METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ACCOUNT MAINTENANCE VIA A BROADBAND GATEWAY

1 . A method for networking, the method comprising:

in a broadband gateway that is operable to handle a plurality of physical layer connections to a corresponding plurality of network access service providers:

storing information associated with a plurality of subscriber accounts, wherein:

said plurality of subscriber accounts are associated with a corresponding plurality of providers that are accessed via one or more of said physical layer connections; and

said plurality of providers comprises: a plurality of service providers, a plurality of content providers, or a combination of one or more service providers and one or more content providers; and

presenting a user interface that a subscriber may interact with to manage financial transactions associated with said plurality of subscriber accounts.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein:

said user interface enables submitting a single payment; and

funds from said single payment are applied to balances of each of said plurality of subscriber accounts.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising displaying activity of each of said plurality of subscriber accounts via said user interface.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising:

monitoring activity of one or more of said plurality of subscriber accounts; and

generating one or more alerts based on said activity and based on criteria established for said one or more of said plurality of subscriber accounts.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , comprising displaying said one or more alerts in said user interface.

6 . The method according to claim 4 , comprising communicating said alerts to a plurality of electronic devices communicatively coupled to said broadband gateway.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said user interface enables said subscriber to manage settings for each of said plurality of subscriber accounts.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein said settings determine one or more of:

which electronic devices coupled to said broadband gateway are permitted access to said one or more of said plurality of accounts;

which users of said electronic devices are permitted access to said one or more of said plurality of accounts; and

usage limits for said one or more of said plurality of accounts.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , comprising adding credits to a payment account based on one or both of: use of said broadband gateway, and input provided by a user of one of said electronic devices coupled said broadband gateway

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein said credits are utilized to pay down a balance of one or more of said plurality of accounts.

11 . A system for networking, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a broadband gateway, said one or more circuits being operable to:

handle a plurality of physical layer connections to a corresponding plurality of network access service providers;

store information associated with a plurality of subscriber accounts associated with each of a plurality of providers that are accessed via one or more of said physical layer connections, wherein said plurality of providers comprises: a plurality of service providers, a plurality of content providers, or a combination of one or more service providers and one or more content providers; and

present a user interface that a subscriber may interact with to manage financial transactions associated with said plurality of subscriber accounts.

12 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein:

said user interface enables submitting a single payment; and

funds from said single payment are applied to balances of each of said plurality of subscriber accounts.

13 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to display activity of each of said plurality of subscriber accounts via said user interface.

14 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:

monitor activity of one or more of said plurality of subscriber accounts; and

generate one or more alerts based on said activity and based on criteria established for said one or more of said plurality of subscriber accounts.

15 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to display said one or more alerts in said user interface.

16 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to communicate said alerts to a plurality of electronic devices communicatively coupled to said broadband gateway.

17 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said user interface enables said subscriber to manage settings for each of said plurality of subscriber accounts.

18 . The system according to claim 7 , wherein said settings determine one or more of:

which electronic devices coupled to said broadband gateway are permitted access to said one or more of said plurality of accounts;

which users of said electronic devices are permitted access to said one or more of said plurality of accounts; and

usage limits for said one or more of said plurality of accounts.

19 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to add credits to a payment account based on one or both of: use of said broadband gateway, and input provided by a user of one of said electronic devices coupled said broadband gateway

20 . The system according to claim 19 , wherein said credits are utilized to pay down a balance of one or more of said plurality of accounts