The initial version of the system provided for subscription-based billing, which means that a user purchases a subscription for a fixed period of time. During that time the user can use the system as much as he or she likes.
Usage-based billing allows the system to charge for individual activities. For example, it is possible to charge each time a person does a search, or each time a particular size of image is accessed. Object-based billing extends the concept further to allow the setting of charges for products such as image downloads or posters.
Within NetXchequer charging has been implemented through the concept of tokens or billing units. Users of the system can purchase tokens which are then deducted form their accounts as they are used. The system can assign token values to activities (such as searching or image display) as well as assigning different values to different items (so for example some images can cost more than others to view).
The combination of subscriptions and token-based billing provides the flexibility to provide a variety of charging mechanisms for Cinemage information providers.