Credit card operated computer on-line service communication system

A method of operating a server computer of a network, to which are connected a plurality of computer terminals, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first set of user information at the control computer from a first user at one of the computer terminals sufficient to identify a user account to be debited for billing purposes;
• verifying the first set of user information for authorization and beginning a network log-on session by the first user;
• retrieving a second set of user information from a storage device in communication with the server computer, the second set of user information including user account information for the first user;
• establishing communication between the first user computer and one or more network service providers in accordance with information selected from a group including the first set of user information and the second set of user information;
• providing user account information to each respective network service provider;
• receiving data from the network service providers for presentation to the first user;
• ending the network log-on session;
• and
• transmitting user configuration information from the first user computer to the server computer and displaying session charge information at the first computer.

A method of operating a server computer of a network, to which are connected a plurality of computer terminals, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a first set of user information at the control computer from a first user at one of the computer terminals sufficient to identify a user account to be debited for billing purposes;
• verifying the first set of user information for authorization and beginning a network log-on session by the first user;
• retrieving a second set of user information from a storage device in communication with the server computer, the second set of user information including user account information for the first user;
• establishing communication between the first user computer and one or more network service providers in accordance with information selected from a group including the first set of user information and the second set of user information;
• providing user account information to each respective network service provider;
• receiving data from the network service providers for presentation to the first user;
• ending the network log-on session;
• and
• transmitting user configuration information from the first user computer to the server computer and displaying session charge information at the first computer;
• wherein said method provides communication between said remote site computer and a plurality of content providers using the central server, wherein:
• the step of retrieving user information includes retrieving user information pertaining to each of said content providers;
• and
• the step of the central server communicating comprises the central server communicating with each of said content providers based on user identification information pertaining to the respective content provider.

An apparatus providing communication between a remote site computer and a content provider using a central server, the apparatus comprising:

• means for communicating user identification information from the remote site computer to the central server and beginning a log-on session;
• means for retrieving user configuration information from the central server, based on the user identification information;
• means for the central server to communicate with said content provider based on the user identification information and the user configuration information;
• means for terminating the log-on session;
• and
• means for displaying the advertising and session charge information on said remote site computer.