Abstract: A method and system for changing subscribers in communications networks. In communications networks, more and more information providers (referred to as content providers) are making available WML/HTML pages (data contents) on their servers which subscribers can request and download onto their terminal. The present invention is directed to a method and a system which charges information transmitted via a communications network on the basis of its content. The criteria for classifying a WML page in a billing system are the information provider's. A “WAP gateway” constitutes the interface between the subscriber and the WAP data world or Internet data world. All the WML/HTML/XML content called by subscribers passes through a WAP gateway. According to the present invention, a network unit responds to the charging inquiries for subscribers.

Abstract: A message, including ordering data regarding a price of a product that a purchaser wants to purchase and personal information including a credit card number of the purchaser, is given to a settlement agency computer from a purchaser computer used by the purchaser. The settlement agency computer determines whether to pay for the product for the purchaser, based on the ordering data and the personal information. In a case where it is determined to pay for the product for the purchaser, the settlement agency computer sends settlement permission information representing that payment can be made for the purchaser, to a seller computer used by a seller, while keeping the credit card number to be confidential. Hence, before delivering the product to the purchaser, the settlement is completed, and the credit card number of the purchaser is kept secret from the seller.

Abstract: An accounting system for an income statement under absorption costing (full costing), with a means for identifying the break even point in a break-even chart, using a 45-degree line, defining ?=the net carryover manufacturing overhead applied in inventories, treating ? as an additive constant to the other constants in a conventional break-even chart and identifying the break-even point as the intersection between the variable cost line added on the constant line and the 45-degree line. The system further includes a means for identifying the individual break-even point for each individual income statement of manufacturing management accounting departments in the company aiming at the managed gross profit chart previously originated by the applicant; for disclosing the break-even charts for concerned company personnel over a computer information network; and for advisors' advising system to send said break even charts over the information network to company clients.

Abstract: A credit facility for controlling financial transactions is arranged with the ability of users to establish self-imposed limits on a category by category basis. The processing system provides messages and other information to the user, both on-demand and at the point of sale, based upon the category of the transaction and the limit set for that category. In one embodiment, both the user and, if desired, third parties, can obtain or be notified, of account balances on a category by category basis. Also, the main user can assign category limits, or prohibitions, on subusers of the same account. In one embodiment, information pertaining to a specific transaction is communicated to a third party.

Abstract: In a method for producing an item list of components for the assembly of a module including the components at a first location, wherein the components can be taken from a number of offered components, the offered components are provided with a reference number and are accessible from the first location, and at least one individual property of each component is stored together with its reference number in a databank that is arranged at a second location different from the first location.