Distributed budgeting and accounting system with secure token device access

In a computer network that provides computing resources for an organization having resource consumers, a method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request on behalf of a selected one of the resource consumers to use a given one of the computing resources;
• requesting payment for use of the given computing resource by the selected resource consumers;
• and
• receiving electronic payment for the use of the given computing resource from the selected resource consumers.

In a computer network that provides computing resources for an organization having members a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request on behalf of a selected one of the members to use a given one of the computing resources;
• requesting payment for use of the given computing resource by the selected member;
• and
• receiving electronic payment for the use of the given computing resource from the selected member.

In a computing environment wherein secure token devices for a hierarchical organization having multiple levels paying from highest to lowest are associated with a central bank, levels of the organization and service providers that provide services, a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• providing a budget that identifies how many funds are granted to the levels of the organization for a budgetary period;
• transferring electronic funds from the secure token device associated with the central bank to the secure token devices associated with at least some of the levels of the organization to realize distribution of the budget;
• distributing at least some of the funds from a selected secure token device associated with one of the levels of a given secure token device associated with the lowest level of the organization;
• and
• transferring funds from the given secure token device to one of the secure token devices associated with a selected one of the service providers to pay for services provided by the selected service provider.

In a computer network in an organization having computer resources, a computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:

• obtaining identification information from a secure token device to determine whether a user is permitted to connect to the computer network;
• based on the identification information permitting the user to connect to the computer network;
• checking at least one role assigned to the user, wherein each role has rights for accessing the first of the computer resources;
• receiving electronic currency tokens from the secure token device of the user as payment for access to a first of the computer resources based on the checking of at least one role assigned to the user;
• and
• granting the user access to the first of the computer resources.

In a computer network in an organization having computer resources, a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method, comprising the steps of:

• obtaining identification information from a secure token device to determine whether a user is permitted to connect to the computer network based on the identification information permitting the user to connect to the computer network;
• checking at least one role assigned to the user, wherein each role has rights for accessing the first of the computer resources;
• receiving electronic currency tokens from the secure token device of the user as payment for access to a first of the computer resources based on the checking of at least one role assigned to the user;
• and
• granting the user access to the first of the computer resources.

In a distributed computer system in an organization having resources where a secure token device holds currency tokens that constitute a portion of a budget allocated to pay for use of the resources, a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of:

• providing an application program for dispersing currency tokens to the secure token device in the organization;
• activating the application program;
• and
• with the application program, dispersing additional currency tokens to the secure token device in the organization.

A system, comprising:

• a server computer system for providing a service to a user;
• a user computer system for use by the user to gain access to the service provided by the server;
• a first secure token device reader coupled to the user computer system for receiving a secure token device and communicating with the secure token device;
• and
• an access component for granting the user access to the system when the user places a valid secure token device in the first secure token device reader.

A distributed computer system resource comprising:

• at least one processor for running;
• a budgeting component for establishing a budget for an organization that is hierarchically organized into levels and for distributing electronic currency to secure token devices provided for respective levels of the organization;
• and
• a commerce component for facilitating exchange of electronic currency as payment for use of the resources.

In a computer network having computing resources, a system comprising:

• means for obtaining identification information from a secure token device to determine whether a user is permitted to connect to the computer network;
• means for permitting the user to connect to the computer network based on the identification information;
• means for checking at least one role assigned to the user, wherein each role has rights for accessing the first of the computer resources;
• means for receiving electronic currency tokens from the secure token device of the user as payment for access to a first of the computer resources based on the checking of at least one role assigned to the user;
• and
• means for granting the user access to the first of the computer resources.

A medium over which communication signals travel, said signals containing computer executable instructions for performing a method in a computer network that provides computer resources for an organization having resource consumers, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a request on behalf of a selected one of the resource consumers to use a given one of the computing resources;
• checking at least one role assigned to the user, wherein each role has rights for accessing the given one of the computing resources;
• requesting payment for use of the given computing resource by the selected resource consumers based on the checking of at least one role assigned to the user;
• and
• receiving electronic payment for the use of the given computing resource from the selected resource consumers based on the checking of at least one role assigned to the user.