Abstract: Methods and data processing apparatuses are provided which enable controlling, from one data processing apparatus, access to data held (for example on a queue) at another data processing apparatus. When a requester wishes to access data held at a local data processing apparatus, a request must be sent to a remote data processing apparatus to determine the security attributes of the data (for example, retrieving queue attributes from a database). The requestor cannot access the data until the security attributes are fully determined at the local data processing apparatus, and since communication with a remote system is required to make this determination the remote apparatus is able to log the requests for data access. The security attributes are preferably an identifier of a cryptor used in compression, a compressor used in compression and an authenticator for authenticating the requestor.

Abstract: A method of executing a transaction on a smartcard of the type including a processor, a memory for storing a system program, an application programs and for storing data and an interface enabling communication with an external processor in a local terminal adapted to access related data is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: determining from the data stored on the smartcard in a pre-transaction state if the transaction can be executed validly by the smartcard (102); determining from the related data stored in a pre-transaction state and accessible by said external processor if the transaction can be executed validly by the external processor (102); in response to said determining steps being affirmative, executing said transaction on said smartcard and by said external processor (105); and in response to said smartcard or said external processor failing to execute said transaction, restoring said data and said related data to the or each pre-transaction state (108).

Abstract: A communications system may be used for transmitting and/or receiving data over a network. The system needs to exchange capability information with other systems in the network, in order to determine which forms of communication can be mutually supported. The exchange of information includes logical expressions involving two or more parameters. This allows, for example, a system to indicate that a higher error rate will occur if the throughput is increased. In the preferred embodiment, each capability parameter is specified in terms of a range between a minimum and a maximum acceptable value.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a communication channel between a source node and a destination node via a heterogeneous communication network comprising at least one intermediate node is disclosed. A request for a communication channel having specified characteristics is issued by the source node to the most immediately adjacent of a possible plurality of intermediate nodes. Each intermediate node determines whether or not it has the available communication resources to support the request. If so, sufficient communication resources are reserved in order to support the request and the request is forwarded to the next intermediate node. The determination by each intermediate node is continued until the destination is reached. After determination by the intermediate node as to whether or not the communication channel can be supported, an indication reflecting the determination is returned to the source node via the intermediate nodes.

Abstract: A programmable workstation for collaborative working in a network comprises a conventional operating system and network control layer for controlling physical routing of data between nodes. A collaborative application subsystem which interfaces with conventional telephones is responsive to a predetermined call from a collaboration call manager to establish the call manager at the node to handle incoming events which are not specific to any application program instances at the node.