Abstract: The present invention includes a method and a device avatar system for providing at least one electronic service for a first physical electronic device associated with a first device avatar. In the system, an avatar hosting infrastructure includes at least the first device avatar and provides an encapsulated autonomous system that facilitates communication between the first device avatar and the first physical electronic device. The first device avatar, coupled to receive at least communications from a first controller, provides the at least one electronic service to the first physical electronic device. The first controller, coupled to the first device avatar, enables an owner to implement the at least one electronic service for the first physical electronic device. The first physical electronic device is coupled to the first device avatar and operates in a predetermined fashion in accordance with the at least one electronic service.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system and device for securing ownership for a two-part device with a physical unit and a virtual unit so that ownership of the two-part device is efficiently initiated, maintained, and transferred. The steps include initiating, by a user, an activation signal from the physical unit to the virtual unit to activate an ownership procedure and employing a double safety mechanism to activate ownership services via the virtual unit for the physical unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for automatically linking a physical device and a predetermined associated virtual device to provide the physical device with access to at least one service. The method includes the steps of: manufacturing the physical device that is associated with the predetermined virtual device and attaching, to the physical device, a substantially unremovable communication identifier for communicating with the predetermined virtual device. The communication identifier typically facilitates communication over an information space such as the Internet.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide methods, a computer system, a computer medium and an article of manufacture for generating personalized advertising to accompany information to be sent to a user. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of maintaining, in memory, a plurality of user profiles and a plurality of images associated with each user profile and selecting an image associated with the user. Next, the image is inserted into advertising to provide personalized advertising.

Abstract: A system, method, and a program embodied in a computer readable medium are provided for network tunneling. In one embodiment, a network tunneling method is described that comprises the steps of providing a client linked to a network, simulating an operation of a modem in the client with respect to a portable device, and tunneling a network access by the portable device from the client to a network portal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for automatically linking a physical device and a predetermined associated virtual device to provide the physical device with access to at least one service. The method includes the steps of: manufacturing the physical device that is associated with the predetermined virtual device and attaching, to the physical device, a substantially unremovable communication identifier for communicating with the predetermined virtual device. The communication identifier typically facilitates communication over an information space such as the Internet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, system and device for securing ownership for a two-part device with a physical unit and a virtual unit so that ownership of the two-part device is efficiently initiated, maintained, and transferred. The steps include initiating, by a user, an activation signal from the physical unit to the virtual unit to activate an ownership procedure and employing a double safety mechanism to activate ownership services via the virtual unit for the physical unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods, a computer-readable medium and a destination selection system that provide for automatically selecting, for a user, at least one destination avatar to which to send received information based on context information and user-defined policy-selection rules. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of examining, by a destination selection system, user location information and determining the at least one destination avatar to which the received information is to be delivered based on the context information and the user-defined policy-selection rules.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and a device avatar system for providing at least one electronic service for a first physical electronic device associated with a first device avatar. In the system, an avatar hosting infrastructure includes at least the first device avatar and provides an encapsulated autonomous system that facilitates communication between the first device avatar and the first physical electronic device. The first device avatar, coupled to receive at least communications from a first controller, provides the at least one electronic service to the first physical electronic device. The first controller, coupled to the first device avatar, enables an owner to implement the at least one electronic service for the first physical electronic device. The first physical electronic device is coupled to the first device avatar and operates in a predetermined fashion in accordance with the at least one electronic service.

Abstract: A system and corresponding method for automatically delivering information to a user is disclosed. A client, through a screen saver application, requests information be transferred thereto. The transferred information is stored in a corresponding portion of the screen saver application and presented to the user during a time period when the client is idle or inactive.