Provided are apparatus and a method for establishing communications between
a Web client computer in a vehicle and a Web server computer connected to the Internet
or an intranet, initiated from a remote Web Browser. The Web Browser sends a request
to the server, which invokes a process at the server causing a SMS message to be
sent to a telephone connected to the client computer. This SMS message includes
an identification of the server process (such as a URL) and causes the client computer
to establish communications with the server. This allows the Browser to interact
with the client computer via a standard Browser request without the overheads of
security exposure of requiring the client to be a Web server. The invention is
useful for allowing a remote Browser to interact with a computer controlling a
vehicle's electronic control systems.