Abstract: Method of distributing data from a transmitting electronic device to multiple receiving electronic devices is performed. The method comprises receiving, at the transmitting electronic device, an incoming signal and data, the data being intended to be processed by a plurality of geographically distributed receiving electronic devices; and jointly transmitting the incoming signal and the data from the transmitting electronic device to the receiving electronic devices over a communication network. The communication network is a broadcast or multicast network and each receiving electronic device is capable of receiving said incoming signal from the transmitting electronic device over the communication network. One or more instructions for performing, at the receiving electronic devices, computing operations on the data are transmitted from the transmitting electronic device to the receiving electronic devices over the communication network and/or over an IP network.

Abstract: Overhead support structure is provided for mounting above a surface. The overhead support structure supports at least one projector for projecting an image onto a surface above which the overhead support structure is mounted, in use. At least sensor is provided to sense such a surface. The at least one image projector is arranged to project an image onto a region selected according to an output of the at least one sensor. The at least one sensor may be arranged to sense the location of an object on such a surface and the at least one projector is configurable to project an image onto a region selected according to a sensed location of one or more objects on such a surface. The selected region may be changed according to a change in the sensed location of one or more objects on such a surface.

Abstract: Method of distributing data from a transmitting electronic device to multiple receiving electronic devices is performed. The method comprises receiving, at the transmitting electronic device, an incoming signal and data, the data being intended to be processed by a plurality of geographically distributed receiving electronic devices; and jointly transmitting the incoming signal and the data from the transmitting electronic device to the receiving electronic devices over a communication network. The communication network is a broadcast or multicast network and each receiving electronic device is capable of receiving said incoming signal from the transmitting electronic device over the communication network. One or more instructions for performing, at the receiving electronic devices, computing operations on the data are transmitted from the transmitting electronic device to the receiving electronic devices over the communication network and/or over an IP network.

Abstract: Washing and/or drying machine has a drum for receiving laundry to be washed and/or dried. A sound generator generates sound which is directed at the laundry. A sound receiver receives sound generated by the sound generator and that is reflected and/or transmitted by said laundry, and outputs corresponding output signals. A controller controls the sound generator to generate sound and receives output signals from the or each sound receiver. The controller determines the laundry material in accordance with the acoustic properties of the laundry based on at least the output signals received from the or each sound receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including allocating one of a plurality of sub-channels to one of a plurality of multicast group clients for a multicast session and performing bit-loading for the allocated sub-channel, wherein said performing act further includes finding one of the plurality of multicast group clients having a lowest received bit rate, finding one of the plurality of sub-channels needing a lowest power to transmit one more bit to the one of the plurality of multicast group clients having the lowest received bit rate, comparing the needed power to a residual power, adding one more transmission bit to the sub-channel if the needed power is not greater than the residual power and updating a multicast rate, the residual power and the power need to transmit one more bit if the needed power is not greater than the residual power.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including assigning sub-channels to different multicast sessions under the assumption that in each session all sub-channels are allocated to all users of that session and power is equally allocated to each sub-channel, then for each session assigning the sub-channels to the users of that session under the assumption that the same amount of power is allocated to each sub-channel, then allocating remaining power to certain sub-channels within the session to increase multicast rate, finally modifying the sub-channel allocations among the multicast sessions depending on the sub-channel and power allocation within each multicast session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including assigning sub-channels to different multicast sessions under the assumption that in each session all sub-channels are allocated to all users of that session and power is equally allocated to each sub-channel, then for each session assigning the sub-channels to the users of that session under the assumption that the same amount of power is allocated to each sub-channel, then allocating remaining power to certain sub-channels within the session to increase multicast rate, finally modifying the sub-channel allocations among the multicast sessions depending on the sub-channel and power allocation within each multicast session.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described including allocating one of a plurality of sub-channels to one of a plurality of multicast group clients for a multicast session and performing bit-loading for the allocated sub-channel, wherein said performing act further includes finding one of the plurality of multicast group clients having a lowest received bit rate, finding one of the plurality of sub-channels needing a lowest power to transmit one more bit to the one of the plurality of multicast group clients having the lowest received bit rate, comparing the needed power to a residual power, adding one more transmission bit to the sub-channel if the needed power is not greater than the residual power and updating a multicast rate, the residual power and the power need to transmit one more bit if the needed power is not greater than the residual power.