Linear fractional mappings: invariant sets, semigroups and commutativity

We study commutativity and embeddability (into continuous semi-groups) properties of linear fractional self-mappings of the open unit disk in the complex plane. The common thread in our approach is the classical notion of the K angstrom"nigs function which we use in each of the three possible cases (dilation, hyperbolic and parabolic). Since we are interested in a classical subject, the paper is written in the style of a survey, in order to make it accessible to a wider audience. Therefore it contains, in addition to our new results, an exposition of most relevant facts.