Abstract: A system for providing access to the internet, comprises a network of routers (R) hereinafter designated “new routers”) wherein each new router (R) has a CPU (112) that has, or is associated with, a public area (142) that allows simultaneous access to the new router's CPU by more than one user account. The system is so arranged that a pre-registered user with a user account identified by an identifier, typically a user name and/or password, can access the internet from any new router (R) in the network by connecting to the public area (142) of the new router's CPU (112) and entering the account identifier of the pre-registered user account.

Abstract: A system for providing access to the internet, comprises a network of routers (R) hereinafter designated “new routers”) wherein each new router (R) has a CPU (112) that has, or is associated with, a public area (142) that allows simultaneous access to the new router's CPU by more than one user account. The system is so arranged that a pre-registered user with a user account identified by an identifier, typically a user name and/or password, can access the internet from any new router (R) in the network by connecting to the public area (142) of the new router's CPU (112) and entering the account identifier of the pre-registered user account.

Abstract: A system and method to produce and use new bank checks with magnetized strips (30) and/or storage chips (33) to avoid forging in the checks and to confirm immediately upon introducing them for negotiation, whether or not sufficient funds are available. The bank check system comprises issued bank checks whose front and rear faces carry imprinted visible data (11-21) and a magnetic strip (30) and/or storage chip (33) containing stored encoded data readable by a reader so it can be checked for conformity with the visible data (11-21) to detect any unauthorized alterations to the check. The visible data (11-21) and stored encoded data include an identification of a check (19), account, drawer (15) and bank (16). The new checks include checks with a maximum value, or a fixed value that is pre-paid and blocked in the drawer's account, and “ordinary” checks, enabling to check whether the checks to be paid with a sufficient blocked amount.

Abstract: A system for checking the payment of vehicle parking charges comprises, on the one hand, a vehicle-portable parking meter device (12) for paying vehicle parking charges and, on the other hand, a portable hand-held parking checker device (11) for checking parking charges. The parking meter device (12) comprises a contact or contactless storage chip (15) that is loadable with an amount of credit usable as parking fees, the storage chip being associated with an antenna (16) for wireless connection of the storage chip with a wireless-operable credit-loading device (17,303,403). The portable hand-held checker device (11) is usable by a parking inspector (13) to check the payment status of a parking meter device (12) that is installed in or on a parked vehicle (14).

Abstract: A luggage collection installation, located at a place of arrival where passengers disembark from an aircraft or other means of transportation with passenger coupon parts (31) of boarding passes, is arranged to facilitate luggage delivery. The passenger coupon parts (63) contain encoded luggage identification corresponding to identification data on transported luggage. The installation comprises at least one reader/writer (5) for the passenger coupon parts (63) and means (4) for reading luggage identification data carried by luggage to be collected on a conveyor (2), and which corresponds to encoded luggage identification data stored in the passenger coupon part (63) of the boarding passes.

Abstract: The invention relates to Smart Documents to be used in various administrative, financial and other applications, in particular bank cheques and other paper value documents that require authentication, boarding passes for transport systems, documents for access functions and multipurpose uses, in particular Smart Documents that comprise a pliable thin portion (10) carrying on its front and/or rear face imprinted visible data, and a thick portion (5) wherein a magnetic strip (62) and/or storage chip (5a) of the contact and/or contactless type is/are merged. The document's thick portion (5), i.e. wherein the magnetic strip and/or storage chip is merged, is a planar card (58) attached to an edge (15) of the document's thin portion (10) in a manner allowing inclination of the card (58) relative to the thin portion.

Abstract: A Boarding Pass (60) for use in boarding passengers in aircraft or other forms of transportation and/or while the passengers are aboard and/or after disembarkation has main and passenger coupon parts (63,64) detachable along a detachment line (65). The front face carries printed data and spaces for printing travel data. Separate magnetized strips (62) and/or storage chips (59) are merged in thick portions (61,58) on the two coupon parts (63,64) on either side of the detachment line (65). The strips and/or chips store passenger data and travel data readable by passing the Boarding Pass (60) or a coupon part (63,64) through a reader/writer.

Abstract: A Boarding Pass (60) and system for use in boarding passengers in aircraft or other means of transportation and/or while the passengers are aboard and/or after disembarkation. The Boarding Pass (60) has a main coupon part (64) and a passenger coupon part (63) detachable from the main coupon part along a detachment line (65). The front face of the main coupon and passenger coupon parts carry visible printed data associated with spaces where passenger data and travel data are printed. A first magnetized strip (62) and/or storage chip (59) is merged in a thick portion (61,58) on the main coupon part (64) and a separate second magnetized strip (62) and/or storage chip (59) is merged in a thick portion (61,58) on the passenger coupon part (63). The first and second magnetized strips and/or storage chips are separated from one another and spaced apart on either side of the detachment line (65).

Abstract: The invention relates to Smart Documents to be used in various administrative, financial and other applications, in particular bank cheques and other paper value documents that require authentication, boarding passes for transport systems, documents for access functions and multipurpose uses, in particular Smart Documents that comprise a pliable thin portion (10) carrying on its front and/or rear face imprinted visible data, and a thick portion (5) wherein a magnetic strip (62) and/or storage chip (5a) of the contact and/or contactless type is/are merged. The document's thick portion (5), i.e. wherein the magnetic strip and/or storage chip is merged, is a planar card (58) attached to an edge (15) of the document's thin portion (10) in a manner allowing inclination of the card (58) relative to the thin portion.