"Metering" Database Access on the Web

[Elizabeth H. Hamilton]

Dear Web4lib List:

One of the databases we subscribe to is going
to a Web interface soon. This database allows
us a specific number of passwords under our
license. 

When all those are in concurrent use, no more
people can access the database until someone
is done with a password and no longer needs it.

For session-based access such as telnet the
process of checking for an available password
and assigning it to the user for their session
is not a problem. It is a process handled
transparently behind the scenes. The user has
no knowledge of it.

How is this handled on the Web?

Thank you in advance for your help!


Elizabeth Hamilton
University of Cincinnati Libraries
elizabeth.hamilton at uc.edu
hamilte at one.net