Abstract: An electronic commerce method that includes publishing an offer for a product or service, receiving the published offer and conditionally accepting the offer, and forwarding the conditional acceptance to a matching processor to request the product or service. The matching processor receives the conditional acceptance by the matching processor, determines whether conditions present in the conditional acceptance can be fulfilled, and forwards at least one option for acceptance. The at least one option for selection is displayed and the user, selects any one of the at least one options. Upon selection, a token is provided to the user. The token is configured to be used to redeem the service or product, be transferable to another user device, or to be stored for future redemption of the product or service.

Abstract: A method that enables the mapping of token identity and token presentation context to invoke one or more applications that are associated with the given token and context is disclosed. The method enables the construction of a flexible and efficient token-in-context services platform.

Abstract: A method for constructing electronic commerce services and conducting electronic commerce transactions is disclosed. The method is illustrated by instantiating and storing the electronic contract on a server; issuing and transmitting a token message to one or more contracting party's client device. Using a processor to intercept the token message and contact the server to retrieve the electronic contract associated with the token message; and downloading or uploading digital media as instructed by the electronic contract. The method is based on the uniform, highly expressive representation of electronic contracts as digital objects. A system based on a distributed object architecture that implements the method is also described. The architecture enables the execution of the promises encoded as part of an electronic contract to be executed on any device that implements an electronic contract interpreter mechanism.

Abstract: A method for constructing electronic commerce services and conducting electronic commerce transactions is disclosed. The method is illustrated by instantiating and storing the electronic contract on a server; issuing and transmitting a token message to one or more contracting party's client device. Using a processor to intercept the token message and contact the server to retrieve the electronic contract associated with the token message; and downloading or uploading digital media as instructed by the electronic contract. The method is based on the uniform, highly expressive representation of electronic contracts as digital objects. A system based on a distributed object architecture that implements the method is also described. The architecture enables the execution of the promises encoded as part of an electronic contract to be executed on any device that implements an electronic contract interpreter mechanism.

Abstract: An electronic commerce method that includes publishing an offer for a product or service, receiving the published offer and conditionally accepting the offer, and forwarding the conditional acceptance to a matching processor to request the product or service. The matching processor receives the conditional acceptance by the matching processor, determines whether conditions present in the conditional acceptance can be fulfilled, and forwards at least one option for acceptance. The at least one option for selection is displayed and the user, selects any one of the at least one options. Upon selection, a token is provided to the user. The token is configured to be used to redeem the service or product, be transferable to another user device, or to be stored for future redemption of the product or service.

Abstract: A method that enables the mapping of token identity and token presentation context to invoke one or more applications that are associated with the given token and context is disclosed. The method enables the construction of a flexible and efficient token-in-context services platform.

Abstract: A user programmable smart card interface system is disclosed having a smart card (10) and a reader/writer (1) which is able to read data from, and write data into, an electronic memory (19) carried by the card. A user terminal (100) having processing capacity can be used by a user to write customised data into the electronic memory (19). The user is then able to utilise his own data to control a data controlled equipment (120) as the user desires. A storage apparatus (1000) for smart cards and smart cards (501) with a tactile operating surface arc also disclosed.

Abstract: A virtual image album system is disclosed, the system comprising: a card (10) comprising a substrate (12) having a memory device (19) associated therewith, and indicia (24) formed on the substrate, the indicia (24) being representative of image data, and function data stored within the memory device (19) and associated with the indicia (24); and a reader (1) for the card (10), the reader (1) comprising a touch sensitive membrane (8) arranged to overlay said card (10) and through which the indicia (24) are visible, the reader (1) being adapted to output the specific function data associated with a user selected one of said indicia (24), thereby to reference the specific image data.

Abstract: A customizable user interface system is disclosed, the system comprising: a card (10) comprising a substrate (12), a memory device (19) associated therewith, and indicia (70, 72) formed on said substrate (12) and user interpretable to relate to functions stored within said memory (19); and a reader device (1) for said card (10), the reader (1) comprising a touch sensitive device (8) arranged to overlay said card (10), and through which said indicia (70, 72) are visible, characterized in that said touch sensitive device (8) comprises a membrane via which said indicia (70, 72), arbitrarily arranged on said substrate (12), may be selected.

Abstract: The method prevents disclosure of protected information in a platform. The platform includes a plurality of entities (204) and a security manager (104). Each entity (204) has data which indicates whether the entity is trusted or untrusted and whether the entity has or has not been exposed to protected information. The untrusted entity (500) requests (504) an unsafe operation of a trusted entity (502). The trusted entity (502) notifies the security manager (104) of the requested operation. The trusted entity (502) then halts the requested operation if the untrusted entity (500) contains protected information or has been exposed to protected information.

Abstract: A user programmable smart card interface system is disclosed having a smart card (10) and a reader/writer (1) which is able to read data from, and write data into, an electronic memory (19) carried by the card. A user terminal (100) having processing capacity can be used by a user to write customised data into the electronic memory (19). The user is then able to utilise his own data to control a data controlled equipment (120) as the user desires. A storage apparatus (1000) for smart cards and smart cards (501) with a tactile operating surface arc also disclosed.

Abstract: A certifier device (90) for producing a certified document (101) of an original document (100) and a verifier device (300) for verifying the certified document (101). The certifier device (90) includes a scanner (102) for scanning the original document (100) to generate a true copy image. The certifier has also an encoder (104) for computing a digital code which is representative of the true copy image; an encryptor (108) for encrypting the digital code according to a private key associated with a certifier identification; and a compositor (107) for compositing an image including the true copy image together with the encrypted digital code and certifier identification. The verifier device (300) includes a scanner (301) for scanning the certified document (101); a decryptor (307) for decrypting the encrypted digital code according to a public key associated with the certifier identification; and a encoder (309) for computing a digital code which is representative of the true copy image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for selective copying of regions of a printed sheet (101). The printed sheet (101) comprises a plurality of said regions (111,112,113, and 114) having recorded therein associated text and/or graphics. The printed sheet (101) also includes information (202,204,206,208) stored on said printed sheet indicating the location of the regions. The method comprises a reading step (304), a selecting step (302), and a copying step (308). In the reading step (304), the method reads the information stored on said printed sheet indicating the location of the regions. In the selection step (302), a user selects one or more desired regions and associated text and/or graphics for copying. In the copying step (308), the method copies the selected regions and associated text and/or graphics in accordance with said information.

Abstract: A virtual image album system is disclosed, the system comprising: a card (10) comprising a substrate (12) having a memory device (19) associated therewith, and indicia (24) formed on said substrate, said inidicia (24) being representative of image data, and function data stored within said memory device (19) and associated with said indicia (24); and a reader (1) for said card (10), said reader (1) comprising a touch sensitive membrane (8) arranged to overlay said card (10) and through which said indicia (24) are visible, said reader (1) being adapted to output specific said function data associated with a user selected one of said indicia (24), thereby to reference specific said image data.

Abstract: A customisable user interface system is disclosed, the system comprising: a card (10) comprising a substrate (12), a memory device (19) associated therewith, and indicia (70, 72) formed on said substrate (12) and user interpretable to relate to functions stored within said memory (19); and a reader device (1) for said card (10), the reader (1) comprising a touch sensitive device (8) arranged to overlay said card (10), and through which said indicia (70, 72) are visible, characterised in that said touch sensitive device (8) comprises a membrane via which said indicia (70, 72), arbitrarily arranged on said substrate (12), may be selected.

Abstract: A remote control apparatus (10) for accessing a desired resource (13) on a network system (46) is disclosed. The network system (46) typically has a plurality of node sites of which at least one node site includes the desired resource which is uniquely identifiable by a resource identifier (66). The remote control apparatus includes input means (32) for inputting the resource identifier into the remote control apparatus, storage means (30) for storing the entered resource identifier; transmission means (21,23,35) and authentication means (28). The transmission means provides for wireless transmission of the resource identifier to an output arrangement (11) to enable the output arrangement to receive the resource identifier and thereby access the desired resource at the network system node identified by the resource identifier for reproduction of the desired resource by the output arrangement.