Patent ID: 7149723

Claim:
A selective access computer system comprising: a computing workstation having at least one software application and at least one input/output device; a selective access mechanism for obtaining electronic payment authorization for a user's financial instrument and for permitting selective access to the computer workstation upon payment authorization for the user, the selective access mechanism including: a credit card and bank-issued debit card reader connected to the computing workstation for obtaining payment authorization; a resource tracker configured for determining an amount to be charged to the user based on at least one of a total amount of time that the computer system is used and a number of requests to the at least one input/output device of the computer workstation; a desktop user interface to enable access, upon receipt of payment authorization, to at least one of: a program monitor configured for enabling selection of the at least one software application; and a peripheral input/output monitor configured for enabling selection of the at least one input/output device; and a screen saver configured for appearing on a display of the computing workstation to prevent access to the desktop user interface of the computing workstation until payment authorization is received, the screen saver including at least one of: a tools preview function displayable on the screen saver and configured to identify tools accessible at the computer workstation, the tools including the at least one software application and the at least one input/output device;and a price function displayable on the screen saver and configured to identify information regarding prices for using the tools at the computer workstation.