Abstract: A compound portable computing device comprising two or more separate portable devices coupled over a wireless link is described. A first portable computing device contains a keypad with keys dedicated to use with a function of the devices. A circuit of the first portable computing device reconfigures the first keypad to operate as a first portion of a standard QWERTY keyboard or other type of keyboard for text entry. A second keyboard portion comprising keys permanently configured to provide complementary keys to the first keyboard portion is separably linked to the first portable computing device, so that the first and second keyboard portions function as a full QWERTY keyboard.

Abstract: A system for displaying intermediate message content over the unused area of a web browser is described. An intermediate message display process is linked to the web browser program executed on a client computer. The process monitors user activity on the client computer and identifies areas of the web browser display area that are not used. Upon detection of an unused clear space within the web browser display area, an intermediate message is displayed in the clear area of the web browser. The intermediate message could be an advertisement display provided by a third party content provider. A timer process and clear space detection routine within the intermediate message display process govern the display of the intermediate message in accordance with specified background pattern and message window dimension parameters.

Abstract: A compound portable computing device comprising two or more separate portable devices coupled over a wireless link is described. A first portable computing device contains a first portion of a full-size keyboard, such as a standard QWERTY keyboard or foreign language keyboard. A second portable computing device contains a second portion of the full-size keyboard, and the first portion and the second portion together comprise the keys of the full-size keyboard. A network link is established that couples the first portable computing device to the second portable computing device. A partial keyboard map is loaded into memory of the first and second devices. The partial keyboard map loaded into the memory of the first device corresponds to the portion of the keyboard contained in the first device, and the partial keyboard map loaded into the memory of the second device corresponds to the portion of the keyboard contained in the second device.

Abstract: A system for displaying intermediate message content over the unused area of a web browser is described. An intermediate message display process is linked to the web browser program executed on a client computer. The process monitors user activity on the client computer and identifies areas of the web browser display area that are not used. Upon detection of an unused clear space within the web browser display area, an intermediate message is displayed in the clear area of the web browser. The intermediate message could be an advertisement display provided by a third party content provider. A timer process and clear space detection routine within the intermediate message display process govern the display of the intermediate message in accordance with specified background pattern and message window dimension parameters.