Abstract: A system for automatically determining the location of a user-specified item within a plurality of possible independent inventory systems is described where each inventory system is located in a different unique geographic location. The system comprises a user profile database comprising a plurality of user records associated with a plurality of different users; at least one of the user records comprising a list of items that are required by a corresponding user; an availability database for providing information relating to the availability of specific items at each of the plurality of inventory systems, a central server for interacting with a mobile telecommunications device.

Abstract: A computer-implemented control system for generating control signals for controlling one or more remotely-located interaction units via a wide-area communications network is described. The control system comprises: a request interface processor for receiving a request for a control signal of a requested control parameter (RCP) relating to a specified environmental requirement (SER) from one of the one or more remotely-located interaction units; the request including: a current value of the RCP, a specified value of the SER; and current values of one or more local environmental parameters (local CERs) related to the SER.