Abstract: A system, portable device, server, apparatus and method for controlling access to a secure location or container, or for controlling access to selected television programs or classes of programs. The invention provides a system for controlling access to a facility, comprising a portable communicating device, a server means, and one or more access control devices in communication across a network, data storage means available to said server means for storing access control data, said server means being adapted to receive access requests identifying a user of said portable communicating means and including: generating means within said server means for generating access criteria from said access control data according to said user's identity, and communicating means for communicating said access criteria to at least one of said access control means and said portable communicating means, wherein said access control means is adapted to permit access responsive to said user satisfying said access criteria.

Abstract: A data communications network comprises a plurality of geographically spaced wireless transmitters each for transmitting a different network address. At least one mobile user terminal has a wireless receiver for receiving the network addresses transmitted by the transmitters, a wireless transmitter for transmitting requests for delivery of data files from remote locations identified by the network addresses, a wireless receiver for receiving from the remote location the data files identified by the network addresses, and output means for outputting the data files received. Preferably, the network addresses each comprise a Uniform Resource Locator and the data files each comprise a World Wide Web page.

Abstract: A parcel trace system for tracing parcels handled by a service provider for a plurality of clients. The system includes relay (30) adapted to communicate with the clients across the Internet and with a server database. The server database stores a plurality of parcel objects, each parcel object including a parcel identifier attribute and a parcel location attribute. The server database further includes a URL attribute for each client. A client database (80) includes a plurality of parcel objects, each object corresponding to a parcel being handled for the client and including a parcel identifier and a parcel location attribute. A client database controller (70) communicates with the relay, and across a second network, possibly the Internet with the client. The relay is responsive to a change in state of the parcel location attribute to relay the change in state of the parcel location attribute to the client database controller across the Internet.

Abstract: A system receives a call from a user via a telephone in which the user requests data files from a computer network. A Teletext page is allocated to the user by the system and identified by a number. The system generates a menu in the allocated Teletext page and includes it in a broadcast television signal from which the user makes a selection by pushing a number on the telephone keypad. The number identifies a data file on the computer network. The system writes the information from the requested file to the Teletext page included in the television broadcast signal.

Abstract: A pointing device having a sensor for directing towards an icon displayed on a display screen. The sensor generates a sense signal indicative of an attribute of the icon. An audio generator generates, in dependence on the sense signal, an audio signal for subsequent detection by the microphone of a telephone. Also, a system includes the pointing device, for remote selection of one or more options in a data processing apparatus. The system is capable of receiving a call from a telephone; allocating a teletext page in a television signal in response to the call; associating each option with an icon; writing each icon to the allocated teletext page; associating each icon with an audio signal; and, activating each option on receipt of the corresponding audio signal from the telephone.

Abstract: A system for controlling data access in a computer network comprises first means for establishing a first communication link between a client computer and a server computer. The client sends a request to the server for supply of a data item from the server to the client. The server selects the requested data item from a store of data items in response to the request from the client. The server associates each data item in the store with a service telephone number. The server also identifies a subscriber telephone number associated with the request. A second communication link is then established between the server and a telephone utility. The server instructs the telephone utility to register a telephone call from the subscriber telephone number to the service telephone number associated with the requested data item. The requested data item is supplied from the server to the client on receipt by the server of confirmation from the telephone utility that the telephone call is registered.