Information and control console for use with a network gateway interface

A method for communicating to a host information during an existing networking session. The method comprises the steps of establishing computer network access to a user's host through a gateway interface, creating information and control console packets at the gateway interface, sending the information and control console packets to the user's host, and generating an information and control console on the monitor of the user's host that comprises data. The data will typically comprise user-specific data based upon a user's profile, the chosen billing scheme, the chosen service level or the location from which the user desires access. The gateway interface is capable of transparently connecting the user/subscriber to multiple networks without the need to reconfigure the user's host computer. The information and control console allows the gateway administrator to provide information to the user/subscriber. The information and control console may include information relating to marketing, advertising, services offered and network session monitoring parameters and the like. In one embodiment the information provided for in the information and control console may comprise network session specific data. The user/subscriber can then act on the data provided to dynamically change the features of a current network session.