Abstract: A method of acquiring network information from a network is disclosed. The network comprises an end terminal and a target terminal and installed on the end terminal is (a) a plurality of applications; and (b) mediation means arranged in operation to mediate between the plurality of applications and the target terminal. The method comprises: (i) receiving at the mediation means a query from one of the plurality of applications, the query requesting network information from a target terminal; (ii) operating the mediation means to: check if there is an existing connection to the target terminal; in the absence of an existing connection, establish a new connection between the mediation means and the target terminal; and acquire the requested network information over the new connection.

Abstract: A host server downloads a diagnostic program which is then used to interrogate a client device from time to time for its capabilities to generate a profile, which is used to generate a device entry in a database and to provide a reference address which is transmitted back to the client terminal. When the user wishes to access data from a website, he uses his terminal to transmit a data request, which includes a header carrying the address of the device profile on the database associated with the host. The target server (website), on receiving the data request, uses the address to interrogate the data base to retrieve the profile to be sent back to the website, which can then use the retrieved client device profile to select the content and form of the data to be sent to the user terminal.