Abstract: A connectionless communications network includes a number of low earth orbit (LEO) satellite nodes. Motion of the satellites constantly changes the topology of the network. A virtual model of the network having fixed virtual nodes, is maintained in a connection control system. This virtual model is used to control the route that traffic will take through the real network. As topology changes happen in the network then the virtual nodes of the model become embodied by different real nodes and communicate their virtual identity to connected nodes. Routing of the traffic is performed with reference to the virtual network so that routing follows the current embodiment of the virtual network.

Abstract: Restricted data is stored on a smart card having a memory and a processor. Preferably the restricted data is stored in groups. The smart card may store a record of users authorized to access certain groups of restricted data. An owner of the smart card must authorize registration of new users by entering their password, the new users are then given their own passwords in order to retrieve certain groups of restricted data. When a registered user uses their password to retrieve restricted data the smart card irretrievably modifies a codeword in a codeword section of the restricted data group, each codeword corresponding to an authorized user. The owner of the smart card is then able to determine if the restricted data has been accessed by checking for modified codewords.

Abstract: A service terminal facility is provided at a public access location, for example in a hotel, hospital or airport, the service terminal facility available for providing electronic information services to users, in response to input of a portable data storage medium, for example a smart card or the like. A smart card contains stored data describing user specified information such as contacts names, personal details and medical information and personal interest information. The service terminal comprises a search engine for searching the user data and comparing data types within the user data with general data stored locally at the service terminal. The service terminal selects data corresponding to data types specified in the user data and displays these on the graphical user interface at the service terminal, or at a user interface connected with the service terminal.

Abstract: A data access and retrieval system comprises a plurality of user data sources each storing electronic data signals describing data specific to a user, or enabling services selected by a user; an agent device which is configurable to select individual ones of the user data sources and present selections of user data and service data to a set of callers who may interrogate the agent device remotely over a communications network; a plurality of service terminals capable of communicating with the agent device over a communications network the service terminals operable by said callers; and a plurality of key devices, storing caller information and security code information for enabling remote access of selections of user data and/or services to be transmitted over a communications network to a caller located at a said service terminal.

Abstract: A switching device includes a combination of a fixed contact, first and second electrically connected movable contacts, and an arrangement for moving the movable contacts so that the first movable contact closes to the fixed contact before the second movable contact closes to the fixed contact and so that the first movable contact opens from the fixed contact after the second movable contact opens therefrom.