In a node configured to communicate with one or more other nodes over a network, available bandwidth for network traffic may be distributed among two or more distinct channels of communication within a single application running on the node. The piston assembly includes an extendable piston, a transverse passageway, a spring chamber in the transverse passageway, and at least one spring disposed in the spring chamber. The technique includes prospectively shifting slice location using the non-linear motion parameters between slice locations while acquiring a series of MR images. A multi-touch sensor is thus provided in which the signal processing is based on successive definition of regions or sub-blocks in the touch: panel.