Patent Publication Number: US-8533801-B2

Title: System and method for binding a subscription-based computing system to an internet service

Description:
The present application is a continuation of and claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/696,356, filed Apr. 4, 2007, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This Background is intended to provide the basic context of this patent application and is not intended to describe a specific problem to be solved. 
     Pay-as-you-go or pay-per-use and subscription business models have been used in many areas of commerce, from cellular telephones to commercial launderettes. In developing a pay-as-you go business, a provider, for example, a cellular telephone provider, offers the use of hardware (a cellular telephone) at a lower-than-market cost in exchange for a commitment to remain a subscriber to their network. In this specific example, the customer receives a cellular phone for little or no money in exchange for signing a contract to become a subscriber for a given period of time. Over the course of the contract, the service provider recovers the cost of the hardware by charging the consumer for using the cellular phone. 
     The pay-as-you-go business model is predicated on the concept that the hardware provided has little or no value, or use, if disconnected from the service provider. To illustrate, should the subscriber mentioned above cease to pay his or her bill, the service provider deactivates their account, and while the cellular telephone may power up, calls cannot be made because the service provider will not allow them. The deactivated phone has no “salvage” value, because the phone will not work elsewhere and the component parts are not easily salvaged nor do they have a significant street value. When the account is brought current, the service provider will reconnect the device to network and allow the subscriber to make calls. 
     This model works well when the service provider, or other entity taking the financial risk of providing subsidized hardware, has tight control on the use of the hardware and when the device has little salvage value. This business model does not work well when the hardware has substantial uses outside the service provider&#39;s span of control. Thus, a typical personal computer does not meet these criteria since a personal computer may have substantial uses beyond an original intent and the components of a personal computer, e.g. a display or disk drive, may have a significant salvage value. 
     In a typical pay-as-you-go computing system, a user leases or subscribes to an internet service provider (ISP) or other underwriter for a monthly fee which includes a PC and a limited amount of downloaded content. The ISP relies on the user downloading more than the limited amount included in the subscription for profit. However, should the same user subscribe to another ISP or otherwise be able to download content from another ISP, a user may effectively circumvent the original subscription agreement. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A system for binding a subscription-based computer to an internet service provider (ISP) may include a binding module and a security module residing on the computer. The binding module may identify and authenticate configuration data from peripheral devices that attempt to connect to the computer, encrypt any requests for data from the computer to the ISP, and decrypt responses from the ISP. If the binding module is able to authenticate the configuration data and the response to the request for data from the ISP, then the security module may allow the communication between the computer and the ISP. However, if either the configuration cycle or the response cannot be properly verified, then the security module may degrade operation of the computer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a computer that implements a method or includes an apparatus for binding communication between a subscription-based or pay-per-use computer system and an ISP; 
         FIG. 2  is a simplified and representative block diagram of a network module of a secure computing system; 
         FIG. 3  is a simplified and representative block diagram of a binding module of a computing system; 
         FIG. 4  is a simplified and exemplary block diagram of a system supporting a pay-per-use and subscription computing business model; and 
         FIG. 5  is a simplified and exemplary block diagram of a method for binding communication between a subscription-based computing system and an ISP. 
     
    
    
     SPECIFICATION 
     Although the following text sets forth a detailed description of numerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legal scope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forth at the end of this disclosure. The detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. 
     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘ —————— ’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader. It is not intended that such claim term be limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Finally, unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph. 
     Much of the inventive functionality and many of the inventive principles are best implemented with or in software programs or instructions and integrated circuits (ICs) such as application specific ICs. It is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. Therefore, in the interest of brevity and minimization of any risk of obscuring the present invention&#39;s principles and concepts, further discussion of such software and ICs, if any, will be limited to the essentials with respect to the preferred embodiments. 
     Many prior-art high-value computers, personal digital assistants, organizers, and the like, are not suitable for secure subscription use without modification. The ability to enforce a contract requires a service provider, i.e., an “ISP” or other enforcement entity, to be able to affect a device&#39;s operation even though the device may not be connected to the service provider, e.g. connected to the Internet. A first stage of enforcement may include a simple pop up or other graphical interface warning, indicating the terms of the contract are nearing a critical point. A second stage of enforcement, for example, after pay-per-use minutes have expired or a subscription period has lapsed, may be to present a system modal user interface for adding value and restoring service. A provider&#39;s ultimate leverage for enforcing the terms of a subscription or pay-as-you go agreement is to disable the device. Such a dramatic step may be appropriate when it appears that the user has made a deliberate attempt to subvert the metering or other security systems active in the device. 
     Uses for the ability to place an electronic device into a limited function mode may extend beyond subscription and pay-per-use applications. For example, techniques for capacity consumption could be used for licensing enforcement of an operating system or individual applications. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a logical view of a computing device in the form of a computer  110  that may be used in a pay-per-use or subscription mode. For the sake of illustration, the computer  110  is used to illustrate the principles of the instant disclosure. However, such principles apply equally to other electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants, media players, appliances, gaming systems, entertainment systems, set top boxes, and automotive dashboard electronics, to name a few. With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system for implementing the claimed method and apparatus includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computer  110 . Components shown in dashed outline are not technically part of the computer  110 , but are used to illustrate the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 . Components of computer  110  may include, but are not limited to, a processor  112 , a system memory  114 , a memory/graphics interface  116 , also known as a Northbridge chip, and an I/O interface  118 , also known as a Southbridge chip. The memory  114  and a graphics processor  120  may be coupled to the memory/graphics interface  116 . A monitor  122  or other graphic output device may be coupled to the graphics processor  120 . 
     A series of system busses may couple various system components including a high speed system bus  124  between the processor  112 , the memory/graphics interface  116  and the I/O interface  118 , a front-side bus  126  between the memory/graphics interface  116  and the system memory  114 , and an advanced graphics processing (AGP) bus  128  between the memory/graphics interface  116  and the graphics processor  120 . The system bus  124  may be any of several types of bus structures including, by way of example, and not limitation, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus and Enhanced ISA (EISA) bus. As system architectures evolve, other bus architectures and chip sets may be used but often generally follow this pattern. For example, companies such as Intel and AMD support the Intel Hub Architecture (IHA) and the Hypertransport architecture, respectively. 
     Computer  110  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media may be any available media that is accessed by computer  110  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer  110 . Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer readable media. 
     The system memory  114  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  130  and random access memory (RAM)  132 . The system ROM  130  may contain permanent system data  134 , such as identifying and manufacturing information. In some embodiments, a basic input/output system (BIOS) may also be stored in system ROM  130 . RAM  132  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processor  112 . By way of example, and not limitation,  FIG. 1  illustrates operating system  136 , application programs  138 , other program modules  140 , and program data  142 . 
     The I/O interface  118  may couple the system bus  124  with a number of other busses  144 ,  146 , and  148  that join a variety of internal and external devices to the computer  110 . A serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus  144  may connect to a basic input/output system (BIOS) memory  150  containing basic routines to help transfer information between elements within computer  110 . For example, the BIOS may execute during start-up. 
     A super input/output chip  152  may be used to connect to a number of ‘legacy’ peripherals, such as floppy disk  154 , keyboard/mouse  156 , and printer  158 . In one embodiment, the super I/O chip  152  is connected to the I/O interface  118  with a low pin count (LPC) bus  146 . The super I/O chip is widely available in the commercial marketplace. 
     In one embodiment, bus  148  may be a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, or a variation thereof, may be used to connect higher speed peripherals to the I/O interface  118 . A PCI bus may also be known as a Mezzanine bus. Variations of the PCI bus include the Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express (PCI-E) and the Peripheral Component Interconnect-Extended (PCI-X) busses, the former having a serial interface and the latter being a backward compatible parallel interface. In other embodiments, bus  148  may be an advanced technology attachment (ATA) bus, in the form of a serial ATA bus (SATA) or parallel ATA (PATA). 
     The computer  110  may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only,  FIG. 1  illustrates a hard disk drive  160  that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media. Removable media, such as a universal serial bus (USB) memory  162  or CD/DVD drive  164  may be connected to the PCI bus  148  directly or through an interface  166 . Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. 
     The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in  FIG. 1 , provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computer  110 . In  FIG. 1 , for example, hard disk drive  160  is illustrated as storing operating system  168 , application programs  170 , other program modules  172 , and program data  174 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system  136 , application programs  138  other program modules  140 , and program data  142 . Operating system  168 , application programs  170 , other program modules  172 , and program data  174  are given different numbers here to illustrate that, at a minimum, they are different copies. A user may enter commands and information into the computer  110  through input devices such as a mouse/keyboard  156  or other input device combination. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  112  through one of the I/O interface busses, such as the SPI  144 , the LPC  146 , or the PCI  148 , but other busses may be used. In some embodiments, other devices may be coupled to parallel ports, infrared interfaces, game ports, and the like (not depicted), via the super I/O chip  152 . 
     The computer  110  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer  178  via a network interface controller (NIC)  180 . The remote computer  178  may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computer  110 . The logical connection depicted in  FIG. 1  may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or both, but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet. 
     In some embodiments, the network interface may use a modem (not depicted) when a broadband connection is not available or is not used. It will be appreciated that the network connection shown is exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used. 
     The computer  110  may also include a security module (SM)  182 . The SM  182  may be enabled to perform security monitoring, pay-per-use and subscription usage management, and policy enforcement related to terms and conditions associated with paid use. The SM  182  may be particularly suited to securely enabling a computer  110  in a subsidized purchase business model. The SM  182  may be a set of virtualized containers executing on the processor  112  or real containers such as an embedded processor or controller. In one embodiment, the SM  182  is connected to I/O Interface  118  on the SPI bus  144 . In another embodiment, the SM  182  may be embodied in the processing unit  112 , part of the I/O Interface  118 , as a standalone component, or in a hybrid, such as a multi-chip module. A clock  184  may be incorporated into the SM  182  to help ensure tamper resistance. To allow user management of local time setting, including daylight savings or movement between time zones, the clock  184  may maintain its time in a coordinated universal time (UTC) format and user time may be calculated using a user-settable offset. The SM  182  may also include a cryptographic function (not depicted). 
     Additionally, the SM may include firmware or other form of secure memory  186 . The secure memory  186  may include routines or applications that may facilitate the secure operation of the computer  110  through the security module  182 . Additionally, the secure memory  186  may include any other data that may be securely accessed, stored, or modified without unauthorized tampering. In one embodiment, the secure memory  186  includes a lower provisioning module (LPM) that manages the allocation of the usage time. The LPM of the secure memory  186  may act as a secure execution environment of the SM  182  and may account for a user&#39;s pre-paid access time or subscription information. Additionally, the LPM may be described by U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/988,907, and 11/612,433 the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     The secure memory  186  may also include a cryptographic core that may act as an authentication device for all communication between the SM  182  and other devices. For example, the cryptographic core of the execution unit  225  may provide a processing and encryption subsystem of the security module  182  that reaches a suitable Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level to ensure that the computer  110  and any communication with the SM  182  may not be compromised. 
     The memory  186  may also include storage for system-critical items such as a BIOS for a computer or other electronic device in which the SM  182  is operating. The secure memory  186  may also include memory dedicated to the operation of the SM  182  itself, such as storage, for example, for storing metering code to access and decrement subscription data. The secure memory  186  may also act as a repository for subscription or pay-per-use data such as data representing an amount of access time. With the LPM, the access time data may be decremented during computer  110  use. Further, an application for use in providing functionality during limited operation modes, such as a “hardware limited mode,” (HLM) may also be stored in the secure memory  186 . To support a limited operation mode, a second BIOS, and optionally, an alternate copy of the second BIOS, may also be stored in the secure memory  186 . The second BIOS may be used for booting the computer or other electronic device incorporating the SM  182 . The second BIOS may be activated as a secure boot environment to replace the standard BIOS  150  to enforce a subscription or other security policy. Furthermore, the SM  182  may also have an ability to force a system reset at any time which may ensure that pay per use or subscription terms are met, as well as provide a clean environment to start with either a normal or a restricted operation BIOS. 
     The SM  182  may also include a network module  188  in communication with the LPM. The network module  188  may include a network stack that may control all network traffic to the OS  136 ,  168  through the SM  182 . For example, the network module  188  may be implemented in a 32-bit RISC Microcontroller. One example of a suitable microcontroller may be the LPC2378 microcontroller manufactured by NXP Semiconductors of Eindhoven, The Netherlands. Additionally, the network module  188  may include a web server within the SM  182  that may host a number of interfaces that allow secure management of a subscription-based computing system. In one embodiment, the network module  188  includes a number of user interfaces as web pages in a standard publishing format that are served to the user through the SM  182 . The standard publishing format may be Hypertext Markup Language or any similar format. The network module  182  may also include a cryptographic module or function that may encrypt all communications between an internet service provider (ISP) and the computer  100  using a secret key stored in the secure memory  186 . In another embodiment, the network module  188  manages a network stack and provides packet filtering and redirection within a subscription-based or pay-per-use computing system. The network module may be in communication with or act as a substitute for the LPM and/or an upper provisioning module (UPM) as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/988,907, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/612,433. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the network module  188  may be in communication with the SM  182 . In one embodiment, the network module includes a UPM in the form of a number of web pages in an OS independent format  205 , a memory  210 , a network stack and driver  215 , and a web server  220 . In one embodiment, the UPM  205  is a series of web pages that allow a user to add access time and perform other subscription account administrative functions. The UPM  205  may be hosted inside the web server  220  and may invoke the LPM, as previously discussed, to retrieve information to be presented on the web sites that are served by the web server  220  to a web browser executing on the OS. In a further embodiment, the web sites invoke the LPM to retrieve a current time balance and provide packets to provision access time from the SM  182  to the computer  110 . The network stack and driver  215  may make a network port available to the OS during operation of the computer  110 . In one embodiment, the network stack and driver  215  determines if incoming requests are destined for the web server  220  based on an internet protocol (IP) address and a port of the incoming packet. For example, if the incoming packet is for the web server  220 , then the network stack and driver  215  may forward the packet to the web server  220  unencrypted. However, if the incoming packet is destined for another location, i.e., a remote computer  178 , then the network stack and driver  215  may encrypt the packet and send it to its destination. In one embodiment, the network stack and driver  215  may provide a processing and encryption subsystem of the module  188  that reaches a suitable Common Criteria Evaluation Assurance Level to ensure that the module  188  and any communication between the computer  110  and an outside device  178  may not be compromised. In a further embodiment, the network stack and driver  215  manages all communication from the computer  110  to a system that manages user subscription information, as further discussed in relation to  FIG. 4 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a binding module  189  may be integrated into the I/O Interface  118 . The binding module  189  may communicate directly with the SM  182  within the I/O interface  118 , over one of several busses, for example, the SPI bus  144 , or over a dedicated communication line. The binding module  189  may include various components to ensure that the computer  110  may only communicate externally with a particular ISP, several ISPs, a class or type of peripheral device, or any other desired system or device. In one embodiment, the binding module may only allow the computer  110  to communicate with an ISP to which a user of the computer  110  is a subscriber. 
     The binding module  189  may include a detection module  305 . The detection module  305  may include logic implemented as hardware, software or another form of computer readable instructions that may identify communications from the NIC  180  or other peripheral devices  160 ,  166 . In one embodiment, the binding module  189  is an integrated circuit that detects configuration information or events originating from any type of peripheral device. For example, when an OS  136 ,  168  enumerates a peripheral device, either during a boot-up procedure or if a user connects a peripheral device after a boot-up procedure, the I/O Interface  118  may receive a configuration packet or other communication data from the peripheral device. The binding module  189  may then detect, with the detection module  305 , configuration packets, cycles, or any other forms of communication or connection events from the peripheral device to the I/O Interface  118  over any of the busses  124 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148  in communication with the I/O Interface  118 . The communication may originate from any peripheral device including, but not limited to devices described as or implementing protocols compatible with USB, 1394, PCI, network, NICs, hard drives, flash devices, or other devices. 
     The binding module  189  may also include memory  310  for storing detected information and a list of acceptable ISPs and other sources of approved configuration information. In one embodiment, the binding module  189  will discard any data it receives from an unauthorized peripheral device or originating from anything other than a set of approved devices or ISPs. By discarding unauthorized communications at the I/O Interface  118 , the binding module  189  may prevent communication originating from an unauthorized source from reaching its intended destination by preventing the computer  110  from processing any unauthorized data. For example, the binding device  189  may identify the first communication received at the I/O Interface  118  having a device class of network controller. All future communications originating from a network controller and matching the characteristics of the first-identified network controller may then be passed to the intended destination. 
     Alternatively, the binding module  189  may communicate with the memory  310  or other storage that includes a list of authorized peripheral sources for data arriving at the module  189  or the I/O Interface  118  and only permit data matching a characteristic of the list to reach its destination. Further, the binding module  189  may communicate with a peripheral device to determine if it contains a secret identifier or other cryptographic function to permit communication between the device and the I/O Interface  118 . Allowing the binding module  189  to cryptographically authenticate communication received at the I/O Interface  118  may permit more than one peripheral device or network interface  180  to communicate with the computer  110 . Of course, the memory may also include a list of excluded sources whereby a match would prevent the incoming data from reaching its intended destination. For example, the binding module  189  may exclude data coming to the I/O Interface  118  with a device class of network controller after a first network controller is authenticated. Many other methods of permitting only authorized data from reaching its intended destination through the I/O Interface  118  are also possible. 
     Further, the binding module  189  may include a cryptographic module  315  that may encrypt communications from the computer  110  to a remote computer  178 . In one embodiment, the cryptographic module  315  may authenticate data received at the I/O Interface  118  as from an approved source. For example, the cryptographic module  315  may decrypt communication from a peripheral device to determine its authenticity as originating from one or a number of approved sources. In another embodiment, the cryptographic module sends an encoded “heartbeat” signal to the remote computer  178  or ISP at a random interval. Because only an ISP that is able to decrypt the heartbeat signal may be able to answer the signal, the cryptographic module  315  may ensure that the computer  110  only communicates with specific ISPs. In a further embodiment, the binding device  189  may include the LPM as described in relation to the SM  182 . In a still further embodiment, the LPM and binding module  189  may be incorporated into the NIC  180 . The binding module  189  may also be connected to the PCI bus  148  between the NIC  180  and I/O Interface  118  or other computer  110  components to communicate with the SM  182 . For example, for the binding module  189  to be located outside of the I/O Interface  118 , the busses  124 ,  144 ,  146 ,  148  in communication with the I/O Interface  118  may be configured to “no connect” while replicating this functionality within the binding module  189 , 
     Other embodiments may include an activation fuse  190 . The fuse  190  may be any type of device or firmware that may be selectively activated from an inactive state to enable communication between the I/O Interface  118  and the SM  182 . When deactivated, i.e., when the fuse  190  does not maintain a connection between the SM  182  and the I/O Interface  118 , the computer  110  may not operate as a subscription-based computing device, but rather, as a normal PC. However, when activated, i.e., when the fuse  189  maintains a connection between the SM  182  and the I/O Interface  118 , the computer may operate as a subscription-based computing device. In one embodiment, the fuse  190 , once activated to enable communication between the SM  182  and other components and devices, may not be deactivated. For example, the computer  110  may be manufactured initially to operate as a normal, non-subscription-based PC and may later be activated by an underwriter or subscriber to operate as a subscription-based PC. Therefore, while the fuse is activated and upon boot-up, connection, or disconnection of the device  188 , firmware of the SM  182  (i.e., the previously-described local provisioning module of the secure memory  186 ) may seek subscription or usage time stored in the metered computing device  188 . 
       FIG. 4  is a simplified and exemplary block diagram of a system  400  supporting pay-per-use and subscription usage of a computer or other electronic device. A provisioning server  402  may serve as a trusted endpoint for provisioning requests from one or more electronic devices participating in the pay-per-use business ecosystem. One electronic device  404  may be similar to computer  110  of  FIG. 1  including the SM  182 , and at least one of a network module  188  and a binding module  189 . Other electronic devices  406  may perform substantially the same as the exemplary device  404 . Communication between the provisioning server  402  and the electronic device  404  may be accomplished through a network  408  to a NIC  180  of the computer  110  and that may include landline, wireless, or broadband networks, or other networks known in the art. 
     An accounting server  410  may be linked to the provisioning server  402  and may maintain account data corresponding to the electronic device  404 . Account data may also be stored at the SM  182 . The accounting server  410  may also serve as a clearinghouse for financial transactions related to the electronic device  404 , such as, replenishing or adding value to a pay-per-use account maintained on the accounting server  410 . In one embodiment, the electronic device  404 , communicating through the NIC  180 , through the binding module  189 , establishes a connection with a vendor  412  that communicates with the accounting server  410 . In another embodiment, the device  404  establishes a connection directly with the accounting server  410  through the module  189 . During use, an LPM within the SM  182  of the device  404  may decrement access data stored in the secure memory  186 . The access data may be any value, access time for operating any secure OS or application of the electronic device  404 ,  406 , or any other data that may be recorded at the accounting server  410  and stored at the SM  182  for use with a computer  110 . In a further embodiment, the user may purchase a generic amount of time that may be used for any OS, application, or any other activity at a secure electronic device  404 . Of course, many other types of data, access time, and subscription information may be purchased and stored at the SM  182  or an accounting server  410 . 
       FIG. 5  is a simplified and exemplary block diagram of a method  500  for binding a subscription-based computer  110  to a particular ISP. At block  505 , a user desiring to operate a subscription-based computer  110  with a binding module  189  and a security module  182  including the network module  188  may boot or re-boot the computer  110 . Upon boot or reboot, peripheral devices may communicate configuration or other data to the computer  110 . In one embodiment, upon boot-up, the I/O Interface  118  receives configuration data from a peripheral device. For example, a network interface card (NIC)  180  may seek to establish a connection with the computer  110  by sending configuration data to the I/O Interface  118 . Alternatively, the I/O Interface  118  may request configuration data from all connected devices. 
     At block  510 , the I/O Interface  118  may detect configuration data. In one embodiment, the detection module  305  distinguishes configuration data sent to the I/O interface  118  from a peripheral device. For example, a network interface card  180  or other device may send a configuration cycle to the I/O Interface  118  upon a boot or re-boot process or upon a connection to the computer  110 . The configuration cycle may then be intercepted by the detection module  305 . 
     At block  515 , the binding module  189  may authenticate the received configuration data. In one embodiment, the detection module  305  may process the configuration data to determine its source or other identification data. For example, the detection module  305  may process a configuration cycle packet to determine if it originates from a source that matches data retrieved from an approved source list stored in the memory  310 . In another embodiment, the detection module  305  may communicate with the peripheral device that sent the configuration data to determine if the sending device contains an acceptable key or other piece of cryptographic data. For example, the binding device  189  may prompt the peripheral device  180  to send an encrypted message to the I/O Interface  118 . The detection module  305  may then intercept the encrypted message and communicate with the cryptographic module  315  to authenticate the received message. 
     If, at block  515 , the configuration data is not authentic, then, at block  520 , the method  500  may discard the data which may, at block  525 , cause the peripheral device to timeout. Additionally, at block  530 , configuration data that is not authenticated may cause the computer to enter a degraded mode such as HLM, as previously described. If, at block  515 , the configuration data is authentic, at block  535 , the peripheral device  180  may initiate further communication with the computer  110 . In one embodiment, the user initiates a web browser executing on the OS  136 ,  168  of the computer  110 . The LPM within the secure memory  186  of the SM  182  or within the binding module  189  may send a packet to a remote computer  178  at the ISP. In one embodiment, the packet may contain a random number or may be signed to identify the packet as belonging to the subscription-based computer  110 . 
     At block  540 , the ISP may receive and authenticate the packet from the computer  110 . If, at block  545 , the ISP determines that the received packet is authentic, then, at block  545 , the ISP may allow the computer  110  access to the internet. In one embodiment, the ISP and computer  110  may authenticate the communication using PKI or other suitable cryptographic techniques. If, at block  540 , the ISP determines that the received packet is not authentic, then, at block  525 , the communication may timeout and, at block  530 , the LPM of the SM  182  or binding module  189  may force the computer  110  into a degraded mode of operation. 
     At block  550 , the ISP may send a cryptographic reply to the computer  110 . In one embodiment, the ISP sends a “heartbeat” packet to the computer  110  at a random interval. The random interval may be below a threshold time that, if exceeded, the LPM may force the computer  110  into a degraded mode. If, at block  555 , the LPM does not receive the cryptographic reply, then the LPM may force the computer  110  into a degraded mode of operation at block  530 . In one embodiment, the LPM may limit the computer&#39;s  110  capability until a connection is restored with the ISP or it receives the cryptographic signal. In another embodiment, the type of response, allowable latency, and any other parameter required by the LPM is included in the cryptographic packets between the binding module  189  and the SM  182 . 
     If, at block  555 , the computer receives and authenticates the cryptographic reply of block  550 , then the method  500  may return to block  545  to allow the computer  110  continued internet access. In one embodiment, the LPM of the SM  182  or the binding module  189  may authenticate the reply by detecting configuration cycles as described in relation to  FIG. 3 . In a further embodiment, only configuration cycles or properly-authenticated packets may be accepted by the LPM for processing and continued access of the computer  110  to the ISP. Thus, a binding module  189  may bind a subscription-based computer  110  to a particular ISP. 
     Many modifications and variations may be made in the techniques and structures described and illustrated herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the methods and apparatus described herein are illustrative only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.