Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a whether access to host requested by a user is permitted. User identifying information is obtained using any of a variety of techniques. The method includes determining a user domain, which indicates an identity of the user's home service provider. A list of hosts is determined based on the home provider. If the requested host is in the list of hosts, then the user is allowed access to the requested host though the user is not authorized. The list of hosts may be determined by one or more attributes from an actual or implied user profile, such as a domain name.

Abstract: Navigation of a hierarchical system is facilitated by a specialized graphical user interface in which graphical representations of different levels of the hierarchy are mapped to and coordinate with menu controls. The graphical representation may variously describe the topological arrangement of a hierarchy or a functional representation of a hierarchical system. Selecting an element of the graphical representation causes a new representation to appear, showing higher level of detail of the selected element. Simultaneously the menu controls expand to offer submenus corresponding to the greater detail for selection by a user. The graphical representation may be augmented by other controls, such as shortcut icons for enhanced performance.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining a whether access to host requested by a user is permitted. User identifying information is obtained using any of a variety of techniques. The method includes determining a user domain, which indicates an identity of the user's home service provider. A list of hosts is determined based on the home provider. If the requested host is in the list of hosts, then the user is allowed access to the requested host though the user is not authorized. The list of hosts may be determined by one or more attributes from an actual or implied user profile, such as a domain name.