Abstract: A terminal device for using different services offered via a telecommunications network includes at lest one receiving device for image and sound information, at least one transmitting device for data which is used to select the received image and sound information, an input unit, a decoder for the image and sound information, and outputs for audio and video signals. A server for such terminal devices includes devices for connection to a telecommunications network, devices for carrying out authorization checks using the respective data received from a terminal device, and devices for receiving and processing service requests of the terminal devices. The services used may include television programs, such as pay TV and interactive television, and Internet applications.

Abstract: The present mechanism offers customers a method for comparing products in electronic-commerce applications. The present invention further involves the accessing of a database management system, in which the user controls the product selection with the aid of control buttons. After data is read out from the database of the database management system and after converting an internal data structure containing the products/objects of the database, a product list can be created. By comparing the products in the product list to criteria for the desired product specified by the customer in the form of a comparison function, the objects selected on the basis of the comparison function can be entered into a result list and can be displayed to the customer. The invention can be used in e-commerce applications on the Internet because, among other things, it can make searching for products easier for the customer.

Abstract: A terminal device for using different services offered via a telecommunications network includes at lest one receiving device for image and sound information, at least one transmitting device for data which is used to select the received image and sound information, an input unit, a decoder for the image and sound information, and outputs for audio and video signals. A server for such terminal devices includes devices for connection to a telecommunications network, devices for carrying out authorization checks using the respective data received from a terminal device, and devices for receiving and processing service requests of the terminal devices. The services used may include television programs, such as pay TV and interactive television, and Internet applications.