Patent ID: 7089593

Claim:
A method for providing an individual temporary access to a commonly accessible computer processing system (CA computer), the CA computer having a plurality of application programs associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of: detecting a coupling of a portable storage device to the CA computer, the storage device having stored therein an access code for indicating whether an individual is authorized to temporarily access the CA computer and information comprising computing preferences of the individual; determining whether the individual is authorized to temporarily access the CA computer, based on the access code; modifying the CA computer in accordance with the information stored in the storage device and providing temporary access to the CA computer, when the individual is authorized to temporarily access the CA computer; monitoring activity of at least one of the individual and the CA computer, until the storage device is de-coupled from the CA computer; generating a bill based on said monitoring; and automatically providing the bill to a predetermined billing mechanism; determining whether the individual is authorized to temporarily use any of the plurality of application programs associated with the CA computer, based on the access code; and providing temporary access to the application programs associated with the CA computer for which authorization is indicated; when the individual is authorized to temporarily use any of the plurality of application programs associated with the CA computer.