Abstract: ID information that identifies an animal is generated from an image of the animal. A reference outline of a view of the animal is provided and the animal is aligned with the outline, either by changing the field of view of during image capture or by scaling and/or shifting either automatically or on the basis of user-input. The image is then analyzed to detect markings of the animal and ID information is generated that comprises marking data representing the nature of the detected markings, including the position of the detected markings with respect to the outline, and the size and shape of the markings. A linguistic representation of the ID information is also generated. The ID information in respect of the animal is stored in a database.

Abstract: A method of transferring media files over a communications network, typically the Internet. The files are divided by the provider computer into a series of encoded files which are maintained in the provider computer and are transferred over the communications network in a specific sequence to receiving computer. A user loadable program is also maintained in the provided computer and that together with all file types contributing to the content of the communication are also transferred over the communications network to the receiving computer. The received files can then be reproduced by the receiving computer in the correct sequence.