Network portal apparatus and method

Abstract

A portal device is described comprising: a processor; and a memory for storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive data transmitted from a portal server on which a user of the portal device is registered, the data being identified by the user upon registering a user account with the portal server.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A portal device comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory for storing instructions which, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to: 
 receive data transmitted from a portal server on which a user of said portal device is registered, said data being identified by said user upon registering a user account with said portal server.  
   
     
     
         2 . The portal device as in  claim 1  wherein said data are transmitted from said portal server to said portal device over a wireless communication link.  
     
     
         3 . The portal device as in  claim 2  wherein said wireless communication link is a digital radio frequency (“RF”) link.  
     
     
         4 . The portal device as in  claim 3  wherein said digital RF link is a sub-carrier frequency block.  
     
     
         5 . The portal device as in  claim 4  wherein said sub-carrier frequency block is leased from a radio station.  
     
     
         6 . The portal device as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an interpreter module configured to interpret bytecodes transmitted from said portal server for processing on said processor.  
 
     
     
         7 . The portal device as in  claim 6  wherein said interpreter module is programmed in a read only memory (“ROM”).  
     
     
         8 . The portal device as in  claim 2  wherein said data transmitted from said portal server are not device addressable data.  
     
     
         9 . The portal device as in  claim 8  wherein said data are data addressable and wherein said portal device listens for transmission of particular types of data before performing one or more specified functions.  
     
     
         10 . The portal device as in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 means for receiving a portal key from another portal device, said portal key usable for gaining access to a particular set of data on said portal server.  
 
     
     
         11 . A portal system comprising: 
 a portal server configured to retrieve a set of data from a plurality of network sources specified by a user; and    a portal device configured to communicate with said portal server over a communication link and to download a user-specified subset of said plurality of data.    
     
     
         12 . The portal system as in  claim 11  wherein said communication link is comprised of a first link between a client computer and said portal device; and 
 a second link between said client computer and said portal server over a network.  
 
     
     
         13 . The portal system as in  claim 12  wherein said first link is a wireless communication link.  
     
     
         14 . The portal system as in  claim 13  wherein said first link is a radio frequency (“RF”) link.  
     
     
         15 . The portal system as in  claim 12  wherein said first link is a capacitively-coupled communication link.  
     
     
         16 . The portal system as in  claim 11  wherein said communication link is an RF link.  
     
     
         17 . The portal system as in  claim 16  wherein said communication link a sub-carrier frequency block.  
     
     
         18 . The portal system as in  claim 17  wherein said sub-carrier frequency block is leased from a radio station.  
     
     
         19 . The portal system as in  claim 12  wherein said first link is an infrared link.  
     
     
         20 . The portal system as in  claim 11  wherein said portal device is further configured to exchange portal keys with other such portal devices, said portal keys being usable for gaining access to a particular set of data on said portal server.  
     
     
         21 . The portal system as in  claim 20  wherein said portal device is further configured to transmit said portal key to said portal server through said client to access said particular set of data on said portal server.  
     
     
         22 . A method for extending a portal server comprising: 
 registering a user on said portal server, said registration process comprising identifying a plurality of data to be maintained by said portal server on behalf of said user;    sending said user a portal device; and    transmitting portions of said plurality of data to said portal device.    
     
     
         23 . The method as in  claim 22  wherein said portions of data are identified by said user logging in to said portal server from a client computer.  
     
     
         24 . The method as in  claim 22  wherein said step of transmitting comprises: 
 transmitting said portions of said plurality of data over a wireless link.  
 
     
     
         25 . The method as in  claim 24  wherein said wireless link is an sub-carrier frequency block of a radio station.  
     
     
         26 . A method for providing an advertisement on a portal device comprising: 
 downloading said advertisement from a portal server; and    triggering said advertisement based on a specified event.    
     
     
         27 . The method as in  claim 26  wherein downloading said advertisement is accomplished over a client link and said specified event is a particular date and time.  
     
     
         28 . The method as in  claim 26  wherein downloading said advertisement is accomplished over a wireless link and said specified event is receipt of a particular wireless data transmission.  
     
     
         29 . The method as in  claim 28  wherein said wireless link is an RF link.  
     
     
         30 . The method as in  claim 29  wherein said RF link is an RF sub-carrier link.  
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 26  wherein said event is said portal device being transported near a particular business.  
     
     
         32 . A method for providing a first user with access to data on a portal server comprising: 
 transmitting a portal key to said first user's portal device, said key identifying a particular group of data stored on said portal server.    
     
     
         33 . The method as in  claim 32  wherein said portal key is transmitted by a second user's portal device to said first user's portal device.  
     
     
         34 . The method as in  claim 33  wherein said portal key is one of a plurality of portal keys maintained by said second user and wherein each key of said plurality of keys provides access to a different set of data on said portal server.  
     
     
         35 . The method as in  claim 34  wherein a business key provides said first user with access to a set of business-related data of said second user.  
     
     
         36 . The method as in  claim 35  wherein a personal key provides said first user with access to a set of personal data of said second user.  
     
     
         37 . The method as in  claim 36  wherein said portal key is automatically transmitted to said portal device from a second portal device located at a business.  
     
     
         38 . The method as in  claim 37  wherein said portal key identifies data related to said business on said portal server.  
     
     
         39 . The method as in  claim 38  wherein said data is an advertisement.  
     
     
         40 . A portal device programming method comprising: 
 configuring a set of portal device user preferences for a portal device on a portal server; and    downloading one or more of said preferences to said portal device responsive to a communication link being established between said portal device and said portal server.    
     
     
         41 . The portal device programming method as in  claim 40  wherein one of said user preferences relates to a user interface of said portal device.