Patent ID: 7966653

Claim:
A method of determining usage of a network by a specific user when the user accesses the network from a terminal of a client system, the method comprising the steps of: said specific user accessing the network from a terminal of the client system; validating an identity of the specific user; when the identity of the specified user is validated, assigning to the specific user a layer two access port of a switch of the client system for a session with the network; determining a first value being indicative of the magnitude of a packet counter of the layer two access port when the layer two access port is assigned to the specific user; transmitting data over the network to the specific user; determining a second value being indicative of the magnitude of another packet counter when the layer two access port becomes inactive; storing the first value and the second value; and determining from the first and second values, the usage of the network by said specific user during said session; and wherein: the transmitting data includes after said first value is obtained, sending a network address to the specific user, and transmitting the data over the network to said network address.