Abstract: A method for controlling payment in a communications system including the steps of providing a service accessing a service provider from the or one user device, selecting a product for purchase from the service provider, the service agent receiving a request for payment from the service provider via a payment operator and the service agent issuing a payment authorisation to a payment provider via the payment operator. The service agent is installable in a variety of user devices and provides a uniform interface to the payment system from a plurality of the user devices. The service agent may also provide a uniform interface to an ordering system from a plurality of the user devices.

Abstract: A method of determining the topology of at least part of a network comprising the steps of: monitoring traffic to and/or from a plurality of computers in the network; storing information relating to the monitored traffic for each of the plurality of computers, the information including an identifier of a requested service; selecting a first computer of the plurality of computers; reading the stored information related to the first computer and identifying, using the stored identifier of the requested service, at least one traffic flow to or from the first computer that corresponds to the requested service; using the stored information to identify the destination or origin of the identified traffic flow for the first computer, which traffic flow information includes the identifier of the requested service; using the identified destination or origin to identify one or more computers that are immediately upstream or downstream of the first computer, and determining a topology based on the identified one or more

Abstract: A client server system uses a client subsystem, a server subsystem and an interconnecting data network. The client subsystem client application initiates a secure connection over the network with the server subsystem which includes a server application cooperating with the client application to complete a secure connection with the client application and which transmits output data over such a connection in response to requests for service by the client application. The server subsystem additionally generates a notification, in response to detecting an event in the absence of a secure connection between the server and the client, and transmits the notification to the notification server which forwards the notification over the interconnecting network to the client application.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling service requests from a client to a server involves intercepting and controlling the transmission of service requests from the client to the server. The service requests are queued at the client and the transmission of the queued service requests are delayed to smooth the frequency of service requests transmitted to the server.

Abstract: A method for controlling payment in a communications system including the steps of providing a service accessing a service provider from the or one user device, selecting a product for purchase from the service provider, the service agent receiving a request for payment from the service provider via a payment operator and the service agent issuing a payment authorisation to a payment provider via the payment operator. The service agent is installable in a variety of user devices and provides a uniform interface to the payment system from a plurality of the user devices. The service agent may also provide a uniform interface to an ordering system from a plurality of the user devices.

Abstract: In a communications network, communications terminals exchange call control capability data which mutually identifies selected call control protocols and network address types. The terminals subsequently set up a call using protocols chosen from those identified. The terminals may continuously monitor for a request for the exchange of such data, allowing other parties to join a session subsequently, after the initial set up.

Abstract: The invention addresses the problems of server overload by installing an integrity manager (32) which intercepts calls from the client (10) to the server (12) and delays them. In addition the Integrity manager (32) can be downloaded automatically when a server service is first invoked.

Abstract: In a communications network, each of a number of users registers user profile data in a directory. The directory is available to other users. The user profile data includes identifiers for one or more of a plurality of call control protocols. Prior to establishing a call, a user retrieves user profile data for the called party from the directory. The call is then established using a call control protocol which was identified in the relevant user profile.