Shared computerized device with deleted user footprint

Abstract

A smart card is used with a network based system to providing portable telecommunication and computing services. In an exemplary embodiment the smart card holds a user authentication code and user telephony account information. The smart card transfers the user authentication code and the account information to one of a plurality of geographically dispersed card readers which are each connected to a local telephony device. When the smart card is plugged into a first card reader, telephone calls directed to the smart card user's follow-me telephone number are received at a first local telephony device. When the smart card is plugged into a second smart card reader, telephone calls directed to the follow-me telephone number are received at a second telephony local device. Hence the user is enabled to receive and place calls using any of the geographically dispersed telephony devices as though they were his/her own personal landline or cellular telephone supplied by his/her telephony services provider.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized system, comprising:
 a memory;   a processor coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to receive and execute first instructions to provide a computerized service to a particular user during a user session, the processor being configured to modify contents of the memory while executing the first instructions;   wherein the processor, after receiving information that indicates that the particular user is ready to terminate use of the computerized system, receives and executes second instructions that cause the processor to perform at least the following action:
 delete all files and associated data generated by the user during the user session, to thereby ensure that information entered by the user or downloaded into the computerized system as a result of user actions during the user session will not be available or visible by other users of the computerized system after the second instructions have executed. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computerized system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface configured to receive user specific information from the particular user to thereby identify and authenticate the particular user.   
     
     
         3 . The computerized system according to  claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a smart card reader. 
     
     
         4 . The computerized system according to  claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a graphical user interface (GUI). 
     
     
         5 . The computerized system according to  claim 2 , wherein the user interface includes a wireless interface that is configured to couple wirelessly to a wireless device in possession of the particular user. 
     
     
         6 . The computerized system according to  claim 5 , wherein the wireless device comprises a member of the group consisting of a smart telephone and a cellular telephone. 
     
     
         7 . The computerized system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor, after receiving information that indicates that the particular user is ready to terminate use of the computerized system, receives and executes further instructions that cause the processor to perform at least the following additional action:
 perform operations that detect and eliminate virus threats that may have been planted into the computerized system as a result of the user session.   
     
     
         8 . The computerized system according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor, after receiving information that indicates that the particular user is ready to terminate use of the computerized system, receives and executes further instructions that cause the processor to perform at least the following additional action:
 transfer at least some of the deleted user-specific files and associated data to a remote storage location.   
     
     
         9 . The computerized system according to  claim 8 , wherein the remote storage location comprises a web-based storage space. 
     
     
         10 . The computerized system according to  claim 9 , wherein the web-based storage space is provided by the particular user's VoIP provider. 
     
     
         11 . The computerized system according to  claim 9 , wherein the web-based storage space is provided by the particular user's remote application services provider. 
     
     
         12 . The computerized system according to  claim 8 , wherein the remote storage location comprises a local portable storage medium. 
     
     
         13 . The computerized system according to  claim 1 , wherein the computerized service includes a communications service, and while the user session is active, the user is able to place outbound communications and receive inbound communications addressed to the user. 
     
     
         14 . The computerized system according to  claim 14 , wherein the communications service includes a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony service.