User portal device for the world wide web to communicate with a website server

• US 5,964,830 A
• Filed: 08/20/1996
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles M. Durrett
• Original Assignee: Charles M. Durrett
• Inventors: Durrett, Charles M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Barot, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US08/699,843
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.3-200.33, 395/200.36, 395/200.42, 395/200.46-200.49, 395/186, 395/187.01, 395/188.01, 395/200, 395/670-675, 709/200-203, 709/212-213, 709/216-219
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer

Abstract

An improved network and use of computer based capabilities in which a virtual disk server is employed to give a user portal device access to software object elements and a non-volatile memory. The user portal device includes a rudimentary stand-alone capability. To operate, the user portal device communicates with the virtual disk server and downloads the software object elements which form the operating correlation of objects, the user portal device communicates data and software object elements to the virtual disk server which stores the data and software object elements in its own non-volatile memory such as a disk drive apparatus.

Claims

1. A system of computers comprising:

a) a communication system for transmitting electronic data from one location to another location;

b) an access provider computer having,

1) a non-volatile memory having stored therein,

A) data defining software programs requiring use of the non-volatile memory, and,

B) remotely generated data,

2) an access provider operational means for,

A) receiving data from said communication system,

B) communicating selected groupings of said software programs and remotely generated data to said communication system, and,

C) storing in said non-volatile memory, data received from said communication system as remotely generated data; and

,

c) a hand-held local computer having,

1) a volatile memory means for storing a software program,

2) communication means for accessing said communication system,

3) operator input means for establishing operator generated data,

4) a local computer operational means for,

A) via said communication means, receiving a selected software program from the non-volatile memory of said access provider computer system,

B) storing said selected software program in said volatile memory means,

C) executing said software program in said volatile memory, and,

D) via said communication means, communicating selected data generated by said software program and said operator input means to said access provider computer for storage in said non-volatile memory of said access provider computer.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein:

a) the non-volatile memory of said access provider computer includes data defining authorized serial numbers, and identification data; and

,

b) the access provider operational means includes means for comparing received data to said authorized serial numbers and identification data from said non-volatile memory means.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the local computer operational means of said hand-held local computer includes means for communicating operator generated data to said access provider computer via said communication system.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said hand-held local computer further includes a read-only memory containing programs and identification data stored therein, and wherein said operator generated data includes identification data stored within said read-only memory.

5. The system according to claim 1 further including a power source contained within said hand-held local computer for powering said volatile memory, said communications means, and said operational means.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein said hand-held local computer further includes:

a) a visual display apparatus for communication of data from said operational means to an operator; and

,

b) a phone interconnect member for connecting a phone line to said communication means.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said hand-held local computer further includes a read-only-memory containing data indicative of a boot-up program, and wherein said operational means of said hand-held local computer includes means for:

a) installing said boot-up program from said read-only-memory into said volatile memory; and

,

b) executing said boot-up program in said volatile memory.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said volatile memory and said read-only-memory constitute an entire data memory of said hand-held local computer.

9. A system of computers comprising:

a) a network of computers providing electronic data;

b) a network communication system for transmitting electronic data from one computer to another computer within said network of computers;

c) a dedicated communication means for communicating data from a single computer to another single computer;

d) an access provider computer having,

1) a non-volatile memory having stored therein data defining software programs requiring use of the non-volatile memory, and remotely generated data,

2) network accessing means for retrieving data from and communicating data to said network of computers via said network communication system,

3) an access provider operational means for,

A) receiving and transmitting data from and to said communication system,

B) communicating selected groupings of said software programs and remotely generated data to a remote computer via said dedicated communication means, and,

C) storing in said non-volatile memory, data received from said dedicated communication means as remotely generated data; and

,

e) a hand-held local computer having,

1) a volatile memory for storage of a software program,

2) communication means for accessing said dedicated communication means,

3) operator input means for establishing operator generated data, and,

4) a local computer operational means for,

A) via said dedicated communication means, receiving a selected software program from said access provider computer system,

B) storing said selected software program in said volatile memory,

C) executing said software program in said volatile memory,

D) via said access provider computer, receiving data from said network of computers, and,

E) via said dedicated communication means, communicating selected data generated by said software program, said operator input means, and said data from said network of computers, to said access provider computer for storage in said non-volatile memory of said access provider computer.

10. The system of computers according to claim 9 wherein:

a) the non-volatile memory of said access provider computer includes data defining authorized serial numbers, user identifications; and

,

b) the access provider operational means of said access provider computer includes means for comparing received data from said hand-held local computer to said authorized serial numbers.

11. The system of computers according to claim 10 wherein the local computer operational means of said hand-held local computer includes means for communicating operator generated data to said computer system via said dedicated communication means.

12. The system of computers according to claim 11 wherein said hand-held local computer further includes a read-only-memory containing data and programs and wherein said operator generated data includes identification data stored within said read-only-memory.

13. The system of computers according to claim 9 wherein said hand-held local computer further includes:

a) a visual display apparatus connected to said operational means for communicating data from said operational means to an operator; and

,

b) a modem communicating between said operational means of said hand-held local computer and said dedicated communication means.

14. The system of computers according to claim 9 further including a read-only-memory containing a boot-up program and wherein said operational means includes means for:

a) installing said boot-up program from said read-only-memory into said volatile memory; and

,

b) executing said boot-up program in said volatile memory.

15. The system of computers according to claim 14 wherein said volatile memory and said read-only-memory constitute an entire data memory of said hand-held local computer.