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Methods and apparatus for providing information useful to a particular user of a computerized apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a portable computerized apparatus (such as for example a digital assistant or notebook computer) which obtains information configured according to a user

Methods and apparatus for providing information useful to a particular user of a computerized apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a portable computerized apparatus (such as for example a digital assistant or notebook computer) which obtains information configured according to a user profile after identification of the user via a short range wireless technology such as RFID.

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1. A method of obtaining user-specific information on a portable computerized apparatus, the method comprising: receiving an interrogating wireless signal configured to cause a wireless device to respond, the device uniquely associated with a user of the portable computerized apparatus;evaluating th

1. A method of obtaining user-specific information on a portable computerized apparatus, the method comprising: receiving an interrogating wireless signal configured to cause a wireless device to respond, the device uniquely associated with a user of the portable computerized apparatus;evaluating the received interrogating wireless signal to determine whether the wireless device should respond;when it is determined that the wireless device should respond, transmitting a responsive wireless signal from the wireless device, the responsive wireless signal comprising data uniquely identifying the wireless device; andreceiving at a data interface of the portable computerized apparatus, information configured according to at least one information profile of the user, the at least one profile having been identified based at least in part on the data uniquely identifying the wireless device. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the information is obtained from a remote server via a network interface. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising disposing the wireless device within the field of an interrogating apparatus, the interrogating apparatus configured to emit the interrogating wireless signal. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the interrogating wireless signal and the responsive wireless signal comprise signals transmitted according to a short-range wireless technology, and the data interface comprises a data interface operating according to a communication protocol different than that of the short range wireless technology. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication protocol of the short range wireless technology comprises an encrypted data protocol. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interrogating wireless signal and the responsive wireless signal comprise an encrypted data protocol. 7. Portable electronic apparatus configured to obtain user-specific information, the portable electronic apparatus comprising: a portable computerized device associated with a user and having at least one computer program operative to run thereon; anda portable short range wireless device having data stored thereon which uniquely associates the short range wireless device with said user;wherein the portable electronic apparatus is configured to: receive an interrogating wireless signal configured to cause the portable short range wireless device to respond;evaluate the received interrogating wireless signal to determine whether the portable short range wireless device should respond;when it is determined that the portable short range wireless device should respond, transmit a responsive wireless signal from the portable short range wireless device, the responsive wireless signal comprising the data uniquely identifying the portable short range wireless device; andreceive at a data interface of the portable computerized device, information configured according to at least one information profile of the user, the at least one profile having been identified based at least in part on the data uniquely identifying the portable short range wireless device. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said short range wireless device comprises a short range radio frequency identification device. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the portable electronic apparatus comprises application software resident thereon, the software configured to receive the provided information and store it within a storage device of the portable computerized device. 10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information comprises information relevant and useful to the user, and which is selected according to at least one previous selection by the user. 11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information comprises information relevant and useful to the user, the information relevant and useful to the user having been previously selected by the user via a computerized apparatus having an input device and a display having a plurality of functional areas displayed thereon. 12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information comprises at least one of: (i) a building directory, and/or (ii) a map. 13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information comprises a telephone directory and a map. 14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the portable electronic apparatus comprises a notebook computer. 15. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the provision of the information is initiated by software resident on the portable computerized device. 16. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the provision of the information is initiated automatically upon placing the portable electronic apparatus in data communication with a computerized apparatus via the data interface. 17. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information is obtained from a remote server via a network interface. 18. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information is obtained from local storage device in data communication with a computerized apparatus which receives said data and causes provision of said information to said portable electronic apparatus. 19. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the data interface is configured to operate according to a communication protocol different than that of the short range wireless device, the short range wireless device comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) device. 20. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one information profile specifies at least a plurality of different types of information to be provided to said user. 21. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one information profile specifies at least a plurality of different information elements to be provided to said user. 22. Electronic apparatus configured to obtain user-specific information, the electronic apparatus comprising: a portable computerized device associated with a user and having at least one computer program operative to run thereon; anda short range wireless device having data stored thereon which uniquely associates the short range wireless device with said user;wherein the electronic apparatus is configured to: receive an interrogating wireless signal configured to cause the short range wireless device to respond;evaluate the received interrogating wireless signal to determine whether the short range wireless device should respond;when it is determined that the short range wireless device should respond,transmit a responsive wireless signal from the short range wireless device, the responsivewireless signal comprising the data in an encrypted form; andreceive at a data interface of the portable computerized device, information configured according to at least one information profile of the user, the at least one profile having been identified based at least in part on the data. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said short range wireless device comprises a short range radio frequency identification (RFID) device. 24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises application software resident thereon, the software configured to receive the provided information and store it within a storage device of the portable computerized device. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information comprises information relevant and useful to the user, and which is selected according to at least one previous selection by the user. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information comprises information relevant and useful to the user, the information relevant and useful to the user having been previously selected by the user via a computerized apparatus having an input device and a display having a plurality of functional areas displayed thereon. 27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the information comprises at least one of: (i) a building directory, and/or (ii) a map. 28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the information comprises telephone numbers and a map. 29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a notebook computer. 30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the provision of the information is initiated by software resident on the portable computerized device. 31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the provision of the information is initiated automatically upon placing the portable electronic apparatus in data communication with a computerized apparatus via the data interface. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the information is obtained from a remote server via a network interface. 33. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the information is obtained from local storage device in data communication with a computerized apparatus which receives said data and causes provision of said information to said portable electronic apparatus. 34. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the data interface is configured to operate according to a communication protocol different than that of the short range wireless device, the short range wireless device comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) device. 35. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one information profile specifies a plurality of different types of information to be provided to said user, and a plurality of different information elements to be provided to said user. 36. A method of providing information to a user of a portable electronic apparatus, the method comprising: receiving, via a wireless link, data specifically identifying a wireless device, the device associated with a user of the portable electronic apparatus;based at least in part on the data, identifying at least one information profile associated to that user; andcausing provision of information configured according to the at least one profile to the portable electronic apparatus via a data interface;wherein said data is part of a radio frequency (RF) signal emitted at a particular frequency when proper authentication of an interrogation apparatus by said wireless device occurs. 37. The method of claim 36, wherein said wireless device comprises a short range radio frequency identification (RFID) device, and the data interface comprises a data interface operating according to a communication protocol different than that of the RFID device. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the portable electronic apparatus comprises application software resident thereon, the software configured to receive the provided information and store it within the storage device of the portable electronic apparatus. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the act of causing provision comprises causing provision of information relevant and useful to the user, the information relevant and useful to the user having been previously selected by the user. 40. The method of claim 38, wherein the act of causing provision comprises causing provision of information relevant and useful to the user, the information relevant and useful to the user having been previously selected by the user via a computerized apparatus having an input device and a display having a plurality of functional areas displayed thereon. 41. The method of claim 38, wherein the act of causing provision comprises causing provision of information comprising at least one of: (i) a building directory, and/or (ii) a map. 42. The method of claim 38, wherein the act of causing provision comprises causing provision of information comprising one or more telephone numbers and a map. 43. The method of claim 38, wherein the portable electronic apparatus comprises a notebook computer. 44. The method of claim 36, wherein the causing provision of information is initiated by software resident on the portable electronic apparatus. 45. The method of claim 36, wherein the causing provision of information is initiated automatically upon placing the portable electronic apparatus in data communication with a computerized apparatus via the data interface. 46. The method of claim 36, wherein the causing provision of the information comprises further causing obtaining the information from a remote server via a network interface. 47. The method of claim 36, wherein the causing provision further comprises obtaining the information from local storage device in data communication with a computerized apparatus which receives said data and causes provision of said information to said portable electronic apparatus. 48. The method of claim 36, wherein the communication protocol of the wireless link comprises an encrypted data protocol. 49. The method of claim 36, wherein the at least one information profile specifies at least a plurality of different types of information and information elements to be provided to said user. 50. The method of claim 36, wherein the data comprises data encrypted by the wireless device. 51. The method of claim 36, wherein an appropriate code must be provided within an RF signal from the interrogation apparatus for the wireless device to radiate said RF signal. 52. A method of providing information to a user of a portable electronic apparatus, the method comprising: transmitting a wireless interrogation signal to a wireless device, the device associated with a user of the portable electronic apparatus, said transmitting comprising transmitting a signal configured to cause said wireless device to respond;receiving, via a wireless link, data specifically identifying the wireless device,based at least in part on the data, identifying at least one information profile associated to that user; andcausing provision of information configured according to the at least one profile to the personal electronic device via a data interface. 53. The method of claim 52, wherein said wireless device comprises a short range radio frequency identification (RFID) device, and the data interface comprises a data interface operating according to a communication protocol different than that of the RFID device. 54. The method of claim 53, wherein the portable electronic apparatus comprises application software resident thereon, the software configured to receive the provided information and store it within the storage device of the portable electronic apparatus. 55. The method of claim 54, wherein the act of causing provision comprises causing provision of information relevant and useful to the user. 56. The method of claim 54, wherein the act of causing provision comprises causing provision of information relevant and useful to the user, the information relevant and useful to the being selected by the user via a computerized apparatus having an input device and a display having a plurality of functional areas displayed thereon. 57. The method of claim 54, wherein the act of causing provision comprises causing provision of information comprising at least one of: (i) a building directory, and/or (ii) a map. 58. The method of claim 54, wherein the act of causing provision comprises causing provision of information comprising one or more telephone numbers and a map. 59. The method of claim 54, wherein at least the causing provision of information is initiated by software resident on the portable electronic apparatus. 60. The method of claim 52, wherein the causing provision of information is initiated automatically upon placing the portable electronic apparatus in data communication with a computerized apparatus via the data interface. 61. The method of claim 52, wherein the causing provision of the information comprises further causing obtaining the information from a remote server via a network interface. 62. The method of claim 52, wherein the causing provision further comprises obtaining the information from local storage device in data communication with a computerized apparatus which receives said data and causes provision of said information to said portable electronic apparatus. 63. The method of claim 53, wherein the communication protocol of the RFID device comprises a protocol that is configured to encrypted data. 64. The method of claim 54, wherein the at least one information profile specifies at least a plurality of different information elements to be provided to said user. 65. The method of claim 54, wherein an appropriate code must be provided within an RF signal from an interrogation apparatus for the wireless device to radiate said data. 66. A method of providing information to a user of a portable electronic apparatus, the method comprising: transmitting a short range wireless interrogation signal to a wireless device, the device associated with a user of the portable electronic apparatus;receiving, via a short range wireless return signal, data specifically identifying the wireless device;based at least in part on the data, identifying at least one information profile associated to that user; andcausing provision of information useful to the user and configured according to the at least one profile to the personal electronic device via a data interface of the portable electronic apparatus, the provided information being configured for storage on the portable electronic apparatus via a computer program operative to run thereon for later retrieval and use by the user;wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting a signal configured to enable said wireless device to authenticate the interrogation signal, said authentication configured to frustrate unauthorized access to the wireless return signal generated by the wireless device in response to said transmitting. 67. A method of providing information to a user of a portable electronic apparatus, the method comprising: transmitting a short range wireless interrogation signal to a wireless device, the device uniquely associated with a user of the portable electronic apparatus, said transmitting comprising transmitting a signal configured to cause said wireless device to respond upon the wireless device determining, based on at least the interrogation signal, that it is appropriate to respond;receiving, via a short range wireless return signal, data specifically identifying the wireless device,based at least in part on the data, identifying at least one information configuration profile associated to that user; andcausing provision of information configured according to the at least one profile to the personal electronic device via a data interface thereof, the provided information comprising at least one of (i) a map; (ii) one or more telephone numbers; and/or (iii) directions from a known location to an organization or entity.