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Fee Timer Client-Server Program Introduction: The purpose of developing a fee timer client-server program is that it solves a number of problems involved in the daily operation and maintenance of a facility which uses a large network of client computers connected to a central controlling server. In the most likely scenario in which this software is used the client computers will be networked to a central server in a star network configuration and each client computer can be remotely shutdown and logged off by the central server issuing the appropriate command. Furthermore, the usage time allowed for a given client computer can be preset by the server computer and will have user interaction either temporarily or permanently blocked once the specified time interval has elapsed. The central server will also be able to track exactly to the nearest second the amount of time spent by each connected client computer. One setting in which this scenario takes place is in some of the popular "net cafe" businesses in which customers log on to client computers to either gain access to the internet or play network capable games. The necessity of limiting the time allowed by each customer to a given machine based on the amount of time purchased per given customer becomes obvious in such situations. Manually checking the amount of time used by each customer by simply visually scanning the client area may be possible during light business operations, but during heavy use of the facility in peak business hours this becomes both tedious and unreliable as well as easily defeated by either deliberate customer fraud or inadvertantly by an overly immersed gamer or internet user.This software fulfills this need by automating most of the tasks involved in tracking and disallowing computer access based on time that is either preset or free-running. As an added convenience it also allows the remote shutdown, reboot and log off of client computers which may be greatly appreciated by network administrators during facility shut down at closing time. Sitemap |