A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CERTIFYING ACCESS TO A REMOTE DATABASE

摘要

A computer network is provided comprising a plurality of user stations (1.1-1.n), a main server (5) and a communications network (3.1-3.m,7) arranged to permit transfer of data between the user stations (1.1,1.n) and the main server (5). Stored within some of the user stations (1.1) is user identification data (9). Stored within the main server (5) there is a first database (20) and a second database (24), the second database associating items of user data (9) with further data. When a query is entered using the user station (1.1;1.n) this is transferred via the communications network (3.1-3.m,7) together with user identification data (9) stored within the user station (1.1). On receipt of a query the main server processes the query against the first database (20). If the data within the first database (20) fulfills the query, additional data associated with the user identification data received is then output from the second database (24) of the main server (5).