A method is provided that allows data access service provider subscribers to manage their telephone service through a data connection. The apparatus receives the electromagnetic energy. The functionality of the decoder or playback mechanism is represented as syntax elements which may be further encoded. Tracking data representing current transaction information for the transaction cards of the ship personnel is also stored in the distributed card management system database, and at regular intervals, when ship-to-shore communication is available, the land-based and shipboard databases are synchronized with one another. Such compounds are represented by Formula below, wherein R1, R2, L and Q are defined herein.