Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting information about an event in which a user accesses the Internet through the system of a first Internet Service Provider with whom the user does not have an account. The apparatus includes a first server that creates a record of the user's Internet usage and sends the record to a second server. The second server collects records from a plurality of Internet Service Providers and forwards the records to a third server on a regular basis. The third server processes the data in the plurality of records and generates a report showing how much money the first Internet Service Provider is owed for allowing the user to access the Internet through the system of the first Internet Service Provider.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting information about an event in which a user accesses the Internet through the system of a first Internet Service Provider with whom the user does not have an account. The apparatus includes a first server that creates a record of the user's Internet usage and sends the record to a second server. The second server collects records from a plurality of Internet Service Providers and forwards the records to a third server on a regular basis. The third server processes the data in the plurality of records and generates a report showing how much money the first Internet Service Provider is owed for allowing the user to access the Internet through the system of the first Internet Service Provider.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for allowing a user to access the internet from a remote location by using a local internet service provider with whom the user does not have an account. The user logs on to the local internet service provider's system using an identifier that includes the user's identification term and an identifier for the user's home internet service provider server. A first server in the local internet service provider's system determines that the login information includes the identifier for the user's home internet service provider server and sends a query to a second server. The second server verifies that the user's home internet service provider has an account with the local internet service provider and returns an internet protocol address for the home internet service provider's server to the first server. The first server then seeks authorization from the home internet service provider's server to provide internet access to the user over the local internet service provider's system.