Abstract: A network is disclosed for carrying calls between entities. Network resources which generate charges include means arranged to determine the charging rate for their use dynamically, and to transmit charging rate or tariff data representing a proposed or actual charging rate or tariff, or a change or proposed change thereto, through the network before and/or during the call to the entity or entities liable to the resource for the charges.

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 non-blocking broad band asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch having a plurality of ports is adapted to provide a switching function for narrow band traffic by means of adaptive virtual junctors attached to the switch ports to provide ingress to and egress from the switch and each having means for assembly and disassembly of ATM payloads. Each adaptive virtual junctor has a virtual connection with every other adaptive virtual junctor, each said virtual connection comprising a number of virtual circuits. Control means associated with each said adaptive virtual junctor determine on a call by call basis the number of virtual circuits on each virtual connection associated with that adaptive virtual junctor. A semi-permanent pool of capacity may be provided by transmission adaptation devices associated with the adaptive virtual junctors.

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.