Abstract: The invention provides an Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) for access by a user via a browser on a network, said portal comprising: (a) an interface for communicating between said portal and said user; (b) a theme manager for selecting a theme, said theme defining a presentation format for said browser; and (c) a plug-in manager for controlling a plurality of plug-ins, said plug-ins for retrieving and formatting information content for said user, wherein said plug-in retrieves information from both local and remote sources.

Abstract: A method for implementing a common user logon to one or more applications said method comprising the steps of requesting credentials from said user for authenticating said user and providing a common authentication server for issuing authentication tokens for identifying authenticated users and passing said authentication token to each application that said user requests access for authenticating said user to said accessed application without requesting reentry of credentials from said user.