The final major component of the Museum System is the billing server. This is a key part of the system. Museums and other information providers want control over the information they make available. They want to restrict access to authorized customers as well as having the ability to collect fees for using or obtaining copies of some information.
The billing module will work in conjunction with other modules to control who has access to information. It will provide for authentication through the assignment of individual accounts and passwords, authorization to check that a customer is allowed to access the information, accounting to keep records of what information has been accessed, andbilling to collect fees for use of the information.
Work on this component is now starting and will continue over the next several months.