Abstract: A system for capturing and preferably processing images of a compartment of a refrigerator, where the system has a camera module having one or more cameras that are fully or partially located outside the compartment of the refrigerator, and one or more optical waveguides optically connected to the cameras and the compartment of the refrigerator and configured to transfer light such that the cameras are capable of capturing pictures of the compartment's interior is disclosed.

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 washing and/or drying machine comprises a main body portion and a drum located within the main body portion. The drum comprises an open end for receiving garments placed in the drum and a closed end for containing the garments within the drum, the closed end being opposite the open end. The drum comprises a side portion connecting the open end to the closed end. The drum comprises at least one magnet located on the side portion of the drum, for magnetic interaction with a corresponding at least one electromagnet in the main body portion of the washing machine. There is further provided a controller for controlling electrical current supplied to the at least one electromagnet so as to control a magnetic field to which the at least one magnet on the drum is subjected. This enables the controller to control movement of the drum, in use.