With the rate of development of computer technology remote terminals, such as personal computers or the like, which are interlinked by a digital communication network are a common occurrence. These terminals typically access a variety of databases to retrieve information. A typical example of such a system is the Internet. Many so-called"Cybercafes"have been established where, upon payment of a fee, a person may use a terminal and selectively retrieve or exchange information over the network. It is this application of the invention which should be predominantly, but not exclusively, borne in mind. For the purposes of this specification the retrieval of information generally from a remote location via a digital communication network should be borne in mind.

According to the invention, there is provided enabling apparatus for controlling the retrieval of information by a terminal from a digital communication network, the apparatus including value receiving means for receiving monetary value and operable to generate a value signal when monetary value is received; control means connected to the value receiving means and responsive to the value signal; and enabling means connected to the control means, the control means being operable to activate the enabling means to permit retrieval of information by the terminal from the network for a predetermined time duration when monetary value is received.

Typically, the digital communication network is the Internet.

The value receiving means is typically a coin-freed device, e. g. a conventional coin-freed device.

The enabling apparatus may include memory means for recording a cumulative value which the value receiving means has received. Typically, the memory means is a counter for counting the number of coins received by the coin- freed device.

Alternatively or in addition, the enabling apparatus may include a card reader for reading a card used in financial transactions, e. g. a credit card or the like.

The control means may be responsive to the card reader.

The enabling apparatus may include timing means connected to the control means and operable in response to the value signal to time the time duration for which the control means operatively activates the enabling means.

The enabling apparatus may include a display for displaying a remaining time duration for which the control means will activate the enabling means in use.

Typically, the display is a seven-segment LED display or the like.

The control means and the timing means are typically integrally formed by a microprocessor chip.

The enabling means may include a switch, e. g. a relay or the like, operable under control of the control means to switch power to a monitor of the terminal.

Alternatively or in addition, the enabling means may include a switch operable under control of the control means to disable a modem connected to the network.

Alternatively or in addition, the enabling means may include a switch operable under control of the control means to disconnect the terminal from the network.

Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a computing installation which includes a plurality of terminals connectable to a digital communication network ; and at least one enabling apparatus connected to the terminals and operable to control retrieval of information by each terminal from the digital communication network.

The computing installation typically includes enabling apparatus as hereinbefore described and the terminals are typically a plurality of computers, e. g. personal computers.

Still further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a method of controlling the retrieval of information by a terminal from a digital communication

network, the method including monitoring value receiving means to detect when monetary value is received; and enabling the terminal for a preselected time duration when monetary value is received and selectively disabling the terminal when the time duration has lapsed.

The terminal may be enabled by feeding power to a monitor of the terminal and disabled by interrupting power to the monitor.

Alternatively or in addition, the terminal may be disabled by disabling a modem connected to the terminal.

Alternatively or in addition, the terminal may be disabled by at least partially disconnecting the terminal from the digital communication network.

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a sectional view of enabling apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a front view of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates enabling apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for controlling the retrieval of information by a terminal from a digital communication network. The apparatus 10 includes value receiving means in the form of a coin-freed device 12, a controller 14, and enabling means in the form of a relay 16. The relay 16 defines a switch and is connected via line 18 (see Figure 3) to a terminal in the form of a personal computer 20. The personal computer 20 includes appropriate software and is connected to a network (not shown) such as the Internet.

The coin-freed device 12 is typically a conventional coin-freed device such as a model no. 502F available from the Dong Dong Enterprise Company in Malaysia. The coin-freed device 12 is mounted securely to a face panel 22 of a housing 24 of the apparatus 10. A coin-box or coin catchment 26 is positioned below the coin-freed device 12 and, in use, coins received by the coin-freed device 12 fall

under gravity into the coin-box 26 for subsequent removal. The controller 14 is a conventional coin-freed controller such as a model no. DM969 available from the Dragon Enterprise Company in Taiwan.

The apparatus 10 further includes memory means in the form of an electromechanical counter 28 which is connected via lines 30 (see Figure 3) to the coin-freed device 12. The counter 28 maintains a cumulative total of all coins received by the coin-freed device 12 for accounting purposes. The coin-freed device 12 is typically not currency dependent and may include a so-called learning ability to learn characteristics of the various coins which it may receive in use.

In other embodiments of the invention, the apparatus 10 includes a card reader (not shown) for reading a card such as a magnetic swipe card such as a credit card or the like used in financial transactions. The card reader is then typically connected to the controller 14.

In use, the apparatus 10 is connected via line 18 to the personal computer 20. The connection to the personal computer 20 may take various forms. In one embodiment of the invention, the relay 16 is connected to a monitor (not shown) of the personal computer 20 and, under control of the controller 14, it is operable to disconnect power fed to the monitor thereby to prevent use of the personal computer 20 in retrieving information from the network. In another embodiment of the invention, the relay 16 is connected via line 18 to a modem (not shown) of the personal computer 20 and is operable under control of the controller 14 to disable the modem. In a yet further embodiment of the invention, the relay 16 is connected via line 18 to a network connection which connects the personal computer 20 to the digital communication network e. g. the Internet or an Intranet.

In order to enable the personal computer 20 to retrieve or exchange information from or with the digital communication network, a plurality of coins are inserted by a user into the coin-freed device 12. The coin-freed device 12 then generates a value signal which is fed into the controller 14 via line 32. The counter 28 is also updated via line 30 and its count is increased in accordance with the number of coins received by the coin-freed device 12. The controller 14 then activates the relay 16 to enable the personal computer 20.

The controller 14 typically includes a microprocessor chip including

timing means and, dependent upon the number of coins received by the coin-freed device 12, the controller activates the relay 16 for an adjustable predetermined time duration during which the personal computer 20 is enabled.

The timing means typically times the time duration for which the controller 14 activates the relay 16 and which is compared by the controller 14 with the predetermined time duration. The controller 14 also drives a seven segment display 34 via line 36. The display 34 displays, under control of the controller 14, the remaining time duration for which the controller 14 will activate the relay 16. Once the time duration has lapsed, the controller 14 deactivates the relay 16 thereby to disable the personal computer 20. In order to re-enable the personal computer 20, further coins must be inserted into the coin-freed device 12.

The invention also extends to a computing installation which includes a plurality of personal computers 20 which are connected to a digital communication network, and enabling apparatus 10 connected to each personal computer 20 and operable to control retrieval of information by each personal computer 20 from the digital communication network. Typically, enabling apparatus 10 is positioned adjacent the terminal or personal computer 20 and controls the retrieval of information by the personal computer 20 from the digital communication network such as the Internet.

The Applicant believes that the invention, as illustrated, provides relatively simple enabling apparatus 10 which may be used to control the retrieval of information by a personal computer 20 from a digital communication network such as the Internet. Conventionally, so-called"Internet cafes"or"Cybercafes"have a plurality of personal computers which are continually connected to the Internet via a digital communication link. A person who wants to use any one of the personal computers 20 must then consult an attendant and then pay a predetermined fee for use of the personal computer 20 for a fixed time duration. Upon expiry of the time duration, the attendant usually informs the person that the time duration has now lapsed. However, the Applicant believes that this procedure may be facilitated by use of the enabling apparatus 10 in which the person wishing to use the personal computer 20 can go directly to the personal computer 20 and insert coins into the coin-freed device 12.

The enabling apparatus 10 will then, in turn, enable the personal computer 20 for a predetermined time duration.