Abstract: A method is provided to securely authenticate user credentials. The method includes encrypting a user credential with a public key at an access device wherein the public key is part of a public/private key pair suitable for use with an encryption algorithm. The encrypted network user credential is transmitted from the access device to a decryption server where it is decrypted with a private key, the private key being part of the public/private key pair suitable for use with the encryption algorithm. The decrypted user credential is then transmitted from the decryption server to an authentication server for verification. The decryption server typically forms part of a multi-party service access environment including a plurality of access providers, the method including decrypting the user credential of a user proximate an access provider associated with the user credential.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, associating a plurality of transaction data records generated in a service access system including a plurality of service providers is provided. The transaction data records are generated in response to a user accessing the system during a single user session. The method includes generating a unique session identification that is uniquely associated with the single user session and which is receivable by the service providers. The unique session identification is included in the transaction data record. The plurality of transaction data records is received at a transaction processing facility from the service providers and processes using the unique session identification of each transaction data record. In certain embodiments, the unique session identification is provided in a user identification string of each transaction data record when the user session is authentication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remote network connection service quality monitoring are disclosed. A connection with a network connection point is established. The network connection performance data is collected and upon successful connection transmitted to a server via a network. A priority list of a plurality of network connection points is modified based on the collected network connection performance data.

Abstract: A method to manage a customized network connection application includes generating plurality of input interfaces to receive customization information pertaining to the customized network connection application. The customization information pertaining to the customized network connection application is received via the plurality of input interfaces. The customization information is then stored as a profile associated with the customized network connection application. The customized network connection application is automatically generated utilizing the profile, and distributed to at least one recipient.

Abstract: A method to facilitate the financial settlement of service access transactions between multiple parties commences with the automatic collection of data concerning multiple transactions from respective service providers (e.g., ISPs). The multiple transactions are between the multiple service providers and multiple service customers. Respective transaction values are automatically determined for each of the multiple transactions. Account payable balances are automatically updated for the multiple service providers, and account receivable balances are automatically updated for the service customers based on the respective transaction values for each of the multiple transactions.

Abstract: A method of normalizing transaction data pertaining to an access to a service provided by a service provider normalizes transaction data retrieved from a number of transaction data sources in the form of transaction servers that serve to broker access authorization between a first service provider and a second service provider. A dedicated load process is instantiated at a transaction broker for each of the multiple transaction data sources. Transaction data is retrieved from the multiple transaction data sources, each dedicated load process operating to load transaction data from an associated transaction data source.

Abstract: A method of brokering a service access transaction includes facilitating service access via a customer, via a first service provider of a plurality of service providers. A transaction record is automatically created to record the service access at a first data source (e.g., a transaction server). The transaction record is automatically communicated from a data source to a settlement system to settle a service access transaction. At the settlement system, a sell rate and a buy rate are automatically determined for the service access transaction reflected in the transaction record. The sell rate is the rate charged for the service access by an access broker and is determined utilizing a customer and/or a location identifier for a customer recorded in the transaction record. The buy rate is the rate at which the access broker purchases service access for re-sale to customers.