Method and apparatus for encouraging timely payments associated with a computer system

摘要

A method of encouraging timely period payments that are associated with a computer system includes the step of storing passwords in the computer system wherein each password is associated with a separate payment period. Another step of the method includes determining based upon the passwords stored in the computer system whether a supplied password corresponds to a current payment period. The method also includes enabling use of the computer system based upon determining that the supplied password corresponds to the current payment period. The method may further include the step of disabling use of the computer system based upon determining that the supplied password does not correspond to the current payment period.