Abstract: In a personal Internet communication device, a system for directing the storage of files uses a file navigation program to control the location of where files may be stored by the user. With the system, attempts to save files by the file navigation program are directed to a predefined or default storage location in a fixed directory structure. All other applications on the person Internet communicator may also be modified to control file save operations. The person Internet communicator is further configured to maintain the file save associations with the predefined or default storage location, even when the user has previously saved files to another location.

Abstract: In a personal Internet communication device, a system for directing the storage of files uses a file navigation program to control the location of where files may be stored by the user. With the system, attempts to save files by the file navigation program are directed to a predefined or default storage location in a fixed directory structure. All other applications on the person Internet communicator may also be modified to control file save operations. The person Internet communicator is further configured to maintain the file save associations with the predefined or default storage location, even when the user has previously saved files to another location.

Abstract: In a personal Internet communication device, a system for directing the storage of files uses a file navigation program to control the location of where files may be stored by the user. With the system, attempts to save files by the file navigation program are directed to a predefined or default storage location in a fixed directory structure. All other applications on the person Internet communicator may also be modified to control file save operations. The person Internet communicator is further configured to maintain the file save associations with the predefined or default storage location, even when the user has previously saved files to another location.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to restore the operating system of a personal internet communicator (PIC) to a “known good” operational state in the event of a catastrophic failure. In an embodiment of the invention, the hard drive of the personal internet communicator is organized in three partitions: 1) a partition for the operating system and related files; 2) a user data partition; and 3) a “restore” partition. The restore partition is hidden by modifying the type of partition that can be detected by the user or any operating system. Upon a catastrophic failure, the system can be returned to an operational state by performing a sector-by-sector restoration to copy an image of the operating system and related system files back to the operating system partition. In various embodiments of the invention, the PIC system state is continuously monitored by a “registry sniffing” routine that maintains a file containing data corresponding to the system state of the PIC.

Abstract: In a personal Internet communication device, a system for restricting the ability of a user to transfer content from within a personal internet communicator includes non-user content stored within a system partition and user data stored within a user partition and an operating system controlling user access so that a user may not access the non-user content stored within the system partition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of the present invention provides a verified computing environment for a personal Internet communicator. In various embodiments of the invention, the functionality of software files on a personal Internet communicator can be modified based on the Pay-State of the user. Upon a request to load a particular software package, the verification module uses a verification file list containing approved software packages and also uses the pay status of the user to determine which software packages can be executed. The personal Internet communicator is operable to provide limited functionality of certain software packages based on a first pay state and to offer no functionality based on a second pay state, such as the situation where a user has discontinued the use of internet service.

Abstract: A system, method and business method to provide a persistent announcement channel for the verified conveyance of predetermined digital content over a communications network, such as the Internet. Predetermined digital content is retrieved from a plurality of digital content providers. Once retrieved, the digital content is conveyed to a secure computing environment implemented on a personal Internet communicator (PIC) provided by an Internet service provider (ISP) or other entity. Commonly-used graphic file formats are implemented to persistently present predetermined digital content within a dedicated area of the PIC display screen. The frequency and duration of the displayed digital content is a result of predetermined content file attributes. A feedback channel provides content providers verification that a predetermined user has interacted with the conveyed digital content.

Abstract: Versatility of access to a register set within a direct memory access (DMA) controller is increased. The DMA controller controls direct memory access transfers to and from a main memory. When a first control field in a configuration register has a first value, normal operating access is provided to a register set within the DMA controller. The register set provides control and status of the direct memory access transfers to and from the main memory. When the first control field in the configuration register has a second value special access is provided to the register set. The special access allows storage and restoration of a state of a DMA transfer.