Abstract: A network communications system comprises a plurality of user stations (16, 18, 20, 22, 24), each with respective processing and display capability. At least some of the stations are provided with a predictor mechanism which determines, for a given downloaded data page, the most likely next page, calls that data page up over the network, and downloads it to local cache storage whilst the user is still viewing the first page. To reduce some of the worst delays, due to graphic image downloads, one or more service provider host systems coupled via a data network such as the Internet packages all the graphics data for a particular group of pages into a single dummy page which the user systems then background-download to cache.

Abstract: In a computer communications system wherein a number of user stations are connected via a data network to a remote server hosting a chat-space where text messages may be exchanged, a parsing subsystem is provided in at least some of the user stations. The parsing subsystem identifys keywords in the exchange text messages and, using these as search terms sent to a further server hosting a search engine, obtains and makes available to the user auxiliary sources of data which may be of interest. In an alternative embodiment, the parser subsystem is held by the chatspace server and transmits the data from, or identifying, the auxiliary sources of data to the users on-line.

Abstract: A network communications system comprises a plurality of configurations of user stations (16, 18, 20, 22, 24), each with respective processing and display capability. From a plurality of service provider host systems coupled via data network such as the Internet, one host server (10) has at least some of the system users and their respective user station or stations registered as client stations. Each registered client station of a single user is arranged to access network services via the host server (10), with the host server arranged to format data to be sent to any of the client stations of said single user according to a pre-stored format for that user.

Abstract: In a network communications system, a user device (70) includes a communications subsystem operable to establish communications with selected servers (72, 74, 90, 92) of the system. Also included are domain master stations (82, 84) connected to monitor communications traffic loading at each of a respective group of servers. In order to avoid traffic overcrowding at individual servers, a redirector station (78) is provided coupled with the domain master stations and accessible by the user device (70). The redirector station is arranged to select an optimum server (74) to handle communications of a user device on the basis of both the physical location of that server relative to the user device and its current communications traffic loading and, having made its selection, it instructs the user device to re-establish network communications via the selected server.