Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for dissemination of information to a device in an environment in which network connectivity is intermittent. This is particularly useful in dissemination of information to PDA devices via a wireless connection, which may be unreliable and/or intermittent. Further, the method is particularly useful in dissemination of information to most PDA devices, which have operating environments that are particularly weak with respect to error recovery and exception handling capabilities, resulting in application crashes when there is a lack of network connectivity, even if temporary. The method involves receiving externally-stored network content via a wireless connection, converting references to externally-stored network content to references to locally-stored content, and storing the converted content as locally-stored content.

Abstract: A limited-access environment is established to which admittance is controlled by an authority. Carrying of unapproved wireless communication devices into the environment is prohibited. Approved wireless communication devices are distributed, e.g. rented, under the authority's control for use within the environment. Rental fees may be collected for use of the device. The approved device may be specially configured to comply with rules applicable to the environment and/or to provide environment-relevant information, such as scoring and other information in context of a golf tournament event. The device may be specially configured with advertisements or other advertising indicia indicating sponsorship, etc., thereby providing the authority with advertising-related revenues.