In a network, in particular an ad-hoc network AHN, having a blackboard on
which all the usable services are entered, following detection of a
service which has not yet been entered on the blackboard, a check is
carried out to determine whether use of the service is admissible. The
service is entered onto the blackboard only if use of the service is
admissible. This provides centrally administrable secure use of services
in plug & play networks.