Abstract: A method and system for displaying information on a hand held computer system in a display region identified by permanent printing. The hand held computer system may comprise a second display region, separate from the first display region located in the permanent printing region. Independent streams of information may be displayed on the separate display regions. Alternatively, the second display region may be a different region of a single display unit. The display region can display any type of information, e.g., alert information, clock information, phone messages, pager messages, etc. Display of information in the display region does not interfere with the second display region.

Abstract: A method and system for protecting portable computer data from unauthorized transfer or using portable computers to download unauthorized data. The invention is applicable to any computer capable of transferring data, but in one embodiment a portable computer is described. Authorization is enabled by an interface permitting synchronization of the portable computer with a host computer by authentication of the particular portable computer identity. For instance, in one embodiment, when a portable computer is docked with a compatible interface connected to a host desktop computer, it is sensed and identified by the interface. If the particular portable computer identity is authenticated as authorized for that desktop, then synchronization will be enabled by the interface. The computers may then transfer data. However, if the identity is not an authorized one, then authentication will not occur, synchronization is correspondingly disabled, and data transfer is prevented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for receiving data via the intermittent use of a port. One embodiment of the preset invention may first access a signal from a location determining device. Responsive to the signal, a communication port may be automatically activated by system resources. Location information may then be received via the communication port and stored into memory in a format that can be unique to the location determining device. Responsive to the reception of the information, the communication port may be automatically deactivated. Optionally, the data or location information can be translated into a general format readable by all applications that recognize the universal data format, e.g., XML. Application programs that have registered or requested location information may be notified of the receipt of location information.