Abstract: An arrangement adapted to be used with conventional billiard tables for greater utilization, versatility and/or application of said tables, said arrangement including, a multiplicity of billiard tables located at a variety of separate locations, a means to register and allow for communication between a plurality of players, such that said players need not necessarily play upon the same table nor be located at the one location, said players intended to compete against other registered players, or approve upon personal individual skill level, a timer such that competition between players or improvement of personal standings of an individual is based upon timing of pocketing a set of balls or part thereof upon the respective billiard table by said, timer, a means for having time results of the or each player transferred to a central database wherein individual player's times and standings may then be acknowledged.

Abstract: A method of processing data signals suitable for providing positioning information comprises sequentially recording blocks of data samples of a satellite broadcast from the beginning of a period of time of interest, and storing them in memory. When the memory is full, previously stored blocks of data samples are overwritten, such that the average quantity of sample data decreases, and wherein the memory content includes blocks of data samples covering substantially the full period of time of interest. This method enables blocks of data samples to be kept in memory for a full period of interest (for example a journey) but allows a limited memory capacity. The use of the memory is intelligent and dynamic.

Abstract: An arrangement adapted to be used with conventional billiard tables for greater utilisation, versatility and/or application of said tables, said arrangement including, a multiplicity of billiard tables located at a variety of separate locations, a means to register and allow for communication between a plurality of players, such that said players need not necessarily play upon the same table nor be located at the one location, said players intended to compete against other registered players, or approve upon personal individual skill level, a timer such that competition between players or improvement of personal standings of an individual is based upon timing of pocketing a set of balls or part thereof upon the respective billiard table by said, timer, a means for having time results of the or each player transferred to a central database wherein individual player's times and standings may then be acknowledged.

Abstract: A method of processing data signals suitable for providing positioning information comprises sequentially recording blocks of data samples of a satellite broadcast from the beginning of a period of time of interest, and storing them in memory. When the memory is full, previously stored blocks of data samples are overwritten, such that the average quantity of sample data decreases, and wherein the memory content includes blocks of data samples covering substantially the full period of time of interest. This method enables blocks of data samples to be kept in memory for a full period of interest (for example a journey) but allows a limited memory capacity. The use of the memory is intelligent and dynamic.

Abstract: A method, and associated apparatus is described for calculating an inverse transform for transform coded data. In a main embodiment, an 8×8 Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) (200) is arranged in columns of coefficients (202,204,206), the last coefficient is selectively modified to control mismatch in a known manner. The inverse DCT is performed selectively so as to apply abbreviated processing to groups composed entirely of zero-valued coefficients (204). For the purpose of selecting whether abbreviated processing is to be applied, a data group (206) is considered a zero-valued group if the only non-zero coefficient contained therein is a coefficient modified for mismatch control. Further the effect that the modified coefficient has on the output can be pre-calculated, said pre-calculated values being used to compensate for ignoring the non-zero coefficient.

Abstract: A method for accessing content according to a location within a defined geographical area. The area is defined (104) by those areas covered by selected nodes of one or more networks. Data representing the identities of the selected nodes or of the defined geographical area is then provided (110) to authorised receivers, for example via a Smart Card or the Internet. Corresponding data is broadcast (112) to locations within the defined geographical area The receiver at such a location permits access (124) to content based on a comparison (122) of the provided and received data. The content may be stored locally on physical media or obtained remotely via a network.

Abstract: An MPEG decoder (100-180) can use different formats (linear tiled etc) for image data memory (150) for reference pictures when decoding subsequent pictures. Each format brings advantages and disadvantages. The disclosure illustrates that it is possible for different video sequences to have characteristics which match one image buffer format well, but not another, for example where there is a lot of motion or only a little motion between images. Advantageously, the decoder employs a parameterised image buffer format and analysis of the incoming stream and/or measured decoding performance (190) so as to dynamically choose (90, 160, 170) the best image buffer format for the current part of a stream. Cache control features can also be controlled (198) to suit the particular data received.

Abstract: An appliance, such as a set top box, has an ON power mode and a STAND BY power mode and is in communication with a television set. A parameter of an operating signal associated with the television set is monitored and the value of the parameter is compared with predetermined values at which the set top box is desired to be either operative (ON power mode) or inoperative (STAND BY power mode). When a predetermined value of the parameter is detected, the current power mode of the set top box is evaluated and, if necessary, changed. Power supply to the TV set, operating frequency of a local oscillator/mixer in the TV set or the presence of a line scan signal from the TV set rate can be monitored to determine whether the appliance should be turned on or off.

Abstract: A portable computer device has data acceptance logic (24,40) that determines whether input data items have time and location information. If not, data items are stored together with time and location information taken from clock (30) and location determining circuitry (28), here a Global Positioning Service (GPS) system. A screen (6) is arranged to display data items in a time mode or a space mode. In the time mode, those data items with time information in a time interval are displayed on a time line. In a space mode, data items with time information in a display area are displayed, for example on a map of the display area. The display can be toggled between the time and space modes.

Abstract: A method and system for anonymously and opportunistically tracking the location of a portable device in a wireless infrastructure is described. The system comprises an installed infrastructure (12) in for example a shopping mall, the infrastructure having short range radio stations (14a,14b) primarily installed as wireless information access points. Standard communication between a users device (10a) and a station (14a) is according to a short range radio protocol such as ZigBee in which devices are assigned unique identifiers. In an exchange, the identifier is correlated with location, time and date data and uploaded via a backchannel connection (16) to a database (20) which a user may connect with at a later time. The user, knowing his objects identifier, can therefore access the data to determine where his object last interacted with a station.

Abstract: An electrically releasable form of hook and loop fastener (10) allows one half of the fastener to release from the other half without applying direct physical force to either half. The hook elements (21) of the fastener are formed of a shape-memory alloy material (27) such as commercially available Ninitol. Release of the hook half (14) of the fastener from the loop half (12) is accomplished by passing an electrical current through the shape-memory alloy material to straighten the hooks (21) so that they release their engagement with the loops (18). The flow of electricity through the hook half energizes the Ninitol material (27) to change its shape, either expanding or contracting in length; the change in shape is made to act against another length of material (28) that remains fixed in length or changes shape in an opposite direction so as to cause the hook shape to straighten toward a rod shape.