plant specimens.

Abstract: A method of providing connectivity to a device having N communication interfaces and M virtual connections, each interface being connectable to a further device. The method comprises determining, for each of the interfaces, a characteristic of the interface. Respective ones of the M virtual connections are associated with respective ones of the N interfaces based upon the determined characteristics.

Abstract: A method of storing data indicating a property of a communications network includes obtaining a data item associated with at least part of a spatial region and having an associated spatial parameter and an associated temporal parameter, the stored data item indicating a property of the communications network. The method also includes receiving second data indicating a property of said communications network at a particular location in said spatial region at a particular time. The method further includes processing said spatial parameter, said temporal parameter, data indicating said particular location and data indicating said particular time and, based upon said processing, generating first and second sub-data items, each of said first and second sub-data items having an associated spatial parameter and an associated temporal parameter, at least one of the first and second sub-data items having a spatial or temporal parameter different from that associated with the stored data item.

Abstract: A method provides data communication to a vehicle. The method comprises a first data packet from a device associated with said vehicle at an intermediate device, said first data packet comprising a first identifier identifying said vehicle, modifying said first identifier to identify said intermediate device and forwarding said modified first data packet from said intermediate device to a further device. A communications session between said device associated with said further device is established, and a session identifier is associated with the communications session, and said first data packet comprises said session identifier and said modified data packet comprises said session identifier.

Abstract: A method of storing data indicating a property of a communications network includes obtaining a data item associated with at least part of a spatial region and having an associated spatial parameter and an associated temporal parameter, the stored data item indicating a property of the communications network. The method also includes receiving second data indicating a property of said communications network at a particular location in said spatial region at a particular time. The method further includes processing said spatial parameter, said temporal parameter, data indicating said particular location and data indicating said particular time and, based upon said processing, generating first and second sub-data items, each of said first and second sub-data items having an associated spatial parameter and an associated temporal parameter, at least one of the first and second sub-data items having a spatial or temporal parameter different from that associated with the stored data item.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: an electrical signal generation device configured to generate a first electrical signal, the first signal being based upon captured or expected data related to one or more human or animal subjects; and an electrical signal application device configured to apply the first electrical signal in a processed or unprocessed form to a human or animal subject.

Abstract: A method provides data communication to a vehicle. The method comprises a first data packet from a device associated with said vehicle at an intermediate device, said first data packet comprising a first identifier identifying said vehicle, modifying said first identifier to identify said intermediate device and forwarding said modified first data packet from said intermediate device to a further device. A communications session between said device associated with said further device is established, and a session identifier is associated with the communications session, and said first data packet comprises said session identifier and said modified data packet comprises said session identifier.

Abstract: A computer apparatus comprising a memory, a first processor arranged to read and execute processor readable instructions stored in the memory, a peripheral device connected to and controlled by the first processor and a second processor in communication with the first processor, the second processor being operative to control an operative state of the peripheral device.

Abstract: A method of determining suitable communication paths between a first device and a second device, the first device being connected to a plurality of third devices to which the second device is also connected. The method comprises, at the first device: for each of the third devices, obtaining first information indicating a characteristic of communications between the first device and the second device via the third device, obtaining second information associated with first data to be transmitted from the first device to the second device, and determining, based upon the first and second information, whether any of the third devices should receive the first data for communication of the first data to the second device.

Abstract: A method of providing connectivity to a device having N communication interfaces and M virtual connections, each interface being connectable to a further device. The method comprises determining, for each of the interfaces, a characteristic of the interface. Respective ones of the M virtual connections are associated with respective ones of the N interfaces based upon the determined characteristics.