| 摘要 |
<p>A prepaid computer service operating on a personal computer (108) and a networked computer is activated at a point of sale (100). The service includes broadband Internet access such as DSL (110). The service running on the personal computer (108) includes a switch for discontinuing the service upon expiration of the prepaid service. The switch may be a comprised in a circuit interconnected between a DSL (110) modem and a personal computer (108). A DSL (110) service provider Internet access service (104) and a service manager manages the prepaid service. The switch (104) has a timer having a value loaded by the service manager, and the timer (114) is used to determine the expiration of service. The prepaid service alternately includes a software based switch which may be used to regulated prepaid internet service or other software based services such as prepaid Internet based games, thin-client software services or entertainment.</p> |
