An apparatus for providing remote teaching to a student at a terminal through a network. A thread executing on a processor of a plurality of processors in a shared-memory system may initiate transactional execution of a section of code, which includes a plurality of access operations to the shared-memory, including one or more to locations protected by a lock. For example, demodulation can be performed using either a rake receiver function or an adaptive equalisation function, the choice being made according to the prevailing circumstances, for example, on the basis of such factors as available baseband processing power, delay spread and spreading factor. Still further, the logarithm unit determines an exponent field and a fraction field high part of the intermediate result. A described method for authenticating a device connected to a telephone line includes receiving entitlement information corresponding to each of the devices via a broadband signal, and using the entitlement information to authenticate each of the devices via the telephone line. The spindle having the trapezoidal threading is supported by supporting means on the area opposite the threaded part, and said means can be mounted on the frame.