Abstract: The invention provides devices with specialized ends for diverting fluids trapped in an organ. In a first group of embodiments, the invention provides implantable devices that shunt fluid trapped in a patient's organ to its normal physiological destination. In a second group of embodiments, the invention provides devices with specialized ends for connecting the devices to conventional medical tubing to divert fluid trapped in an organ to a destination selected by the practitioner. The invention further provides systems and methods of using the devices.

Abstract: A modular cat station comprising a plurality of spaced apart platforms disposed at different heights relative to a connected base plate is presented. In particular, the different platforms are removably connected to either the base plate and/or each other in order to create a modular, customized, and collapsible cat station. In addition, the cat station comprises a plurality of camouflaging elements generally representative of leaves, branches, flowers, twigs, and/or other parts of a tree or other plant life in order to at least partially conceal one or more accessories, add-ons, or portions of the station, including scratching posts, toys, food and water bowls, beds, litter box, etc.

Abstract: A computing device executing a reliable cloud storage module divides data into a first data block and a second data block. The computing device stores the first data block in a first storage cloud provided by a first storage service, and stores the second data block in a second storage cloud provided by a second storage service. The computing device thereafter receives a command to read the data. In response, the computing device retrieves the first data block from the first storage cloud and the second data block from the second storage cloud. The computing device then reproduces the original data from the first data block and the second data block.

Abstract: A method of identifying material comprises the step of inserting (882) an identifying code (886) into a signal as a watermark, and deriving (884) a signature from the material. The code and signature are stored in a database (894). The watermarked signal may be distributed and/or transmitted through a network (888). The signal may be processed in the network. A monitor (890) derives from the received signal, the signature and the code. They are compared (892) with the stored signature and code to check the provenance of the material.

Abstract: A method of retrieving information by navigating within a web browsing session. The information is stored on a server in a hierarchical tree comprising a root node, top-level child nodes representing information categories and leaf nodes representing information sub-categories. Each of the nodes has an associated information unit. Initially, an information unit associated with the root node is displayed in an information space. A user then performs navigation operations from the root node, by selecting a first top-level child node, traversing the leaf nodes and selecting a first leaf node. A first information unit associated with the first leaf node is subsequently displayed in the information space. This first information unit is stored, the navigation operations are repeated on a second top-level child node until a second information unit is displayed in the information space.

Abstract: A material (e.g. video, audio or data) processing system (648) processes material including a watermark. The system comprises a remover (640) for removing the watermark, a processor (646) for processing the material from which the watermark has been removed, and an inserter (642) for inserting a watermark into the processed material.

Abstract: The bitstream includes digital codes representing an information signal. At least one digital code is selected. The code occupies a part of the bitstream which is to contain at least one watermark code which represents a watermark perceptible in the information signal. The selected digital code(s) are removed from the said part of the bitstream. The watermark code(s) are put in the said part of the bitstream in place of the selected code(s). The number of bits of the selected code(s) removed from the said part of the bitstream is greater than or equal to the number of bits of the said watermark code(s) put in the said part. The removed selected code(s) are appended to an end of the bitstream and/or placed in watermark user data fields created in the bitstream.

Abstract: A method of embedding data in material comprises the steps of: embedding data in original material to produce data embedded material; removing the watermark from the data embedded material to produce recovered material; comparing the original and recovered material to determine the differences and locations of differences therebetween; and storing the said locations and corrections which correct the said differences. A method of removing the data embedded in the material, comprises the steps of: removing the data from the material to produce recovered material; deriving the said corrections and locations from the said store; and using the corrections to correct the recovered material at the said locations.

Abstract: A method of retrieving information by navigating within a web browsing session. The information is stored on a server in a hierarchical tree comprising a root node, top-level child nodes representing information categories and leaf nodes representing information sub-categories. Each of the nodes has an associated information unit. Initially, an information unit associated with the root node is displayed in an information space. A user then performs navigation operations from the root node, by selecting a first top-level child node, traversing the leaf nodes and selecting a first leaf node. A first information unit associated with the first leaf node is subsequently displayed in the information space. This first information unit is stored, the navigation operations are repeated on a second top-level child node until a second information unit is displayed in the information space.